Benjamin Francis Leftwich-Song of the day

Benjamin Francis Leftwich is a 21 year old english folk singer. His debut album, Last Smoke Before The Snowstorm, was released earlier last month and garnered himself plenty of comparisons to the likes of Damien Rice and José González. His video for track opener, Pictures, was released in February. The video is dark and brooding, matching the slowburning, delicate song.

M Fest

This weekend it was the annual M Festival, a music festival that has been running for 5 years now, in Darton, Barnsley. The festival is a charity event that showcases some of the best local talent from up-and-coming, unsigned musical acts to more established artists. I went along on Saturday to check out the bill. I mostly stuck around the second stage, Burn Down The Disco Stage, which seemed to be the place that offered the best talent. The first band that really caught my attention were an unsigned band called The Velotones. The young band from Sheffield owned the stage with their cool garage rock with obvious influences being the likes of: The Black Keys, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club as well as early rockers such as The Kinks and The Beatles. Mathew Hall's impressive vocals sound beyond his years and backed by the tremendous drums of Kris Senior and the throbbing bass via Jamie Duckworth the band certainly prove they are worth keeping note and watching out for.

The next band to impress me was Silents, also from Sheffield, who's half-hour set was enough to leave an impression and their alternative rock keeping the audience entertained. Adam Hayworth, leadsinger and guitarist reminded me of Nicky Smith from another local band, my favourites Exit Calm. His voice showed the same raspy yet tentative quality.

My day ended at the Acoustic tent with The Velcro Teddy Bears. The band, who were headlining, had been recommended to me by various people throughout the day and after we asked them what time they would be on I was soon waiting in anticipation. The boys didn't disappoint with their fun set and stage banter. Their setlist was a healthy balance of upbeat and sorrowful with an encore of covers and requests from the audience including Bob Dylan's All Along The Watchtower, Time of Your Life by Greenday and a lively version of Sweet Home Alabama that had the entire tent on their feet dancing.
With bands like The Velotones, Silents and The Velcro Teddy Bears being sure to stay on my radar, what I initially thought would be a day of apathy and disappointment turned into great enjoyment. With this much local talent at just one festival in one day, South Yorkshire is building up an impressive artistic base that we should all be very proud of.

St Vincent-Song of the week

I would be a complete idiot if i didn't have St Vincent as song of the week. Her brand new and exclusive track, Surgeon has had bloggers all over wagging their tongues for the new album. St Vincent (real name Annie Clark) has  vowed to release Strange Mercy September 12th here in the UK and the 13th in the US. Take a listen of the first taster.

Amy Winehouse

Today the troubled but undoubtedly talented soul star, Amy Winehouse passed away. She was just 27. She has joined the 27 Forever Club like Kurt Cobain, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison and Brian Jones before her. Her debut album, Frank, was nominated for a Mercury Prize award but it was her following effort, Back to Black that catapulted her career and turned her into an independant mainstream artist. Her muse was the darkness, her unfortunate fight with drug addiction and alcohol that is feared to have finally beaten her. However I believe that we must remember Amy at her finest and give her the respect that she deserves because this is an artist who paved the way for artists such as Adele and damn although I hate her even Lady Gaga, some of the finest and most successful artists of this generation. her voice like silk will stay with us forever and be remembered fondly.

Sand Band-Song of the Week

There are bands that I dig and then there are bands that I REALLY dig. the Sand Band are one of those bands. Their debut album, All Through the night really is a masterpiece of the heartwarming kind. According to their website the albums"heart beats somewhere between Gospel and Folk, touching upon themes such as love, death, sorrow, religion and loss yet with truly, achingly beautiful melodies is ultimately laced with hope." there is no wonder I like it then, love, sorrow and loss are the kind of emotions i love to revel in.

The band's opening track, Set me Free is about the break up of a relationship, (i'm guessing the themes love and loss)

Cover vs Original: England

Now unless in case you hadn't realised, The National are my favourite band/artist. I recently completed a review on their 2010 album High Violet. It is on that album tat a particular favourite of mine, England is featured. Regarded by many the best song from High Violet the anthemic swelling until its climax is The National at their very best. With them in the middle of a tour it means that The National have become frequent guests at festivals throughout  Europe and America as well as other bands such as Mumford and Sons, the four-piece folk group from London. So when the group were featured on VH1's unplugged they decided to do a cover of England, having heard it many times during the past 2 years festival runs. What I want to know is which version do you prefer? The Cover or the original?
The National

Mumford and Sons

New Coldplay Video- Every Teardrop is a Waterfall

Coldplay have just released the video to their new single, Every Teardrop is a Waterfall.