NUSSL InSession.08
Mine @ Leeds University Union
23 January 2008 at 9.00pm
Free entry
The 2008 NUSSL InSession conference comes to Mine, showcasing new and emerging talent from indie acts under the ULive and UDisco banner. Entry to this event is FREE and features five of the best new bands from the UK and US.
HARRISONS - comprising vocalist Adam Taylor, drummer Mark White, guitarist Ben Stanton and bassist Ashley Birch - formed two years ago in Hillsborough, Sheffield before the term ‘New Yorkshire’ had even been dreamed of. Naming themselves after Harrison Road, a local street whose sign they eventually procured and used as a stage prop, they soon made a splash on the emerging local scene. Things moved quickly after that, with the band gigging around the country, picking up high profile fans (Steve Lamacq, Phil Jupitus), storming South By Southwest and recreating the football scene from Kes for the Blue Note video, roping in Phoenix Nights star Steve Edge as the PE teacher and winning the approval of Kes director Ken Loach in the process. Now, with their imminent debut album release, they are looking forward to doing what they do best – gigging.
CAGE THE ELEPHANT from Kentucky in the American South are Matt Schultz (vocals), his brother Brad (guitar) plus their friends Daniel Titchenor (bass), Lincoln Parish (guitar) and Jared Champion (drums). They share the roar of Queens Of The Stone Age, the bounce of Beck, the psychedelics of Jimi Hendrix and the funk of Rage Against The Machine. When their debut album hits in 2008 they will be impossible to ignore. Citing influences such as The White Stripes, Green Day, Kings Of Leon, Queens Of The Stone Age, coupled with the funk of Rage Against The Machine, Beck and the Beastie Boys, the virgin sound of Cage The Elephant was forged. The band toured, demoed, quickly building enough of a following to warrant stints on Lollapolooza and Bonaroo touring festivals and tours with Queens Of The Stone Age and Wolfmother.
ATTIC LIGHTS are a lot of things — talented, interesting and engaging — and they are also one of the next big sounds to come from Scotland, or more specifically, Glasgow. Calling out such stylistic influences as '70s power pop, country, and folk-rock, the band released two EPs, The Attic Lights in 2005 and Shiver the Trees in 2006. The band's debut full-length album is set for release in 2008. They have created an original sound that is filled with melodious harmonies and intense, soulful, melancholy power and emotional depth. Their music is an eclectic combination of The Beach Boys, Granddaddy and The Eels with a bit of Neil Young thrown in and just a twist of twang.
SIX NATION STATE formed in Southampton in 2004, and swiftly moved to Reading to make it easier to get to London for the gigs they intended to play. 154 dates and twelve months later, they have played festivals in Spain despite being unsigned and opened for Nine Black Alps and Babyshambles. The release of Keep Dancing in March 2006 brought the band to the attention of the media for the first time, receiving specialist national radio support from Zane Lowe, Steve Lamacq, and making it on to the playlist at XFM. The summer of 2007 saw SixNationState touring the UK extensively including a show at Brighton’s Great Escape Festival in May, a seaside tour with The Holloways and dates with The Maccabees and Jack Penate in June, performances at Guilfest and the Larmer Tree festival in July and the rescheduled Truck Festival in September.
KID ACNE comes straight outta Sheffield; a one-man gob-wobbling, microphone-bothering rap powerhouse answer to the Beastie Boys. He brings a refreshing attitude and ethos in his hip-hop - effortlessly combining humorous, often hilarious, unpretentious lyrics with a couldn’t-give-a-monkey’s attitude, all the while avoiding any unpleasant odors of irony or novelty. With previous releases on his own Invisible Spies label and a brace of highly-entertaining, crowd rocking live shows firmly stowed under his belt, Kid Acne is now perfectly poised to make the leap from local underground rap legend to nationwide musical treasure. Ackers is also an acclaimed graffiti artist and illustrator having exhibited in galleries the world over, created his own comic book, designed numerous record sleeves, flyers not to mention an entire T-shirt range for Prada.
