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All!
This may be the first mailshot of 2013, but I do feel like it's a little late to still be wishing people a happy new year. Instead, let us celebrate the wonder of February, which has already given us my Mum's birthday and King Richard III being found underneath a Leicestershire car park. He was bound to turn up eventually.
So far this year I've been hard at work doing all the stuff for the new album that I always forget needs doing - working out the design, writing the liner notes, trying to remember who played what where, and other such fun. I'm delighted to announce that I still can't tell you anything about it, and instead this news update was going to consist almost solely of SuperbOwl jokes, until I looked just now on Twitter and they're still being made at a rate of about 100 per hour.
So with a heavy funny bone, here's some real, disappointingly-serious news about two new EPs and some shows, including the return of the world's greatest charity all-dayer, Lexapalooza, on Easter Sunday (31st March). Rejoice! But not too loudly because it's an important religious holiday and not just an international chocolate day.
Two new EPs out today (and a launch show, this Thursday)
Yes, this week sees the release of the first properly-new material since 2011's Outside There's A Curse album, and it arrives in the form of two digital EPs; one called Demons containing just me, and a split EP called Ben Marwood and Quiet Quiet Band Lay Low. I'm sure you can guess the name of the band who appear alongside me on that one.
To celebrate we're having an EP(s) launch party at South Street Arts Centre in Reading on Thursday night, to which you are cordially invited. Some tickets remain, at £5 plus booking fee, and I believe the Quiet Quiets have some CD-R promo copies of the split available from them on the night.
Thursday, February 7th
Double EP launch party @ South Street Arts Centre, Reading
w/Quiet Quiet Band & Tom Crook (of Band of Hope)
£5 adv/door - tickets here
Both Demons and ..Lay Low are available from all decent digital retailers, probably in fancy formats. You can also hear them on Spotify, if that's your thing, or a couple of my efforts are up on my Soundcloud page. Artwork for both was painted by the immensely talented Cat Holt, who did the artwork for Outside There's A Curse too.
Now is probably a good time to also mention that the free Incidents/Accidents EP is still up on Bandcamp for your downloading pleasure.
A Southampton gig is also happening
Saturday, March 9th
Bent Brief, Southampton
w/Rob The Liar & more
free show! 18+
And finally, the return of Lexapalooza - Boston Music Rooms, Easter Sunday, London
Yep, I'm excited about this one. For the uninitiated, Lexapalooza have previously given me the pleasure of playing alongside the likes of Frank Turner, Get Cape, Chris T-T, Jim Lockey, Oxygen Thief, Beans on Toast and many more, all in aid of raising money for Breast Cancer Campaign as well as being a really good excuse to dance, eat cake and enjoy a beer. I haven't played a Lexapalooza in ages, and I'm delighted that it's back.
There's plenty more acts to be announced but currently I'm sharing the stage with Jim Lockey & the Solemn Sun, Oxygen Thief playing a full band show, Retrospective Soundtrack Players and many more. There are no tickets in advance so just turn up on the day. If you'd like to read up on it - and you should - head over here.
So, I think that's it for now. Thanks for reading, and stay warm.
b
