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Renegades: Feeder return as
Renegades — Free exclusive EP
for ticket holders at new UK tour...

AT THE END OF 2008 a huge chapter in Feeder's existence came to a close having just finished a massive UK tour which had seen the band rock the whole country.

Having stayed with record label Echo since their beginnings (a rare achievement these days), the band had come to the end of their contract with the release of their sixth studio album Silent Cry and the label was set to dissolve.

Many would view this with trepidation, but for songwriter, guitarist and vocalist Grant Nicholas this presented an incredible opportunity. With a blank page and empty diary in front of him he felt more relaxed and excited than in years. Suddenly the pressure of the usual single-album-tour schedule was alleviated and he was able to return to what he'd always done best — just write songs for himself without worrying about anything else.

He spent most of 2009 working away in his own time (with a few breaks for festivals) like he had done 18 years previously when he formed the band; no expectations, just writing for the pure joy of it. Of course, he couldn't help but construct a gaggle of accomplished catchy songs — he'd always had an ear for a tune, as proven by the bands 2006 Singles collection selling over half a million copies in the UK alone. But the new music he was making was less reflective, more instinctive and back to his rock roots — lots of guitars came out to play!

With a healthy bag of tunes, Grant, long time band member Taka Hirose and drummer Karl Brazil, decided to road test the new tracks to the people who had help elevate the band to their lofty status — the loyal fanbase who'd been checking the website for the last year wondering what was happening. The group booked a few low key shows round the country and announced them exclusively via Feederweb.com.

Not surprisingly these gigs sold out immediately. They played under the name of Renegades — no old tunes (well, maybe one or two; but very old ones!) and the response was phenomenal. It was also great fun. The band hadn't played venues this size for over a decade and it was as exciting and nerve-wracking as it had been back then.

So this next step sees the 'Renegades' moving up a gear into bigger venues returning to a galvanised core of fans, revitalised from the response to the initial shows and keen to spread the word. Feeder will of course return, but this is still the loud, uninhibited and exhilarated sound of Feeder doing what they want without a care in the world.

See them live

15 April EDINBURGH, Cabaret Voltaire | 16 April NEWCASTLE, Northumbria University | 18 April SHEFFIELD, Leadmill |
19 April CARDIFF, Millennium Hall | 21 April PORTSMOUTH, Wedgewood Rooms | 22 April LONDON, Electric Ballroom

Tickets on sale now priced Ł18.50 except London (Ł22) and doors open 7.30pm each night. Ticket price includes copy of the 4-track EP Renegades 2 which features four brand new tracks (Godhead | Home | All I Ever Wanted | In Times Of Crisis) and a video of Sentimental shot exclusively by fans who attended the first Renegades shows in Jan/Feb 2010.

Tickets: seetickets

Check out: gigsandtours

The Ambience Affair’s second EP,
Patterns, and the video to Devil In
The Detail...

PATTERNS devotes itself to circular inventions of the acoustic/electronica kind. Not heard the band before? Then check out the video for Devil In The Detail and you'll be on the road to working out what they're all about.

In early 2009 the Ambience Affair's debut EP Fragile Things made a devastating impression and their second EP, Patterns, really means business — their loop fantastic arrangements are still to the fore but the songs sound bigger and more inventive.

They sure won't be whistling this down your local pub but then TAA make songs that don't really have a chorus; instead they build incrementally as layer upon layer is added to the rich sonic mosaic.

Jamie Clarke's vocals are uncompromising and direct, providing a human angle to the swirling instrumentation. Marc Gallagher directs proceedings from his drum stool, the brewing storm never deflecting him from his important role. Patterns provides a rolling barrage of creativity with the pockets of melodies adding the necessary sweetness and light.

Jamie on Patterns: "For our second EP we wanted it to be quite a departure from the first one as regards sound. Fragile Things had a real lo-fi element to the way in which it was recorded and produced and we wanted to have a more textured sound on the second one. For Patterns, we had a lot more time on our hands and decided to become more involved with making it a denser affair. When the time comes to record the album we'll hopefully incorporate both styles of recording together with the addition of the instruments and knowledge we're picking up on our way. Until then, we hope everyone enjoys this little snapshot of where we're at at the moment."

Check out myspace.com/theambienceaffair.

Coalfinger — Forget Quantum Of Solace.
For the ultimate eco-friendly Bond, watch
Coalfinger...

WITH A SOUNDTRACK donated by Bond composer David Arnold (Quantum Of Solace, Casino Royal) and Michael Price, the animated Bond spoof stars Brian Blessed (Black Adder, Flash Gordon) as evil villain Coalfinger alongside David Mitchell (C4's Peep Show) as secret agent Gaverson Green.

Along with his dopey sidekick Dr. Anthracite, Coalfinger plans to cover the world in coal-fired power stations and destroy the climate in Operation Browncloud.

Can Green and his glamorous assistant Katrina Hurkane stop their dastardly plans? Is a top secret hideout involved? Are there plenty of double entendres? Play it and see!

Spin — Music Rules in Spin, Double Edge
Films’ sharply-observed take on saving the
world...

IN Spin, a DJ is 'The Man' putting right some
of the world's many wrongs.

Spider — It’s all fun and games until
somebody loses an eye...

BLUE-TONGUE FILMS' Spider will keep you
guessing before it takes you down with an icy,
double-whammy stab of black humour and
a cover-your-eyes ending.

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