SAFFRON, Lead Singer of REPUBLICA, Announced for L Fest 2016

It's certainly a good Friday in L Fest HQ as we can now announce that our second L Fest act to be released for L Fest 2016 is Saffron, the lead singer of Republica, who will headline the main stage on Saturday July 16th.

Formed in the early 90's, Republica achieved sales of over 3 Million Albums going Top 5 in the UK, US and Europe and achieving Platinum Sales Worldwide. The track ‘Ready To Go’ went to No. 1 in 18 countries and has been featured in Hollywood movies, TV Shows and in International advertising campaigns.‘Drop Dead Gorgeous’ was used as the theme to ‘Scream’, the Wes Craven Horror Movie and ‘Beauty Never Fades’ by Junkie XL ft. Saffon reached No. 1 in Poland.

Saffron has performed vocals for The Prodigy's "Fuel My Fire", worked with The Cure, appearing on the single "Just Say Yes" from their Greatest Hits album and she also collaborated with Junkie XL for his 2003 album

This is the second act L Fest has released after the popular announcement of Heather Peace who will headline the festival on Sunday July 17th.

Festival Director Cindy Edwards commented " We are delighted to add Saffron to the Line up as she is such a strong female singer songwriter and a great gay icon from the 90's. She has been so supportive of our work that I can't wait to work alongside her in promoting the festival. She has sold millions of albums worldwide so to get her at L Fest is fantastic. She will be performing with front woman of Auxesis Mel Sanson and I cannot wait for them to rock the stage on Saturday16th!

We are currently selling second tier tickets at £99, but these are expected to sell out within the next month as we saw a huge rise in sales after the Heather Peace announcement. The next tier price will be £110, and £120 on the door so the sooner you buy the more discount you get.

Stooshe To Play at L Fest 2015!

L Fest 2015 are proud to announce that STOOSHE have joined the festival’s already amazing line up! 

This trio of London lasses are a vocal sensation, breaking onto the music scene in 2012 with the emergence of their first single, ‘Love Me’. After being placed in the UK top 40 for over 16 weeks with their enormous hit ‘Black Heart,’ the song received a nomination for ‘Best British Single’ at the 2013 Brit Awards. 

The festival boasts an increasing level of excited attendees, all of which are counting down the days until L ­Day. If you’re looking for an event which hosts thriving music artists, classic cabaret, priceless comedy, fun sports, insightful workshops and of course, women, then this is without doubt the weekend for you. 

With a combination of all of this, including these feisty three, the exceptionally talented Lucy Spraggan alongside many other incredible acts and just three weeks to go till the festival, well, you’d be mad not to buy your a ticket here:  www.lfest.co.uk/tickets 

NEW LGBTQ MUSIC REVIEW: Tús Nua

by Lauren W

It is very rare for me to write a music review here on ATL, but I just couldn't help myself.

Tús Nua are a brand new band from Zagreb, Croatia, although they sound as though they've been performing for a lifetime.

Their sound is already so mature sounding and professional that you'd never know this band was only founded in September of 2014.

This duo is formed of Jordi (guitar/bass/synth/vocals) and Marija (bass/guitar/synth/vocals). Whilst listening to their first EP, "Existence", one cannot go without comparing them to a more modern, female Placebo (a great compliment, in my eyes).

The catchy, edgy rhythm and vocals within each of their songs causes the mind to jump to television and film soundtracks. When I first listened to track #2 on the EP ("Flowing Around"), I couldn't help but think that it wouldn't go amiss as part of a soundtrack to an angsty, sexy television show, such as True Blood or even The L Word.

On their freshman EP, guest drummer Emerge Dora seems to 'get' the band's persona and the way they want to come across, providing extremely fitting beats and clashes to create a sturdy scaffold for each of the tracks.

Self-labelled as 'hard to describe' in terms of genre, the band position themselves as somewhere between alt-rock and shoegaze; or at least a mixture of both, if you will.

It should also be noted that although this twosome hail from Croatia, they sing all of their original songs in the English language. Unfortunately, some listeners are turned off when they cannot understand the lyrics to a song. Personally, I'd listen to Tús Nua even if they sang in German, Arabic, or Zulu - their music is really that good.

You can get a FREE download of Tús Nua's "Existence" EP or listen to it online (also for free!) over at http://tus-nua.bandcamp.com/. Don't miss this.

ANTIGONE RISING Announces New Album, “Whiskey & Wine, Volume 2"

“Whiskey & Wine, Volume 2" Out March 17, 2015 

& New US Tour Dates

NEW YORK, NY - Antigone Rising (AR), the New York based all-female rock band, has announced the release of "Whiskey & Wine - Volume 2” in conjunction with new tour dates. Volume 2 will be available on iTunes and AR’s website on March 17th.

The fab four comprised of Nini Camps (lead singer), Dena Tauriello (drums) and founding sisters Kristen Henderson (bass/vocals) and Cathy Henderson (guitar/vocals), are showing no signs of slowing down!

Since releasing "Whiskey & Wine - Volume 1” on iTunes and the band’s official website last year, the band has not only kept busy with a non-stop touring schedule but as well with long studio hours to complete the highly anticipated Volume Two of the double EP project.  

"With W&W Vol. 2 the songs have gotten much more personal, the productions a little more elaborate.  These songs all have something to say.” says Kristen  Henderson.  "It's important to the band that we write songs that say something about who we are and what we stand for. We are looking forward to touring and performing the songs for a live audience, getting the crowd's reaction and visiting cities we haven't been to in quite some time. It's going to be a great year for Antigone Rising. 

The massive success of Volume One kept the band on the road for the most part of 2014 . The first single “That was the Whiskey”, co-written with Nashville songwriter Lori McKenna (Faith Hill, Little Big Town, Hunter Hayes), premiered on CMT trending in the Top 10 and was nominated in the "Country Song" Category at The 13th Annual Independent Music Awards.

Antigone Rising have toured with such A-listers as Aerosmith and The Rolling Stones; were appointed as cultural ambassadors by the United States government to tour Israel and the Middle East; and have also played a part in LGBTQ advocacy, making news when Kristin Ellis-Henderson appeared on the cover of Time Magazine with wife Sarah Kate Ellis-Henderson (president/CEO of GLAAD) for a feature on marriage equality.  

The girls have consistently been turning up everywhere from the pages of Curve Magazine, Billboard, Out Magazine, Buzzfeed, AfterEllen and the Huffington Post to appearances on The Today Show and The Tonight Show, among others. 

No one can deny the momentum behind Antigone Rising!

Known for their unique & electrifying live performances featuring toe-tapping beats and powerful vocals, Antigone Rising is not just good; they are insanely good and best experienced live.  And whether on stage or on an iPod, Antigone Rising continues to make a lot of noise!

Up & Coming LGBT Music: Sugar Bomb

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Up & Coming Lesbian Music: Jungal

JUNGAL

‘Leave My Head Album Launch Tour’

BC and Alberta - June/July/August 2013

Australian roots/rock ladies 'Jungal' return to Canadian soil to launch their latest 

record 'Leave My Head' this summer across BC and Alberta. The new tracks signify

a new, more mature and darker sound for the trio, as they explore themes of emotional disorder and the ‘crazy in us all’. Certainly, since their last full length

release in 2010 Jungal have had some profoundly challenging but powerful  learning experiences about love, life, emotion and well being.  These have included 

relationship breakups, aspergers syndrome, losing a friend to drugs, coming out, 

and the whirlwind that was their first tour in Canada. Not to mention long distance 

relationships, clinical depression, as well as the time they unknowingly hired a 

tour van of a craziest man in Canada. Whilst recording in Melbourne, Australia 

at ‘The Aviary’ with Fraser Montgomery co-producing, the Jungal ladies were able to 

explore and express these experiences. The result, ‘Leave My Head’ the 5 from the Aussie trio.

Bringing ingredients of roots, rock, a dash of blues, and a sprinkle of soul to their 

cauldron, Jungal will serve up a feast of live music to Canadians this summer  through an energetic, rocking performance. The Jungal sisterhood are renown for giving audiences their all, delivering punchy melodies, powerful grooves and  some genuine girl power. These ladies know how to prowl, and spread their foot stomping, heart pumping goodness around the globe.

During their fourth Canadian summer tour, Jungal will perform a rather long string of performances of festivals and pub shows promoting the new album. ‘Leave My Head’ will be available for Canadian Audiences from June 21. Please check out

www.jungalmusic.com for all the latest dates and info.

“Jungal doesn’t waste any time getting down to the business of rocking the house 

creating a maelstrom of frenetic energy backed up by the musical chops to rock the 

main stage of any festival."

(Paul Crawford, Music Director, Artswells Festival CAN) 

“Their energy abounds and their grooves spun our crowd into a dancing frenzy."

 (John Armstrong, Festival Director, Sasquatch Gathering CAN)

LINKS

WEBSITE:  www.jungalmusic.com

YOUTUBE: www.youtube.com/jungalmusic

FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/jungalmusic

Bookings:      Victoria Beard – vic@jungalmusic.com

Female Electro-Guitar duo, discoBAASSIK Plays Brooklyn PrideFest Main Stage

Female electro-guitar duo, discoBAASSIK (dB) will be playing two shows during Brooklyn Pride weekend. 

·  The first will be on the main festival stage located at 5th Avenue and 4th Street in Park Slope at 1pm on June 8, 2013 where they will perform their party hits "Lickety Like" and "Bag You".

·  The second wil be at Trash Bar in Williamsburg Sunday, June 9, 2013 at 9pm for a full 45 minute set displaying the wider range of their music.

The dB sound can be described as a blend of Floetry, Missy Elliot with the occassional gritty rock edge. Audiences will witness the live electronic effects and guitar solos that carry both fun and meaningful lyrics.

If you'd like more info about dB or to arrange an interview, just let me know.  If you'd like to send a writer to review the show at Trash Bar, I will put you on the list at your request.

Brooklyn based guitarist and bassist, SKY DISCO and BAASSIK (pronounced Basic) are both accomplished musicians in their own right. The duo met while working together on a rock gig.  After the gig, they found a musical synergy with each other and formed discoBAASSIK (dB).  When they realized that they were both ridiculous "gear headz" they joined their gear together to push it to the limit.  So the music you'll hear, is their own soul/funk/rock from deep down inside -- mixed with the desire to stretch the limits of their electronic equipment. Collectively, they have graced such New York stages as Lincoln Center, Joe's Pub, Santos Party House and many more. Nationally, they have had performances in Los Angeles, Washington DC, Pittsburgh, and at Pride festivals in Baltimore and Newark, NJ.   Currently teamed up with Reveller Records, dB is quickly gaining momentum in the indie and electronic music scene. Their first EP, titled "Electron-Chics" is available for free download on Bandcamp.

discoBAASSIK online:

www.discoBAASSIK.com 

Reveller Records 

REVIEW: Uh Huh Her @ Sound Control Manchester, UK

Well, here's the Uh Huh Her gig review I promised... And what a gig it was!

In fact, the gig was so good that I've resorted to planning a tattoo of some UHH lyrics. It was simply inspiring.

Of course, many of the people were only there to see "Alice from The L Word", with one or two fans shouting "marry me, Alice!" at the top of their voices, which really irritated me. When will you all learn that Alice and Leisha (Hailey) are two completely different people!? i.e. One's real and one's a character from a television show. Is it really that hard a concept to grasp?

I however, unlike the select few others, was there because I am a huge fan of the band's music: I have every single one of their songs that I can find; both of their albums, both of their EPs... I'm a 'superfan', some would say.

As a huge Leisha fan, I was extremely surprised to come out of the venue in Manchester loving Hailey's band-mate Camila Grey more than I ever thought I could. Grey's voice was sultry, smooth and beautiful, and her stage presence was sick. She oozed both sex appeal and coolness, with that perfect little bit of nerdiness underneath her broody exterior.

(Photo courtesy of deloabsurdoaloincierto via Tumblr)

As Cam played the electric guitar, bass and synth with style and f*cking awesome talent, Leisha held her own too. My first thoughts were "oh my gosh, she's so tiny", but damn, can she rock out.

When it was time for her to play a song she wrote herself from Uh Huh Her's second album titled 'Debris', (which is about phone sex, apparently) she sang in a much deeper tone than any of us L Word fans are used to, but it was god damn sexy at the same time.

What particularly stood out was the duo's acoustic version of fan-favourite, Common Reaction, in which we could really hear the expertise of the couple's voices and technical acoustic guitar playing.

Perhaps one of my favourite moments, however, was the following dialogue that occurred.

Crazed Fan: Marry me, Leisha!
Leisha: Uhh... (With a sly smile). I'm taken.
Camila: I'm not scared of you people.

I'm not sure if the rest of the room heard this, because I'm pretty sure I was the only person in the room who screamed out in approval. They're definitely the hottest, coolest couple you can imagine.

On the whole, Uh Huh Her were just a pleasure to watch. Everything about the gig was simply perfection and the pair should be proud of themselves for achieving so much in so little time.

I'd recommend them to everyone - not just the lesbians! - and especially to those who are fans of Bowie, Arcade Fire, Blonde Redhead and the like.

Cam, Leisha... I salute you.