Monday 23 May 2011

TRENT MILLER & THE SKELETON JIVE

Following on from his self-released, widely acclaimed debut album Cerberus, Trent Miller now returns with his second collection of arresting country-folk, Welcome To Inferno Valley.


Unlike his debut, …Inferno Valley is very much a band album, comprising songs road-tested and honed at literally dozens of gigs around the London area and throughout Miller’s Italian homeland with The Skeleton Jive. Featuring the combined talents of Anders Dal (drums/guitars/backing vocals), Jim Taylor (bass), Shou Jie Eng (violin) and Jason Collins (ex-The Seers, mandolin/backing vocals), the album draws upon special guest contributions from labelmate Ben Folke Thomas (12-string), Duncan Drury (trumpet), Ruth Jacob (banjo) and Emily C Smith (backing vocals). The album was recorded at co-producer Richard Johnson’s Randomcolours Studio.

Born and raised near Turin, but based in London for some years now, Miller is strongly influenced by legendary 80s performers like Jeffrey Lee Pierce of The Gun Club and Guy Kyser of Thin White Rope (he contributed a version of ‘Timing’ to the TWR tribute album Hidden Desert), while ‘Fear Of Flyin’’, one of the album’s highlights, pays tribute to another hero Gene Clark.

This is the first full-length album release on the re-invigorated Bucketfull Of Brains label, following on from the acclaimed Benjamin Folke Thomas mini-album of last summer. Directly affiliated to the legendary magazine - 32 years publishing and still thriving – the first UK champions of the Paisley Underground and REM – as adept as ever at unearthing and supporting maverick talents.

Miller’s 2009 debut Cerberus received substantial press coverage and airplay, including Cerys Matthews on BBC 6 Music.

Trent Miller & The Skeleton Jive will be launching Welcome To Inferno Valley on Tuesday 7 June at The Betsey Trotwood, 56 Farringdon Road, London EC1R 3BL.

Press for Cerberus:

These stripped back songs, with just him, his guitar, harmonica and the odd bit of percussion, are mean, moody and magnificent… Folk noir is definitely the new black and Trent Miller wears it well.  Bearded

Miller's voice conjures a life lived at the bottom of a whiskey bottle and an unhealthy acquaintance with a draughty boxcar… a perfect complement to the subject matter.  R2

It is incredible how a music so dark can warm one’s heart. 8/10  Blow Up

If you wish you could relive the troubadour folk scene days of 60s Greenwich Village, then you'll want to take this three-headed dog walkies.  Net Rhythms




Monday 2 May 2011

LUCKY STRIKES PLAY FREE SHOW AT NEW HACKNEY VENUE

Up’n’coming Southend roots rock band The Lucky Strikes play a free gig this Friday (6 May) at CORE, a unique live music venue and arts centre in the heart of Hackney.

The gig serves as a benefit for the venue’ owners, local mental health charity Core Arts, which specialises in supporting individuals with mental health problems through the creative arts. Also featuring Hackney boy/girl folk-pop quartet Troubadour Rose, this is one of a series of monthly events giving Core’s users – including bands, singer-songwriters, MCs and poets - the opportunity to perform before an audience.

Formed in 2008 and fronted by Duke & The King alumnus Matt Boulter, The Lucky Strikes have recently released their third album Gabriel, Forgive My 22 Sins on happening East London label Stovepony to rave reviews in the national press and considerable airplay on specialist radio. Their eponymous debut album is reissued through Stovepony on Monday 9 May.

CORE
109 Homerton High Street
London E9 6DL

Close to Homerton Overground Station. Buses 236, 242, 276, 308, 394, W15

Regd charity no: 104388