Notts music 2015

January 1 2015

2014 saw a sold out show at the Capital FM Arena by Jake Bugg, a Top 20 single for Indiana, critical acclaim for Ronika and Sleaford Mods, plus a two-month arena tour with Ed Sheeran for Saint Raymond. So what in store for Nottingham musicians in 2015?

THERE has been no date set for Jake Bugg’s third album but you could bet your house on Nottingham’s biggest music star releasing it by the end of the year.

Remember, Shangri La followed just a year after his No. 1 self-titled debut but that was at the end of 2013.

While touring the world this year, the 20-year-old (he turns 21 in February) has been crafting new music, playing a number of fresh tunes at gigs such as Looking Down The Alley and Hold On You.

We can also expect an arena tour to follow and a return to the Capital FM Arena, which he played in February.

Snapping at his heels is Saint Raymond, 19-year-old Callum Burrows from Bramcote, who has been building momentum all year for the release of his debut album.

As well as three songs in the iTunes Top 30 (a fourth single Fall At Your Feet is out this week), he went on the road with Ed Sheeran for two months playing arenas across the UK and Europe, including two shows in Nottingham.

“2014 has been insane, all the shows, recording the album, and obviously the tour with Ed Sheeran,” he said, promising the album would be out “earlyish 2015”.

One would hope it lands before he plays his sell-out show at Rock City in February, only the second Notts artist to do that. The other? Jake Bugg, of course.

The album was finished months ago, as was the debut by his mates Amber Run, the anthemic guitar band who got together at uni in Nottingham.

They released three singles on RCA and a fourth, I Found, is due in January.

What we do have a date for is Indiana’s No Romeo album, which will be released on January 26.

The 27-year-old mum-of-two, who lives in Long Eaton, has had phenomenal support from Radio 1 this year, earning her a Top 20 single, Solo Dancing.

Don’t be surprised to see her at Splendour this summer after a year off from the festival when she joined the line-up for DHP Family’s new No Tomorrow festival in Wollaton Park last summer.

Expect more new music from Ronika, whose Selectadisc album picked up phenomenal reviews.

As did Sleaford Mods. The punk duo’s latest album Divide And Exit made a number of end-of-year polls including the NME and The Guardian. Their Rescue Rooms gig on January 27 is sold out.

Dog Is Dead, now called D.I.D., have been exploring a sludgier, if still melodic, sound. Hear them at The Bodega in March.

Notts-raised soprano Lucy Kay goes on tour with Britain’s Got Talent winners Collabro this month, including the Royal Concert Hall. The 25-year-old has been performing for celebrities and royalty, here and in Hong Kong, following the Top 20 success of her debut album, Fantasia.

Grime star Gino, who has a phenomenal following on social media, should break through this year.

Others expected to build on their success in 2014 are Gallery 47, who toured with Paul Weller; Joel Baker, who had Radio 1 support from Huw Stephens and Fearne Cotton; Harleighblu who played festivals across Europe, and guitar band Lacey, fresh from winning a support slot with James Blunt at the Capital FM Arena.

Amber Run

October 2014

THERE are a number of unsigned bands and musicians from over the county line who claim to be part of the Nottingham music scene due it’s healthy state.

Amber Run aren’t one of them. Although four of them are school friends from Buckinghamshire, they formed as a band at the University of Nottingham.

Joe Keogh (vocals, guitar), Will Jones (guitar), Tom Sperring (bass) and Felix Archer (drums) met Henry Wyeth (keyboards) in Nottingham (“he was Tom’s next door neighbour”), forming Amber (later renamed Amber Run) two years ago.

They quit before finishing their degree courses to pursue the rock ‘n’ roll dream and it’s been paying off; they have just released a third EP for RCA Victor, played Reading and Leeds festivals, enjoyed national radio support and had a strong press reaction: “Their vast sound has Coldplay stadium ambitions” (Independent); “Epic tunes that sound destined for arenas” (Daily Star); and “Incredibly effective” (The Sun).

One would expect the local music scene to embrace them.

“Sometimes we get a bit of stick for saying we’re from Nottingham,” says singer, guitarist and chief songwriter Joe Keogh.

“I’m not really sure why that happens. Maybe it’s just me being hypersensitive about it.”

He adds: “The Nottingham music scene is the reason we exist as band. Regardless of where we were all born we love the scene and I will do everything I can to champion it as long as I’m making music.”

The quintet are currently on the road with top 40 singer songwriter Lewis Watson, playing 500 capacity venues around the UK.

“They are all around that size but we played Shepherds Bush Empire, which is around 1,500. It was mad, very tasty, I had a really good time.

“Lewis is an absolute gem, which is a good job because we’re sharing a tour bus with him.”

The tour comes to the Rescue Rooms tomorrow, and they’ll be doing just 30 minutes. But they will return on November 9 on the New Faces Tour, playing the Bodega.

Says Joe: “I like being on the road. I hate sitting around doing nothing. I want to play as many shows as possible.”

Who would be an ideal tour to go on?

“I’d love to be on the Bombay (Bicycle Club) tour. I’d love to hang out with the Catfish (& The Bottlemen) guys. I’ve met them a few times and they’re a laugh. I’m dead pleased for them for the Top 10 album.

“And love to go on tour with Callum (Burrows, aka Nottingham’s Saint Raymond) as well. We’ve done one off gigs but never an extended run of shows.

“It’s just that diaries haven’t synched or whatever. It’s definitely been discussed. He’s off on tour with Ed Sheeran for the next three months and we’re pretty busy so, hopefully next year.”

Saint Raymond and Amber Run’s careers have been running in tandem, pretty much with a few EP releases each. But who will be the first to get their debut album out?

“I think it’ll be Callum. Both our albums are done and we’ve signed them off. Now it’s deciding the best time to get them out.

“With the Ed Sheeran tour, Callum is getting loads of exposure so it’s a really good time to push his album out.”

He adds: “But I’m really happy with the way things are moving for us. Although I must admit, I’ve enough material for a second album already.”

Saint Raymond

March 28 2014

ANY birthday for a teenager is usually a big occasion but when Callum Burrows turns 19 on Sunday he’ll be taking it easy.
“It’s going to be a bit of an anti-climax because I’ve got a show in Southampton that night,” says Bramcote’s rising music star, better known as Saint Raymond.
“The party will probably happen tonight because I’ve got a day off tomorrow.”
Is he worried about turning 19?
“It’s game over, isn’t it!?,” he jokes.
“I’ve got until Sunday to enjoy it while I can.”
Tonight is a sold-out gig at the Rescue Rooms, one of the last few dates on his current headline UK tour. It finishes in Norwich on Monday.
“I’m quite looking forward to getting home and chilling out for two days before getting back on it,” he adds.
That means more writing, a couple of shows in Ireland, then back to the US.
“I didn’t really have any expectations for this tour but it’s been really good. Sometimes you worry that no-one’s going to turn up but every show’s been really busy.
“We’ve been building towards Nottingham really. I’m really excited about that. I don’t want to wish the tour away but I’m so excited about the Nottingham show. And that it’s sold out is kind of crazy. I’ve wanted to play there for so long.”
Next stop, Rock City?
“That’s the dream,” says Callum, who believes he’s played every venue in Nottingham.
The current tour has meant him swapping the comfort of his bed at his parents’ home for a bunk on a tour bus.
“I don’t mind it,” he says.
“There are seven of us on the bus and we play football, Xbox, watch films and a lot of nothing... just chilling out before the show.
“All of us get a bit rowdy. We put music on at stupid o’clock but you can take yourself to bed whenever you want. You’ve got your own space.”
He adds: “After the gig we’ll travel to the next city at around midnight and wake up in the car park of the venue.”
As well as London band The Mispers, who have been supporting him on the UK tour - “and showing me how to party” - Saint Raymond will be joined by Nottingham’s Amber Run at the gig tonight, a last minute addition.
The quintet played their own headline show at Nottingham Contemporary on Wednesday (see review right).
Says Callum: “Me and Joe (Keough, singer) had a drunken chat and said ‘let’s do it’. I really like those boys.”
When Jake Bugg, the one for Callum and others to chase, played his sell-out gig at the Capital FM Arena last month, Callum couldn’t make it because he was back in Los Angeles.
“We’re just starting to piece the album together really,” he says of his debut, which he hopes will be released after the summer festival season is over.
“The songs are there, I’ve just got to get them done but it’s coming together nicely.”
The hold up is finding the right producer.
“When that’s all sorted we can get cracking,” says the Notts County fan, who had his first session for Radio 2 this week.
Is he fussy?
“Well I struggle to decide what socks to wear in the morning, put it that way,” he admits.

Amber Run

March 2014

IN less than a year, Amber Run have gone from playing their fourth gig at a key UK music festival, to getting a major label deal, Radio 1 airplay, TV exposure and over 100,000 views on YouTiube for one of their videos.
The anthemic rock quintet could easily be Nottingham’s next big thing.
And should that happen then frontman Joe Keough is prepared. At least for the enthusiastic attention of female fans.
“I played a show at the Approach; it was just me, before started the band,” says the 21-year-old, who came to Nottingham to study, as did the rest of Amber Run.
“And there were two 40-year-old women shouted me down and said ‘we’ve got something for you’. And threw their pants on stage both with their phone numbers on.
“I didn’t know where to look or what to say.”
At the time, he was performing as Josh Keough (“my family have always called me Joe”) but soon realised he enjoyed the bigger sound that a band could give his songs.
Enter a few of his uni friends: Will Jones (guitar), Tom Sperring (bass), Felix Archer (drums), Henry Wyeth (keyboards).
Within a year, Amber Run were playing their fourth and fifth gigs at the Leeds and Reading Festivals and signed to RCA.
They are on their first headline tour of the UK, which comes to Nottingham Contemporary tomorrow night.

They’ve also been supporting Kodaline playing to crowds of up to 3,500 people.
“We didn’t support them but we went to see them at the 02 in Dublin the other night and there were 15,000 people there,” he says.
“They’re like the softer side of Coldplay and they can pull in quite a crowd.”
Which is fitting as Amber Run are big fans of Coldplay and their influence is clear in the band’s sound.
“I love Coldplay,” says Joe, who is the band’s vocalist and chief songwriter.
Next month, Amber Run release Spark, their third single, following Noah (100k views on YouTube) and Heaven, both supported by Zane Lowe and Fearne Cotton on Radio 1.
“Their vast sound has Coldplay stadium ambitions,” said The Independent, while The Daily Star described them as “epic tunes that sound destined for arenas”.
The quintet are working on their debut album with producer Mike Crossey (Arctic Monkeys, Two Door Cinema Club, Foals, Jake Bugg), due for release later this year.
“It’s finished,” says Joe.
“I think it will be out in October but don’t hold me to that because you never know. It’ll be after we’ve done the festival circuit and released another single.”
Festival appearances already confirmed are the Great Escape, Y Not, Isle of Wight and Liverpool Sound City.
He adds: “There are more than enough tracks there that we could release it tomorrow but we may go and do some more new songs to go on it. We’re always writing and always trying to get better.
“Either way I can’t wait to get it out there and for people to hear it.”


Amber Run play The Space at Nottingham Contemporary tomorrow from 8pm. Tickets are £6 in advance from alt-tickets.co.uk or at the door.