* Forgive the wanton churnalism, ’tis for a most worthwhile event…

INDEPENDENT LABEL MARKET: LONDON

Saturday 19^th May, 2012,

Old Spitalfields Market, Spitalfields, London, E1 6EW

Independent Label Market will be returning to London for a third time on Saturday 19^th May, 2012, to Old Spitalfields Market.  Since launching on Berwick Street in May 2011, Independent Label Market has brought together the founders of some the World’s greatest Independent Record Labels on both sides of the Atlantic to sell their fresh vinyl produce directly to the public at that traditional goods exchange – a market stall.

As the music industry embraces mp3s and a more digital strategy, Independent Label Market is proving to be an valuable reminder of how music retail can be a social affair; people hanging out together as a community and buying records.

‘Independent Label Market : London’ will welcome back a host of labels from the Berwick Street debut, including Angular, R&S, Moshi Moshi, Chess Club, Heavenly, Tri Angle and Bella Union. Returning from the Christmas market at Spitalfields will be Domino, Fabric, One Little Indian, and Fat Cat.  We are also delighted to announce newcomers Warp, Because, Phantasy Sound and Transgressive.

The heads of these labels will be manning the booths, selling their own products—new, catalog, rarities—at this unique and intimate new format for record-buying.

There will be a host of exclusive releases, artist appearances and much more from the following labels:

*Angular
*Domino
*Fabric
*Fat Cat
*Borstal Beat
*Lucky Number
*One Little Indian
*Sonic Cathedral
*Stolen Recordings
*Sunday Best
*Tri Angle
*Warp

The Scottish Music Industry Association (SMIA) is delighted to unveil the hotly anticipated shortlist for the inaugural Scottish Album of the Year (SAY) Award.

All ten albums remain in contention for the coveted £20,000 prize.

After 100 music and arts industry figures from across Scotland submitted their nominations for the Scottish Album of the Year, a longlist featuring the 20 highest scoring records was announced on April 12th.

That longlist has now been reduced to a shortlist of 10 following the deliberations of a specially invited judging panel.

The shortlist features one record voted for by the general public who have been able to listen to all 20 longlisted albums online and via a specially designed SAY Award app. With the voting ‘window’ only open for 24 hours on May 14th, more than 9,000 votes were submitted online and via the app.

The SAY Award is one of the UK’s most exciting and progressive arts prizes with the shortlist reflecting the same stylistic diversity and depth of talent that made the longlist so impressive.

The list features a host of acclaimed collaborations including King Creosote and Jon Hopkins and Bill Wells and Aidan Moffat; the dancehall and dub reggae of Mungo’s Hi-Fi alongside the acid-jazz fusion of Tommy Smith; the complex instrumentals of Mogwai and Remember Remember; the breathless techno invention of Rustie and the ethereal ambience of Happy Particles; the A-list straddling angst-rock of public vote winners Twin Atlantic offset by the glacial, micro-electronica of Conquering Animal Sound.

The Scottish Album of the Year Shortlist is (in alphabetical order):
 Bill Wells & Aidan Moffat “Everything’s Getting Older”
 Conquering Animal Sound “Kammerspiel”
 Happy Particles “Under Sleeping Waves”
 King Creosote & Jon Hopkins “Diamond Mine”
 Mogwai “Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will”
 Mungo’s Hi Fi “Forward Ever”
 Remember Remember “The Quickening”
 Rustie “Glass Swords”
 Tommy Smith “Karma”
 Twin Atlantic “Free” (public vote winners)

The winning album will be announced at a prestigious ceremony in Glasgow Film City on Tuesday 19th June, earning a grand prize of £20,000.

The nine runners-up will each receive £1,000.

All ten shortlisted finalists will receive an artwork from the winner of a unique SAY Award art commission which celebrates the enduring links that exist between music and art. The commission, valued at £20,000, will be offered to graduates from Scotland’s four principal art schools with the winning graduate (selected, in this pilot year, from Glasgow’s School of Art) producing ten artworks to be donated as prizes for the shortlisted finalists.

Caroline Parkinson, Director of Creative Development for Creative Scotland, said: “The SAY Award is a fantastic recognition and celebration of Scotland’s rich and diverse musical talent, as this shortlist confirms. We are a nation of music lovers, the award is a brilliant way to connect these music lovers with our talented artists. Even better that the public, in this the Year of Creative Scotland 2012, have had a say in the shortlist.”

Stewart Henderson, Chair, Scottish Music Industry Association, said: “This is a list of Scottish artists that excites, inspires, challenges and entertains, and for that we should all feel enormously proud.”

For the latest Scottish Album of the Year Awards news, check out www.sayaward.com, www.facebook.com/SAYaward and follow on Twitter @SAYaward

Selected quotes from nominated artists:

“I’m honoured, humbled and proud to be part of what I hope will become a permanent fixture in Scotland’s music scene. It’s worked well so far – I’ve discovered some great records I’d never have heard of otherwise, but it also appears that I know at least half of the shortlist, so whatever the outcome I’m pretty much guaranteed a cracking night out.” – Aidan Moffat

“It’s still mind blowing to us that complete strangers appear to keep the record close to their hearts, it’s genuinely touching, thank you.” – Steven Kane, Happy Particles

“Jon Hopkins and I are proud as punch to end up on the short list for the newest and coolest of prizes, the SAY Award. Of all the awards ‘Diamond Mine’ has been nominated for and subsequently lost, losing this one will smart most.” – King Creosote

“It’s a huge honour for Mogwai to be part of the short list for the first Scottish Album Of The Year award. We’re in great company on the list with some truly remarkable records made by some exceptional musicians and song writers. I think the award has highlighted how much great music is produced in Scotland every year and we’re delighted to be part of it.” – Stuart Braithwaite, Mogwai

“Regardless of who wins, I just hope that the award brings all of these great albums (short and longlisted) into the homes of people across the world who otherwise might not have ever heard of them. This is so surreal, I feel like Susan Boyle”. – Graeme Ronald, Remember Remember

“Super happy to be considered for this award, recognition is always nice but this is particularly special as it’s from my homeland.” – Rustie

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Hola mouseketeers!

How you doin?

Brighton, UK, eh?

Brilliant record shops, by the sea, smashing beach, great live music venues, an ace arts scene, lovely pubs, wonderful eateries, trendy clothes shops, laidback bongo-playing bohos, and cutting edge cosmopolitan beautiful people everywhere – - O Brighton, how i hate your freaking a-mellower-version-of-London-on-the-coast guts, you make me sick to my very (old, bitter and twisted) core. Grrrrr!

…

Only kidding!

Your humble web monkey LOVES Brighton, and i am just – in the parlance of the day – Well. Jeal.

This weekend sees the return of the mahoosive multi-venued multi-faceted festival The Great Escape. And it’s even biggerer and betterer than previous years (if such a thing were possible).

CLICK HERE for more deets.

If you’re in the area (fudge you, you lucky fudgers!) – make sure to check out some shows and definitely get yourself down the record shops.

Here are just some of the [PIAS] UK related acts appearing at the fest. Deep breath…..

Δ (Alt-J)
22
Alabama Shakes
Alunageorge
Antlered Man
Blanck Mass
Cloud Nothings
Dan Le Sac
DZ Deathrays
Errors
Eugene Mcguinness
Exitmusic
François And The Atlas Mountains
Gang Colours
Grimes
Hooded Fang
Howler
Kwes
Man Like Me
Maximo Park
Micachu & The Shapes
Milagres
My Best Fiend
Mystery Jets
Nathan Fake
Perfume Genius
Porcelain Raft
Shabazz Palaces
Spoek Mathambo
The Computers
The Temper Trap
The Twilight Sad
We Are Scientists
We Are The Ocean
We Were Promised Jetpacks
Willis Earl Beal
Zulu Winter

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Or check out the mega-poster below.

Bah – Brighton!

Haha.

Adieu for now…

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