single – Darren Johnson Music PR

New single: ‘Afraid of the Silence’ – an upbeat yet thought-provoking slice of prog folk from Dandelion Charm

Single release date: 14th July 2019

“Dandelion Charm have the songs and talent to appeal to not only prog and folk fans, but anyone who enjoys strong songwriting with blissful vocals and melodies” – Get Ready To Rock

Ahead of their much-anticipated new album this Autumn, south-coast duo Dandelion Charm release a new single on 14th July. Reflecting on the drip drip impact of a never-ending stream of modern media commentary ‘Afraid of the Silence’ delivers its message with an upbeat optimistic shuffle and overtones of Simon and Garfunkel.

Drawing from the prog, rock and folk influences of John Fowler (guitar and vocals) and Clare Fowler (vocals), Dandelion Charm’s critically-acclaimed signature sound is a luxurious blend of intricate harmonies, soaring melodies and heartfelt lyrics.

John Fowler: “Afraid of the Silence is a comment on Western society. So many of us just want to be told what’s worthy of our attention, what isn’t, what we should wear, what words we should use and so on. We absorb whatever the media spews out as if it’s our own thoughts, disregarding whatever was in vogue last week. So many people are terrified of not having all this stimulus and media guidance. They are afraid of the silence. People spend their time coveting whatever product is marketed to their demographic, and get a small dopamine release when it’s acquired, then they’re on to the next thing. This seems to be how many of us exist. I wonder whether such people reach old age and feel like they haven’t actually done anything – whether they feel as if they haven’t really lived.”

The release of ‘Afraid of the Silence’ will be marked with a special launch gig at Bar 42, Worthing on 14th July.

Dandelion Charm’s debut album ‘Tiny Drop’ was released in 2015. This was followed by a five-track EP ‘Riding The Flood’ in 2018. Following the success of ‘Riding The Flood’ last year and appearances at Purbeck Valley Folk Festival, the Cropredy festival fringe and a support slot for prog icons Gryphon, 2019 is promising to be even more of an exhilarating ride for Dandelion Charm with an appearance at the Cambridge Rock Festival in July, a return to Cropredy in August and a string of gigs along the south coast. A second full-length album ‘Maybe Dreamers’ is scheduled for release in November 2019 in both CD and digital formats.

Media enquiries to: Darren Johnson +44 (0)7799 731 682 darrenjohnson@crowfliescommunications.com

Website: https://www.dandelioncharm.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dandelioncharmmusic
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Dandelion_Charm

‘Avenue of Luck’ the new single from folk/Americana duo Duffy & Bird

Single release date: 21st June 2019

A stunning slice of folk/Americana ‘Avenue of Luck’ is the brand new single from Duffy & Bird. It follows the duo’s well-received debut album ‘5 Lines’ released in 2017 and is a first taste of new material ahead of a new five-track EP that will be released this Autumn.

Duffy & Bird are Tricia Duffy on lead vocals and Al Bird on vocals and guitar. The duo’s blend of vocals with Duffy’s warmth and clarity creates a beautiful and emotive harmonic effect that is coupled with Al’s sensitive acoustic guitar. Betraying Al’s roots in rock, their songs combine fluid vocals with cleverly precise guitar arrangements.

Reflecting on the inspiration behind ‘Avenue of Luck’ Tricia Duffy comments:

“Al and I had been chatting about the number of listeners we had on Spotify and he used the phrase Avenue of Luck – how do we get on to the Avenue of Luck? That sounds like a song, I said to him! I think we both have a shared set of values when it comes to that whole notion of luck. We consider ourselves lucky but we also both strongly believe that there isn’t really any such thing as luck – as the song says only opportunity and [hard] work. That started the theme for the song. We’ve found that Avenue of Luck is a fantastic live song for us and even though it’s still new, it’s been incredibly popular when we’ve taken it out.”

Now based in Chiswick, west London (Tricia) and Farnham, Surrey (Al) the pair hail from Portsmouth and Cardiff respectively, their paths first crossing in 2015. Originally starting out as two-fifths of a rock covers band they morphed into an acoustic duo performing covers of classic songs. However, putting a set-list together one day two years ago, Tricia confided to Al that she was getting a little tired of doing covers and wanted them to start writing their own songs. With Tricia’s natural gift for storytelling and Al’s intuitive feel for a strong melody the pair soon evolved into accomplished singer-songwriters. Tricia’s trip to Nashville for a writing workshop in 2017 with songwriter, Verlon Thompson, and others meant she came back with new inspiration and a clutch of brand new songs. Their material began earning them a reputation on the live circuit, with some of their memorable appearances including 2018’s Weyfest and the Tamesis Dock floating barge venue in London.

“It’s all about stories with Tricia,” says Al. “She’ll get an idea from something someone has said, or she’s seen on TV, and that will percolate in her head until she can write 4-5 lines of a poem. That’s how most of our songs start.”

“Al is highly logical,” adds Tricia. “His musicianship is incredible but his inspiring skill is the way he listens. He hears how things are developing before we’ve even finished writing them and adds magic touches where you least expect them.”

Duffy & Bird’s debut album ‘5 Lines’ was released in November 2017. A five-track EP is scheduled for release in Autumn 2019.

“When I listened for the first time, my very first thought was I haven’t heard anything like this, since Simon & Garfunkel. An incredible duo.” Al Yardy – KB Radio on Duffy & Bird’s debut album ‘5 Lines’

Website: https://duffyandbird.uk/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/duffyandbird

Twitter: https://twitter.com/duffyandbird

Media enquiries to: Darren Johnson 07799 731 682 darrenjohnson@crowfliescommunications.com

Ed Sykes ‘Whiplashed’ single – reviews and news round-up

Some nice reviews in for ‘Whiplashed’ the forthcoming Ed Sykes single released on 8th June:

“Summoning the glam rock’n’roll 70s spirit of Bowie, Mott and the Stones, ‘Whiplashed’ includes a guest contribution from The Pretty Things’ Jon Povey, while a cover of ‘Ziggy Stardust’ on the b-side features Bowie’s longtime pianist Mike Garson” Vive Le Rock! – read full review here

“Using a vibe that harks back to the 70’s this is a toe taping stonker of a tune that will put a massive smile on your face” Spin Sunday Music Reviews – read full review here

“Sykes has written and produced the song which has a clean, retro 70s vibe with hints of Bowie, Rolling Stones and a touch of urban grit ala Tom Robinson” Rox Rock n Metal – read full review here

Ed Sykes Artist Profile at Pete’s Rock News & Views here

Whiplashed is released on June 8th by Maniac Squat Records.

News: ‘Overrun’ – virtuoso rock guitarist Cris Martin to release new single and video

Single/video release date: December 15th 2017

‘Overrun’ is the new single from Cris Martin – a stunning slice of instrumental classic guitar rock from the virtuoso musician.

Cris Martin received critical acclaim for his 2016 solo album ‘Rock Dawn’, which featured former Iron Maiden front-man Blaze Bayley and former Samson drummer Barry Graham Purkis (Thunderstick). The single ‘Overrun’ is drawn from the album and a brand new accompanying video is also being launched on December 15th to coincide with the release.

“What Cris Martin does comes straight from the heart and soul, with the emotion flowing through the fingers. He has the ability to compete with any of the flash, hard riding guitar heroes who litter the world.” – Malcolm Dome

Talking about the new single, Cris Martin comments: “Overrun originated back in 2013 when I was thinking about recording again after many years out of a recording studio. I was using a small studio in Streatham and as the studio sessions progressed the track seemed to take on its own character. I wanted the music to evolve rather than conform to fashion or any particular style or genre. This is one benefit of making independent music, one can express oneself freely. I wanted a bluesy, rock feel coupled with a smattering of virtuosity which I think we achieved. Being an instrumental track, the lead guitar line has to be as strong as a lead vocal line. The title came from an incident at the studio where myself and the engineer had popped out to go to the shops. As we were crossing the busy main road, a fast Mercedes sped past almost hitting us and it was the result of almost being run over which gave me the idea of swapping round the words around to Overrun!

“This track also has a more poignant story behind it as I was helping to care for my elderly mother whose health was failing and the recording sessions helped with the stresses and strains of being a carer. Unfortunately she passed away and I was unable to continue with the sessions for a while in order to deal with my bereavement. However, after several months, I felt able to finish off the album. I am a great believer that creating music can be a great healer. This track, especially, definitely helped with my recovery.”

The video was filmed at Black Cat studios in Leicestershire owned by James Scott who also mixed the Rock Dawn album.

Talking about the making of the video, Cris adds: “I roped in some colleagues to appear as the ‘backing band’. I wanted the video to have a humorous element so we came up with the story-line of a hipster engineer and his self-obsessed millennial vocalist recording in a studio, and their comical conversion to metal-heads.”

About Cris Martin

Cris Martin started playing the guitar aged 16 and found that he had a talent for playing fast in a similar style to his guitar hero, Gary Moore. After several years playing cheap, hard-to-play guitars, Cris fortuitously won a sum of money and purchased his first Gibson Les Paul guitar and a classic Marshall amp. Aged 21, Cris joined his first pro band Thunderstick and recorded two well-received albums and an EP. After Thunderstick, Cris did session work and then spent several years in various bands recording, writing and gigging. In 1997, disillusioned with the music business, Cris stopped playing and sold all his guitars intending never to play again.

In 2008 after many years of friends telling him he shouldn’t have put aside his guitar talent, Cris purchased a guitar curious to see if he could still “shred”. However, he was in for a nasty surprise as he realised he would have to learn to play all over again in order to regain his once formidable technical mastery. He briefly joined a rock covers band but needed to be able to compose his own material and began working on a solo album. ‘Rock Dawn’ was released in 2016 and featured former Iron Maiden member Blaze Bayley who contributed vocals to three of the tracks.

The single and album are available via the website at http://www.rockdawn.co.uk/

September 2017: Celebrities line up to back new single from south-west band, Littermouth

PRESS RELEASE: Celebrities line up to back new single from south-west band, Littermouth

‘Swindler, Liar, Shagger, Cheat’ single and video takes on the tabloids

Famous names like former Eastenders actor Leslie Grantham, TV presenter Jacqui Hames, TV Gladiator Eunice Huthart and royal butler Paul Burrell, all of whom have been victims of tabloid intrusion over the years, have lined up to back the new single and video from south-west based art rock band, Littermouth.

Lead vocalist, Jon Price: “Swindler, Liar, Shagger, Cheat was written in the aftermath of the Leveson Inquiry and comments on the immoral lengths to which the tabloid press go in order to sell more papers. I wrote the lyrics to Swindler from a fictitious journalist’s view point. They talk about ‘celebrity and sordid detail’, kiss and tell, phone hacking and false front-page headlines- with subsequent apologies hidden in the depths of page 23. However, the main point is that the public wanted and paid for the kind of sensationalist, scandalous journalism that lead to some publications crossing the line of acceptability.”

The new single and video were released on August 17th. The strong political comment sits alongside a catchy melody and driving beat that epitomises the Littermouth groove.

Jon added, “It’s wonderful to know that people are connecting with Littermouth’s music at all levels from Shirley who works in my local shop, to TV celebrities involved in the Leveson Inquiry, to ex cabinet members like Charles Clarke, who emailed us to tell us how much he enjoyed the video.”

The following public figures have all expressed support for the song and video:

Charles Clarke, who was an MP until 2010 and a former Home Secretary, told the band: “Littermouth’s music video is both very enjoyable and politically spot-on. Well worth looking at”

Jane Winter, a core participant at the Leveson Inquiry, commented: “I applaud Littermouth’s timely, witty and relevant video on press freedom and control of the media.”

Leslie Grantham, the actor (most famously ‘Dirty Den’ in Eastenders) who was hacked and hounded by Sunday newspapers, simply liked, shared and commented via twitter: “Brilliant”

Jacqui Hames, TV presenter on the BBC’s Crimewatch and a former Metropolitan Police officer, had her life destroyed by news of the World journalists. She liked and retweeted the song, adding the following comment: “How long before we get #murdochthemusical who would play #murdoch ?”

Eunice Huthart, TV Gladiator ‘Blaze’, martial arts champion and stunt double for Angelia Jolie and Famke Janssen, liked and retweeted the song

Paul Burrell, former butler to Diana, Princess of Wales, told the band us via email that he liked the video and had been “hacked for 10 years by the News of the World.”

Littermouth are: Jon Price – lead vocal; Julie Meikle – backing vocals, acoustic guitar, keyboards; Andy Lloyd – drums & percussion; Andy Young – bass; and Steve Shelton – guitars, synth guitar, backing vocals. Formed in 2012 Littermouth’s members are based in Devon, Cornwall and Somerset, around the towns of Barnstaple, Bude, Newquay and Taunton.

The single and the band’s recent album are available for purchase via the band’s website at littermouth.com

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