Eight questions with Ruby Confue

1. First up, happy new year! What was your best Christmas present this year… or the worst?

A beautiful gift, brand spanking new GHD's hair styler- saying goodbye to bad hair days! (Haha)

2. Who is Ruby Confue? (a short introduction)

I am an Urban Jazz singer, writer and performance artist currently writing my debut album and devising a live show to tour the U.K and Europe.

3. How long have you been making music, and what have the highlights been so far?

Originally from a more theatre, stage performance background I first collaborated with Lighterthief on the Ruby Confue music project in February '15! (where does the time go?) The highlights have been, creating the music video for my debut single Baby 126, the styling, locations etc, performing at the Bedford in Balham last year. They have fantastic sound engineer in this venue- playing with Vanessa Jamie, she is fantastic and performing at a number of festivals last summer, particularly Fieldview! Epic summer!

4. This is the point where I usually ask about a recent release... do you have an EP or album in the pipeline?! When can we hear it?

My current EP is available at rubyconfue.com and my forthcoming album is in development.

5. We're looking forward to your headline slot at The Blue Man in Brighton... have you caught the supports, Jojo Macari and Hazey Jane, before?

I am so excited to play Brighton again, we will be returning for the third time! The Blue Man is a beautiful venue, works great with acoustic, jazz sets. I played with Jojo back in November. Comedic blend of accents, story telling and slick guitar riffs. Hazey Jane are new to me but I always Google the acts i'm playing with to get a sense of their vibe before a show.

6. Who is your audience and how do you connect with your fans? Any crazy, fun, exciting stories are very welcome.

Luckily for me my audience are diverse. I have fans as young as 2 and as old as 80 and all that's in between. I keep them in the loop and connect via social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat... I am going to be doing a lot more interactive Facebook live videos this year so we'll see how that goes. I have an awesome fan story... fan of the year. I played a gig in my hometown back in October and bought a snazzy jumpsuit to wear- being the starving artist I am I left the label in the item as I couldn't afford it so was going to wear it for the gig then return it (naughty I know) However fan Marie to the rescue spotted the label and told me i'd left it in. I'm not one to be embarrassed so I explained my cunning plan! Marie wasn't having any of it and insisted that I had to keep the garment so essentially tipping me the £40 to keep the jumpsuit. Marie paid for it!!! What a legend, a babe. I've worn it several times since. Thank you Marie from Swindon!!!

7. What would your dream gig look like? Are there any artists you’d love to play alongside or cities you haven’t visited yet?

When we started this project I wanted a visual theme, themes help when you're creating. The theme I came up with is the Psychedelic Urban Circus. My dream gig would be a combination of these themes a wild, colourful, circus with an urban heart. Think big top stripy festival tent with graffiti artists, circus performers, break dancers, fire eaters, clowns you name it! A colour explosion of self expressing wonder!

8. What does 2017 hold for you?

2017 is the year when the album takes shape, we build on our fanbase and aim to create perform, share, and create some more! Lots of festivals we are applying for Secret Garden Party, Boomtown (hopefully Glastonbury) to name a few and some beautifully visual ideas for new music videos on the agenda also. 2017, lets be 'avin ya!

Ruby Confue headlines at Brighton's The Blue Man for us on 29th Jan - tickets are pay what you want on the door, reserve a spot here! Support comes from Jojo Macari and Hazey Jane.

Eight questions with Rews

1. First up, happy new year to you both! We’re intrigued - what were your best Christmas presents this year… or the worst?

Best- Collette went to Madrid for a few days, that was a great present, quality time and sight seeing! Shauna got a skull desk tidy and got to spend time with her mum, sisters and 6 screaming (and lovely) nieces and nephews!

2. Who are REWS? (a short introduction)

REWS are a high energy female rock duo. We aim to make people dance and throw away the shackles of every day mundane life!

3. How long have you been making music together, and what have the highlights been so far?

We've been a band for just over a year and a half now. Highlights so far have to be playing Glastonbury last year, getting some major support from the likes of Huw Stephens, and building an awesome team who we love, and lastly, developing our sound!

4. You’re touring the UK in Feb/March, including a date for us in Oxford at Fusion Arts. Do you need sightseeing tips for the city?

We've both been to visit Oxford before but it's always lovely to get some other peoples ideas of where to go! We both love food and having fun so if there's any ridiculous places to visit that involve both...we're there!!

5. How are you preparing for the tour as it draws closer?

Well, we are refining some of our new songs in order to feature them in our live set. We're also starting our year in regards to fitness after the Christmas food mountain, haha!! It's important to have a healthy body and mind ahead of something as gruelling as a tour. (Writing this whilst drinking cocktails and eating a mound of nachos and burgers haha!!)

6. Who is your audience and how do you connect with your fans? Any crazy, fun, exciting stories are very welcome.

Our fans are anyone who engages with our music and finds a connection. We encourage them to shake their bums and dance like no-ones watching!!We connect with our fans by showing our true colours on stage so people find they can approach us at gigs. A lot of our connection is through social media, we love a tweet or a shout out! Crazy stories...there's been a few, more suitably shared over a pint haha!

7. What would your dream gig look like? Are there any artists you’d love to play alongside or cities you haven’t visited yet as a band? Looks like you’re taking in a lot of places on the upcoming tour!

There are looooads of gigs we would love to play, especially International festivals like Coachella, Eurosonic and Benacassim to name a few. We would love to support Nothing but thieves, lower than Atlantis, Korn or Bring me the Horizon! We would love to visit Japan and Australia!

8. What does 2017 hold for you?

Same thing we do every year Tigmus.... try to take over the wooooorrrllld!! Haha that aside... our first album release, more farts in a tent during festival season, build On our awesome team, and keep having fun!!!

REWS play Oxford's Fusion Arts on 11th February, support to be announced. Tickets with no booking fees here!

Tig Digs: Catgod 'Ready When You Are'

Happy new year from Tigmus, folks! One of our last gigs of 2016 was a superb record launch for Catgod (the recently renamed Roberto y Amigos, fronted by Neverlnd bassist Robin) at Oxford's Deaf and Hard of Hearing Centre, with support from Theo (tunes on Soundcloud) and one of our local faves, Sylva Kay. 

(c) Megan Seekings

Filling the room up with family, friends and fans, Catgod debuted their brilliant new record Ready When You Are, with the performance featuring guest vocalists Morgan Dawe, Esme Garlake and Cat Marriott. The new record makes for some sweet listening to kick off the new year, our favourites include Home in Your Heart and title track Ready When You Are! 

There are more photos from the night by one of our favourite local photographers Cristina Camilla Px here on Facebook! If you like what you're hearing and missed the album launch - you're in luck as Catgod are performing at an Independent Venue Week show at The Cellar in Oxford on 28th Jan alongside Hudson Scott, who I once saw supporting Foals, and local band Coldredlight, tickets here for what should be a great night!