Archive | January, 2014

Lyndsey Craig Q&A

Lyndsey Craig

With the imminent release of her debut ep ‘Blue Jays’ and a forthcoming launch night at The Counting House in Edinburgh, Feast caught up with Lyndsey Craig for a chat.

How long have you been making music?I’ve been making music since the age of 8. My dad taught me ‘Twist And Shout’ on guitar and ever since I was hooked. I started writing much more serious songs at 12 and that’s when the YouTube channel was set up.

Who are your musical influences?
My Dad’s music taste really rubbed off on me as a kid. I grew up listening to rock n roll- Hendrix, Clapton (the lads.) But like any other musician I’m sure, my music taste changes daily. For example, I am absolutely loving Lorde and Disclosure right now.

What process goes into the way you write songs?I wish I could say I had some sort of recipe for writing a song but it’s all very random. I go through periods where I can’t write anything at all and then all of a sudden I’m writing a song in 10 minutes. Those creative times are when I abuse my guitar and songbook the most!

What can people expect from your live shows?
I adore playing live! My gigs are usually pretty intimate and end in me chatting and getting to know almost everyone there which i think is really important.

Funniest thing that’s ever happened at a gig?
My big sister crying. Literally every gig of mine she comes to she has tears in her eyes because she’s the only person who really knows what the songs are about. It’s quite adorable but I find it hilarious!

What can we expect to see/hear from you in the future?
2014 is a busy year for me. I have the launch of my debut EP, ‘BLUE JAYS’ 7.2.14 with the launch at the Counting House at 8pm. I’m playing numerous gigs around Edinburgh during February, March and April including playing alongside Natalie Reid at Sneaky Pete’s on the 28th of February. I also have a potential studio recording with an amazing artist who I won’t name just yet! She’s a big influence of mine and has a massive online following though- hint hint! Then just gig gig gig till summer and that’s when all the excitement really begins!

The Winter Tradition Q&A

Winter Tradition
At Feast, we like our local music. So Leah Curtis at Feast had a wee chat with Mark Morrow, guitar and backing vocals for “The Winter Tradition”.

What got you into music?
I was brought up in a very musical household. My dad was a drummer in a rock band, and his Dad played trumpet for a big band at the Glasgow Barrowlands. My uncle played guitar and I was always fascinated with it. I started playing when I was 7 and always wanted to start a band, even from that age!

Who or what inspired you to do so?
We first started a band when we were young at high school. I think around the age of 13/14. We used to listen to a lot of fast pop punk bands and always loved the idea of being in a band! We started playing our favourite songs together and gradually started to write out own.

What’s it like playing on stage? Do you get nervous?
Playing on stage is great – our band loves playing live and we are always trying to better our live show and production with each gig. We don’t really get nervous as such, is more of an excited feeling. Before we go on stage, we’re in our room doing vocal warm ups and generally trying to keep our excitement level stable!

Do you get recognised walking down the street?

Haha, I wish we did! We sometimes walk down the street and see the odd person walk past wearing our t-shirt. It’s a strange but good feeling!

If you had any superpower, what would it be and why?

Good question! And one question I spend lots of time thinking about! I think I would chose the power of flying. No reason really – just think it would be fun to be able to do.

What advice would you give aspiring musicians and/or bands who are starting out/wanting to start something?
Being in a band is hard work and covers a wide range of jobs. Writing and performing music is quite a small (but most important) part of being in a band. When you start out, you are acting as manager, booking agent, press contact, driver, roadie, merch seller and lots more! It’s very fun but can be quite intense sometimes! Put in the hard work and you will start to see what works and what doesn’t!

The Winter Tradition are on tour during Jan/Feb. Tour dates are as follows:

29th Jan – The Cookie Jar, Leicester
30th Jan – The Hop, Wakefield
31st Jan – Upstairs @ The Garage, London
6th Feb – King Tuts, Glasgow
7th Feb – Tolbooth, Stirling
8th Feb – Cafe Drummonds, Aberdeen
9th Feb – Madhatters, Inverness
10th Feb – Heriot-Watt University, Galashiels
11th Feb – Duke’s Corner, Dundee
15th Feb – Twa Tams, Perth

New Single ‘Departures’ out 10th Feb on iTunes and www.thewintertradition.com .
Posted by Leah

Edinburgh Hogmanay Review

2014
Feast started the night over at the main stage enclosure with Edinburgh’s own The 10:04’s opening the proceedings.
The band only played a 20 minute set, but they made sure they left a lasting impression on the huge crowd.
Having seen the boys play in practically ever venue across the city, they showed that they have the tunes and the swagger to make the leap into the big time league.
The formidable frontmen of Steven Bolton and Danny Scrimshaw looked confident, as they exchanged vocal duties
The brooding ‘Lights Out’ and ‘Throes’ sound taught, delicate and romantic, yet full of harmony,sung with boys Scottish brogue, it’s a fantastic contemporary direction.
They played a set laden with newer tracks, it was a great showcase to highlight the fantastic new music, currently being produced in Edinburgh.
Whilst I wished the 04s had ended their set, how they normally do, with the gloriously noisy ‘About Tonight’, as it would’ve kicked off the night with a bang, but that’s just preference.

Next up we meandered through the masses for Chvrches.
The next big Scottish export for sure, having enthralling audiences across the pond and their tracks being played absolutely everywhere.
Chvrches cross-over success has been astounding and looks certain to continue with mainstream dominance in 2014.
Devoid of any, high tech lighting, or imagery, the trio, let their music let the crowd know exactly what they were about. The trio made up of Iain Cook and Martin Doherty mixing familiar yet bittersweet electro soundscapes behind Lauren Mayberry sugar-sweet vocals, effortlessly cajoling those in front of them to dance.
Mayberry’s haunting vocals soared across the still night air as the synth pop soundscape of We Sink and the aura of The Mother We Share further set
The gem of their set proved to be the shimmering Under the Tide, with Doherty taking the mic – the vocal exchange between him and Mayberry creating a pumping electro but brilliantly understated track. A fantastic set from Scotland’s next massive band.

Django Django are the new party band!
The new festival headline band du jour!
End of story. The atmosphere before the boys jumped on stage, was electric.
These boys have upped the game, before,they were eclectic, enthralling and exciting, now they are the finished article, strutting about the Waverly stage they had the crowd dancing as they juggled instruments and synths as their arsenal of tracks stormed the stage.
The mathematical future disco kings warp a plethora of influences from 70s prog, afrobeat percussion, and pounding synths into a a full on pounding, euphoric, electric party.
Crowd favourites ‘Hail Bop and ‘Default’ had the crowd bouncing into a fevered mess before the bells and fireworks.
A completely fitting night, to one of the country’s exciting band, here’s hoping Django Django are playing the festivals.

With such a strong Scottish line up (we’re claiming Django Django as half of the band are Scottish) of exciting music, its a great platform to show off the Scottish music scene.

Posted by Stacy