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NEW WEBSITE LAUNCHING IN LATE JULY (NOT BEFORE BLOODY TIME!)

Stunning singer-songwriter Lisa Hannigan is set to release her eagerly anticipated/ debut album this autumn.

Probably best known for her collaborations with Damien Rice, Lisa has also been involved with many side projects in the Irish music scene, contributing backing vocals to 'Sideways Down' on The Frames' 'Burn the Maps' and Mic Christopher's 'What a Curious Notion' for his posthumous debut, 'Skylarkin'.

Lisa has also performed on the soundtrack for the Irish film Goldfish Memory' and played a large role on 'The Cake Sale' charity album including the single Some Surprise (with Gary Lightbody of Snow Patrol).

Jeffrey Lewis was raised in New York City and is a maker of comic books, tragi-comic folk narratives, and lysergic garage rock.

With brother Jack on bass and David Beauchamp on drums, the Jeffrey Lewis Band mixes 60s Jeffrey Lewis was raised in New York City and is a maker of comic books, tragi-comic folk narratives, and lysergic garage rock. With brother Jack on bass and David Beauchamp on drums, the Jeffrey Lewis Band mixes 60s acoustic psychedelia like Pearls Before Swine with the experimental art-punk of the Fall and the urban lyricism of Lou Reed, sounding a bit like if Woody Guthrie fronted Sonic Youth.

We’re particularly looking forward to the Live show which in the best traditions of a trans show incorporates "low budget videos", Jeff’s large illustrations displayed to accompany certain songs. In 2001 Jeffrey Lewis signed to Rough Trade Records and has since released four albums and toured with the likes of Devendra Banhart, Thurston Moore, The Fall, Frank Black, Daniel Johnston, the Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players, the Cribs, and others.

SCHOOL OF LANGUAGE is currently the most
pressing musical concern of Field Music’s David Brewis

Field Music's Tones of Town was a highlight for many in 2007, and the group's star seemed to be on the rise. But when the Sunderland band played the Empty Bottle in Chicago last spring, something didn't quite seem right. The music- a herky-jerk mix reminiscent of XTC- sounded perfectly fine, but the trio, flitting between instruments, didn't appear to be taking any real pleasure or satisfaction from it.

Granted, the group preceded the tour by announcing it would be followed by an extended hiatus, during which Field Music's three members would explore other projects, so as far as the crowd knew, Tones of Town was the last they'd hear from Field Music. The faithful needn't fret, though, as Brewis' debut as School of Language, Sea From Shore (Memphis Industries / Thrill Jockey Records) should satisfy fans of Field Music's tightly wound pop. Recorded mostly solo, with some scattered help from a couple of fellow Sunderlanders in the Futureheads, Sea From Shore is a lot like taking a peek at a talented someone's sketch book.

Admittedly, for anyone wondering if School of Language rises above the level of side project, the relatively quick turnaround between Tones of Town and Sea From Shore implies Brewis was serious about opening the creative tap wide and seeing what flows out. If everything he releases stays at this level, that enigmatic Field Music hiatus might just stretch on a little longer.

One of the buzzbands at this years SXSW festival, THE DODOS are a duo from San Francisco, who throw together a delightful mix of ephemeral psych-folk-pop. Singer and guitarist Meric Long’s fleeting, intricate and finely-tuned finger-picking is warm and focused, resonating under his refined lyrical hopscotch and drummer Logan Kroeber’s foot-stomping tom and-tambourine back beat. The propulsive results recall everything from John Fahey to the Akron/Family, and hones the callings of free-spirited, unhinged acts like
Animal Collective. The Dodos have just issued their second full length (and first for Wichita Records) called Visiter.