City Of Song Festival - Full Lineup Announced

In what is shaping up to be the most ambitious weekend in our label history, we're delighted to announce full details of all the acts appearing in this year's City Of Song Festival. Put together with our good friends at Music 55-7; spanning four venues in Derry City, two days and sixteen acts on the 'Tennants Trail': this will be one hell of a party.

Thank you to Wally, Brian, Kevin Murphy and the festival team for pulling out all the stops on this one. Smalltown America will host two special showcases on Friday night (September 26th) in Bound For Boston and on Saturday afternoon (September 27th all-ages) in the Nerve Centre. All shows are free.

For full listings on The City of Song Festival, check out the myspace page!

Junior Johnson: Carving depth to a rhyme, singing out of time, spilling pots of soul thoughts, from the bowl of cherries in his mind. Junior Johnson is a unique and talented singer-songwriter from Randalstown. Splitting his time between his hometown and his adopted second home of Andalucia in Spain, Junior will surely bring a world weary style of folk to the Tennents Trail.

Skruff: The recent release of Skruff's 5 track E.P "Naked Us" which has proved to be their most successful recording to date, has helped shoot the Derry four-piece to wider critical acclaim and radio play throughout Ireland and England, as well as a recent appearance on the BBC's local flagship music program 'ATL TV'. With support slots for  Shaun Ryder of The Happy Mondays, The Twang, The Rumble Strips, The Enemy, and most recently The Futureheads under their collective belts, Skruff continue to impress music lovers with their 'Dance enhanced Rock with electrifying pop melodies'

Daveit Ferris: A Derry-born singer/songwriter, Daveit has been involved in the local music scene for the last 6 years. Perhaps better known as the frontman in local bands 'The Mascara Story' and 'Rescue the Astronauts', Daveit is currently ploughing a rich vein of creativity, releasing three albums to date this year.

Jonny Black: Belfast-based Jonny Black is better known as the frontman for noise-rock outfit, Lafaro. However as a singer songwriter his sound is more reminiscent of Bob Dylan or Robert Johnson. One to watch out for on the Tennants Trail.

Robert Holmes: Owner of the recently re-opened Backbeat records in Belfast and a singer/songwriter of some repute, Belfast man Robert Holmes joins the City of Song  festival to showcase his Debut recording “The Hazard Hill ep”. With a sound that Hot Press magazine describes as “Dark and Brooding”, Robert will be sure to add to the diversity of the Tennants Trail.

Michael Mormecha: A man of many talents, Michael is the current frontman for Lisburn rockers Mojo Fury and the drummer for Derry's very own Red Organ Serpent Sound. With such a heavy schedule, it's a wonder that Michael finds the time to dabble in field of singer-songwriting, so we are delighted to have his considerable talents on the Tennents Trail.

Johanna Fegan: Johanna is a mainstay of the Derry music community, having featured in numerous bands over the course of the last 6 years. Currently fronting up and coming local band, 'Firequeen', Johanna is a talented and assured performer with a powerful voice.

Alan MX: Hailing from Hampshire, England, Alan MX is the latest artist to emerge from the roster of Smalltown America records. A wizard of lo-fi electronica, Alan intertwines thought-provoking lyrics with stylish and elegant electro soundscapes.

The Young Playthings: Another act on the roster of Smalltown America, The Young Playthings are a three-piece power-pop act hailing from Oxford, England. Dealing in sun-kissed melodies and luscious pop melodies, The Young Playthings are sure to steal your heart.

Here Comes The Landed Gentry: When ex-members of Red Organ Serpent Sound, Bam Bam & The Calling, The Subtitles, Room 31 & The Free Radicals got together, people said..... "Mmm what have we here?.... a Supergroup?" Maybe....maybe not.... but what we do have is a group of misfits blending Rockabilly, Country, Punk & Blues with a little instant catchiness. Holy Guacamole! Here Comes The Landed Gentry!

Balkan Alien Sound: A band consisting entirely of Derry based musicians with an interest in the music of Eastern Europe and the Balkan regions, Balkan Alien Sound bring a fresh and unique sound to the City of Song Festival. Offering their own interpretation of musical stylings from Eastern Europe, ranging from Klezmer, Romanian, Bulgarian and Turkish dances, Balkan Alien Sound are sure to go down a storm.

Pine Leaf Boys: “The Pine Leaf Boys are steeped in tradition (singer-accordionist Wilson Savoy is the son of Cajun performer-scholars Marc and Ann Savoy) but with free-range ambitions in soul, Canned Heat-style boogie, zydeco (the country funk of black Louisiana) and Mardi Gras Indian chants. They did it all - sometimes all at once - in their Jazz Fest set with the tight, headlong delight that makes Blues de Musicien (Arhoolie), their second album, the next best thing to a Saturday night dance in Lafayette” ROLLING STONE MAGAZINE

Posted by andrew on 19th September 2008 at 6:44pm