Featured Artists
Dub Mafia
Dub Mafia are an explosive new dub heavy live drum and bass band from Bristol who have been taking the UK and Europe by suprise, with a unique combination of talented musicians forming a live dance music sensation. The Bristol based band was formed at the end of the Autumn 2009 , but despite this due to their unique new sound they have already had intertest on a global scale and have been approached by some of the biggest names in the festival scene, such as the Ultra Music festival in America. The festival is held in Miami and is one of the biggest electronic music festivals in the world. Dub Mafia have also recently launched their new videos filmed by the well known Ben Dowden (Dub Fx, Reggie Watts and Dirty Goods), one of the videos Breakneck reached number one for the most rated and most favorite tagged music video on the day after it was released on you tube. It subsequently reached number five in the YouTube music UK top rated and favorites for the week, above the likes of Janet Jackson and Cold Play. Bringing a great vibe is what its all about for the Dub Mafia collective. Dub Mafia consists of Eva on vocals with her rich diverse tones and her original melodies, Snafu the scratch master, Maf on guitar, Aron synths, David on bass, Drew on the drums and Jago on percussion. The band hit the UK festival scene in a big way this summer and will be starting their European tour in April. Read more http://www.myspace.com/officialdubmafia Or watch http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ybg2WVirFyM video recoded at Factory Studios
Skindred
Skindred blend reggae and dancehall with searing thrash and punk influences for a striking take on heavy metal hybridism. The group emerged from Wales in 1998, after the dissolution of vocalist Benji Webbe’s previous band, Dub War. Rehearsals for a new project featuring other Dub War veterans didn’t work out, but soon Webbe had hooked up with bassist Daniel Pugsley, guitarist Mikey Dee, and drummer Dirty Arya, and Skindred were officially born. The debut LP, Babylon, first appeared in 2002 and 2003, with sporadic success in parts of Europe and the U.S. metal underground. But it wasn’t until a year or so later and Lava’s involvement that the album really took off. Skindred re-released Babylon in August 2004. Lava’s version featured different cover art, and included newly recorded material in addition to the original, Howard Benson-helmed songs. The band released Roots Rock Riot in 2007, followed by Shark Bites and Dog Fights in 2009. http://www.myspace.com/skindred
Turbo Wolf
‘Utterly fantastic and unpredictable. Like an explosion in a riff factory’ – Paul Travers, Kerrang ‘One of the best bands in Britain at the moment’ – Daniel P. Carter, Radio 1 Rock Show ‘Turbowolf’s punked up riffin’ rock is an echo of the past glory days of hard rock and heavy metal, but their delivery is from the future. They are writing music you’ve never heard before. A great live band who’s songs more and more prove they have what it takes to make fans of rockers from pole to pole.’ – James Gill, Metal Hammer ‘I’m loving this at the moment, one of my top tips. I think they’re gonna be massive!’ – Rob Da Bank, Radio 1 ‘The most innovative unsigned band in Britain’ – Download Festival ‘Queens Of The Stoneage in a bar room brawl with Ghost Of A Thousand… with hammers!’ – XYZ Magazine ‘The evil twin of The White Stripes or the disobedient child of The Stooges, Turbowolf are building an electronic noise temple atop the crumbling pillars of rock music. Impossible to ignore.’ – Anthony Hill, M1st ‘This is maybe what Kyuss would sound like if they had never broken up, yeah it’s THAT good.’ – Mass Movement magazine ‘A ram-raiding red light-jumping ball of rock ‘n roll attitude… all wired alive with a pulsing undercurrent of arcing electronica.’ – Organ Magazine ‘Freshly skinned and rolled in hot sand, jerking about with chaotic caterwauling, as soon as I think I’ve grasped what’s so good about Turbowölf, they knock it out of my hands and start shagging it sideways’ – Mike White, Venue magazine ‘These guys are like all up in your grill. In a good way.’ – Don’t Panic ‘Motorhead with a disco a-bomb in their gut. Turbowölf have become our new favourite meaty, sweaty, skull-fucking band.’ – Stuart Stubbs, Loud and Quiet magazine ‘As soon as the mighty Turbowölf set foot onstage, all seems right in the world.’ – Brett Callwood, Bizarre Magazine ‘At last, a band touched with madness, oozing charisma & eccentricity that also rock like noones business. There’s is a large void in everyone’s world that Turbowolf are soon to fill – unstoppable.’ – www.strummervile.com Read more: http://www.myspace.com/turbowolfband
Dr Meaker
Dr Meaker are one of Bristol’s prize assets. Whilst their music has been compared to the likes of Reprazent and Massive Attack, many have been won over by their energetic live performances, tight production, quality writing and their ability to effortlessly mix soul fused drum n bass with heavier licks. Led by Clive Meaker, Dr Meaker released their debut long player ‘A Lesson From The Speaker’ in November 2008, a record mixed in the same studios as Portishead’s ‘Dummy’ and released on their own record label Flightcase. A week previous to the album the playground pop of single ‘Bad Boy Calling’ was presented. A record which Rob Smith (RSD) leant his remix skills to. The album was followed by the neat Jazznote-meets-DnB of ‘Double Bass’, a record that encompasses Dr Meaker and a fan favourite. It’d be difficult to place Dr Meaker into any one genre, certainly Drum N Bass is their primary calling, but as you journey through their album, a theme evolves that can be best described as Bristol Soul. On the live circuit the Dr Meaker 7 piece band made up of sax, keys, drums, guitar, bass and an vocalist plus mc and they had a busy live schedule of 2009, playing rip roaring sets at venues across the country supporting Sugarhill Gang and Lethal Bizzle on the way as well as higher profile events such as Glastonbury. Support has been welcomed from Michael Eavis, Zane Lowe, Huw Stephens, Rob Da Bank, John Kennedy, Tom Robinson, Claire Anderson (Jazz FM) and Pete Tong as well as a host of support from music press (DJ, IDJ, Word, Art Rocker, Clash) and online blogs. Energetic live performances at Glastonbury, Maida Vale, 6MusicHub and XFM in the UK have pushed home a message that Dr Meaker are a great live band who are arguably as good live, if not better, than their finely tuned recordings. The music and live set have acted like a calling card with Dr Meaker completing a remix for William Orbit early in ’09 for his record Optical Illusions. At the start of 2010 Dr Meaker are working on new material to follow up their debut album are also showing international prowess and are to be playing at the Winter Music Conference in Miami as well as a tour in Chamonix. Dr Meaker have just completed the release of their acoustic sessions EP which features collaborations with a number of talented local musicians including Lorna King. Read more: http://www.myspace.com/drmeaker
Out like a lion
Out Like a Lion formed in October 2009 and are completed by Matthew Aldus (Vocals/Guitar), Richard Gully (Bass/Vocals), James Scott (Guitar/Vocals) and Max Blunos (Drums).
Formed from two popular local bands in Bristol, Rich and Matt played music together in the band ‘Mathematics’ with James and Max playing in the band ‘Blackchalk’.
Both bands fell apart due to musical differences leaving the future members of “Out Like A Lion” empty handed and frustrated. It was then that a friend of Max introduced him to Rich thus leading to the four lads realising their musical kinship and the formation of “Out Like a Lion”.
Very quickly and organically the boys started jamming together and wrote ‘Give Us a Smile’ and ‘Life at Sea’ two tracks deemed good enough to be uploaded to the newly created MySpace page and various social networking sites which helped with the task of promoting themselves. After more recording sessions in Matt’s bedroom further tracks were uploaded, which generated 2000 plays on the MySpace page within the first day. This gave them the confidence to send out these songs to BBC Introducing, the BBC team in Bristol loved the songs and proceeded to play them on their show and requested they record an ident for the BBC Bristol introducing Show.
With the success of these songs they got passed on to Radio 1 and were played on 6 Music & Radio 1 Introducing. This was a great accomplishment and just got better when the BBC requested they play the BBC Xmas Party with Florence & The Machine and The Temper Trap in front of a crowd of 300 BBC DJ’s, Press and industry heavyweights. The show was a success and created a lot of interest and helped the band find management. Gigs continued to fly in for the band with support slots for acts such as Babyshambles, Mystery Jets, Ellie Goulding, Darwin Deez, Everything everything, Hurts, Tubelord and sharks as well as playing Glastonbury Festival and doing a live session for BBC Radio Bristol.
Summer 2010 and the band are full of life writing and recording new songs everyday helping to develop the music that has caught so many peoples attention. With a number of festival appearances already confirmed the future really does look bright.
Read more: http://www.myspace.com/outlikealion
Or watch http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTP5GAPpMyQ&feature=player_embedded video recorded at factory studios