Track of the week: Sivu - 'Sweet Sweet Silent'

This week's track of the week is the new track from firm Tigmus favourite, Sivu. Sweet Sweet Silent is the title track to his upcoming record, the follow-up to 2014 release Something On High which is due out on July 7th (pre-order here). If you like what you hear you can catch Sivu on tour alongside Fenne Lily, Siv Jakobsen and Paul Thomas Saunders in October!

Follow Sivu online - Facebook | Twitter | Instagram.

Eight questions with Pete Gardiner

1. First up, who is Pete Gardiner?! 

Well I certainly wish you'd begun with an easier question. I'm not really sure I know the answer to this yet, but I feel confident I'm getting closer to it with every passing day, so maybe you could ask me again in a year or two.

2. How long have you been making music… any particular musical influences? 

Well, I'm 31 now, so just over half my life. I wrote my first song when I was 15 or so and it's been all downhill ever since. I'm influenced by a handful of bands from each decade going back the the 50s, but I've been most heavily influenced by Leonard Cohen and Bob Dylan for a long time now.

3. In a couple of weeks time you’re playing for us at London’s Harrison with a special ‘in the rounds gig’ - have you played shows like this before? What should the audience expect? 

I've played this kind of event twice in my career. I'd like to play them more often. They've proven to be much more engaging than the average bar gig. All of the artists share the stage together and take turns performing one song at a time. Each track is usually introduced by the artist with maybe a little story about how it came about. It's an interesting format that allows the audience to hear 3 or 4 different songwriters at once while finding out a bit about them in the process. It's a welcome change from the usual way of listening to one set at a time.

4. You’ll be playing alongside Martha Bailey and Tom Hyatt - have you shared stages with them in the past? 

I've never met either if them. But I've listened to their music online. They're both very talented writers and I'm looking forward to playing with them.

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

Well my audience is anyone from any age group. I'm not part of any scene or any clique or any genre. And it's not for lack of trying, it's just that no scene or clique or genre seems to want me. My songs are very lyrically driven. I just try my best to write honestly and I've been lucky enough to be complemented by people from all walks of life who have enjoyed the music. I guess my number one fan is anyone who carries a flame for a girl it didn't work with or someone who can see the funny side to everything that's desperately wrong with the world and our situation.

6. We’ve just seen that you’ve been invited to play at Cornbury Festival, great news! Have you been to the fest before? Is there anywhere else that fans can catch you over Summer? 

I'm really excited about this festival, I've never done it before but I hear good things. We have a website where all my gigs are regularly updated you can check it out and join my mailing list at petegardiner.co.uk

7. What would your dream gig entail? Any venues you’re desperate to play in the UK or further afield or artists you’d love to play alongside? 

Well the dream gig for me doesn't have anything to do with the venue, it's all down to the audience. When you go onstage you hope the audience will be hospitable and give your songs a chance. When you feel a crowd warming to you and you feel yourself warming to them it can create a very memorable evening. It doesn't always happen and you get nights when you can't find your way into the songs. But when it does happen and the crowd gives in it can be really special. I think I'd be a good support act for Foy Vance at the moment. I really enjoy his songs and I think it's be a good fit.

8. As we reach the halfway mark of 2017, what does the rest of the year hold for you?

Just a lot of writing I think. I'll spend some time in solitude and keep trying to hit on something useful. It takes me a long time to come up with anything I'm not embarrassed by. I've also had to change my writing style recently because I don't have a broken heart or any resentment towards any women these days and I haven't for quite some time, so I've had to rethink my whole career as a writer. I may even have to stop thinking about myself for once. We'll see what happens.

Pete Gardiner plays a special In The Rounds gig at The Harrison in London's King's Cross, alongside Martha Bailey and Tom Hyatt - tickets available here!

Glastonbury preview: Tigmus' top tips

This weekend you'll mostly find Team Tigmus glued to the online coverage of Glastonbury Festival and jealously liking the photos and status updates of our many friends who are heading to Worthy Farm this weekend. Here are some of our top tips if you're lucky enough to be there, or if you just want to treat yourself to some new tunes! 

Nick Mulvey - The Park Stage, Sunday 6-7pm

Sivu - Crows Nest, Friday 4pm

Strong Asian Mothers - Pussy Parlure, 4.30-5.30pm

Laura Marling - The Pyramid Stage, Sunday 2.15-3.15pm

George Ezra - The Other Stage, Friday 7.05-8.05pm

Glass Animals - The Other Stage, Friday 4.20-5.10pm

Lewis & Leigh - Acoustic Stage, Saturday 12:50-1.20pm

Lucy Rose - Avalon Stage, Sunday 6.20-7.20pm

Isaac Gracie - The Rabbit Hole, Saturday 10.20-10.45pm

Leo Stannard - Greenpeace/Engine Room, Friday 2.20-3pm

Track of the week: Parcels - 'Overnight'

In this weather this week's track of the week could hardly be anything but a funky, summery tune, courtesy of Berlin's Parcels. Created in collaboration with Daft Punk, the track premiered online today and is supported by a European tour this November, taking in Manchester, Bristol, Brighton and London before heading off around the continent - full dates and tickets on their site here!

Follow Parcels online - Facebook | Instagram | Soundcloud.

Tig Digs: Low Island - 'In This Room'

They were our track of the week just a couple of weeks ago with their latest single That Kind of Love but the wonderful Low Island are back on the Tigmus blog with their second EP, In This Room. As well as some already released tracks the EP features two entirely new tracks, That's Right and (Pause) - get listening over on Spotify or iTunes!

Catch Low Island live at Farmfestival Somerset at the end of July and Ritual Union in Oxford on 21st October!

Tig Digs: Richard Walters - 'Starlight'

Oxford musical royalty Richard Walters released his new track Starlight last week, the first release since his beautiful album AM last year. It's a beautiful tune taking inspiration from recent changes in Richard's life, becoming a father and losing a close friend over the last year. Get listening!

Follow Richard online - Facebook | Twitter | Instagram. 

Tig Digs: Lucy Leave - 'The Beauty Of The World'

One of our fave Oxford bands Lucy Leave have today released their new EP, entitled The Beauty Of The World (listen + buy here.) Premiering the EP earlier in the week, Raw Meat wrote that "Lucy Leave's shuddering art rock guitars and bizarre lyrics made our ears prick up and our feet shuffle" and that they're "one of the weirdest bands we've heard in a while" - I  guess that's why we love them so?! Them being a lovely bunch of people helps on that front too! They're this month's Nightshift Magazine cover stars and opened up the main stage at Oxford's recent Common People Festival - two huge achievements, and this evening they are launching their new EP with a show at Truck Store, supported by Holy Moments playing an acoustic set. If you're in town, finishing work and heading home, change your plans and head along to see them from 6.30!

Grab the EP from the band's Bandcamp page here - pay as much as you want!

Track of the week: Everything Everything - 'Can't Do'

This week's track of the week comes from Manchester's Everything Everything - Can't Do is the first track from their upcoming fourth studio album A Fever Dream which is released 18th August and you can pre-order here. Alongside a typically bonkers video, the track is a total tune and a great sign of what's to come for the follow up to Get To Heaven which was released back in 2015 and was my favourite record of the year! The band are playing some shows this week to premiere the new tracks in Hebden Bridge, Nottingham, Manchester and London but they're all long sold out - keep an eye on their site for a full tour later in the year!

Follow Everything Everything online - Facebook | Twitter | Instagram.

Tig Digs: Charlie Fink - 'Cover My Tracks'

Although you might not recognise his name, you almost definitely know Charlie Fink's band Noah & The Whale, with whom he scored hits such as 5 Years Time and L.I.F.E.G.O.E.S.O.N. Since the band parted ways a couple of years ago they've had various solo projects, and last Friday marked the release of Fink's debut solo album, Cover My Tracks, featuring the wonderful track I Was Born To Be A Cowboy which you can listen to below - if you listen carefully to this and other tracks from the record you'll be able to hear the beautiful backing vocals of The Staves.

The record is a unique release, a combined album and theatre show (so called "gig theatre") with Fink and actress Jade Anouka performing the record in full for two weeks at The Old Vic at 10pm til the 17th June. It's press night earlier this week earned it a 4* review in the Evening Standard (read it in full here), calling it a "late night, minor key delight". If you're in London next week be sure to catch it, tickets available here (and if you're out of London then the show might be headed near you on its regional tour later in the year - dates here!) You can listen to the record on Spotify here and grab a copy in record stores or at the show itself!

Eight questions with George Holroyd

(c) Jack Margerison Photography

First up, who is George Holroyd?!

I'm a 23 year old acoustic singer/songwriter originally from Suffolk and now residing in London, with a love for energetic live performances.

How long have you been making music… any special influences?

I've been playing guitar for over 10 years but didn't really start singing or writing songs until about 4 years ago, while at university in Nottingham. In terms of influences, I'd say Paul Simon, Van Morrison and Bob Dylan for the storytelling aspect of their songs and Ben Howard/The Tallest Man on Earth for their guitar/live style.

Your new Demons & Dust EP is due out very soon (9th) - how does that feel to almost have it out in the world?!

I'm absolutely psyched to finally have it out there, it's been over 2 years since I released my last EP (Peru). I tried to give this one more of a cohesive feel as the Peru EP was more of a collection of the songs that I'd written to date, I wanted more of a common theme and I think I've achieved that with Demons & Dust. While we're on this actually I'd also like to say a massive thank you to Sam Winfield for producing the record and to Cailean Couldridge for shooting the cover art, two massively talented guys who are a pleasure to work with.

You’re celebrating the EP with a launch show at one of Tigmus’ favourite London venues The George Tavern - what should fans expect from the set?

Yes I'm very excited to be playing there! I still play a solo set, fairly stripped back in terms of effects (just me and the guitar throughout). It'll be a nice intimate atmosphere in the early parts of the set with some of the quieter songs that I've written before opening up into some rowdier tracks towards the end as everyone's working their way through the contents of the bar, expect some crowd participation by the end of the evening and one or two well known covers thrown in!

Have you played alongside Felix M-B and Daisy Chute before?

I first saw Felix play about 3 years ago at Rescue Rooms in Nottingham and was instantly taken by his style, he has so much presence on stage and his songwriting is next level. Since then we've played a couple of gigs together and it's always an absolute pleasure, can't wait to see him play some of his new songs on Friday. I experienced a very similar reaction when I first saw Daisy play at a Tigmus gig in Hampton a couple of months ago; her songwriting is fantastic and the harmonies that she created with her band were breathtaking. I can't wait to see them both perform again and I'm honoured to have them supporting for the launch.

Who is your audience and how do you connect with your fans?

My audience is anyone who'll listen! I've met people of all ages after shows who've said they enjoyed what I've done and I like to think that my songs don't necessarily fall into one particular "bucket" or style. I think that the best way to connect with people that listen to the music is meeting them after shows and trying to foist my CDs on them/having a drink and a conversation.

What would your dream gig entail? Any particular venues you’re desperate to play or artists you’d love to play alongside?

I would love to play both Union Chapel because it's a beautiful venue and Brixton Academy because of the history and the amount of amazing shows I've seen there over the years, I feel one is currently more attainable than the other though! When I think of gigs I would personally love to have played (i.e. live albums that I played to death growing up), the ones that really stick in my head are Simon and Garfunkel's Concert in Central Park and the Red Hot Chili Peppers gig in Hyde Park (which I was at aged 11) back in 2004 - they had James Brown supporting them! Final one - as already mentioned, I would love to play alongside The Tallest Man on Earth.

What does the rest of 2017 hold for you after the EP launch?

Playing more shows to promote the D&D EP and getting to work on some new songs! I pretty much took 2016 off in terms of music so I'll be looking to not do that again, I've got a few ideas for the next steps I want to take songwriting-wise and I'm hoping to experiment with expanding the live sound a little too.

George Holroyd launches his Demons & Dust EP at The George Tavern in London tomorrow evening (9th June) with support from Daisy Chute and Felix M-B - tickets available here. 

Track of the week: Catgod - 'Someone Love'

Our track of the week this week comes from one of our favourite Oxford bands, Catgod. After launching their debut record Ready When You Are with a busy launch show in Oxford back in December, they've been busy in 2017 working on a new EP and playing lots of shows, including supporting on our sold out Holly Redford Jones gig and opening up our stage at The Great Escape. The EP is set to be released in July (21st) and the title track Someone Love is out now - check out the premiere on Gigslutz here!

If you're in Oxford, Catgod have just announced that they'll be playing Truck Festival on the EP release weekend (21-23 July) as well as Happy Valley Festival and Tandem Festival in June - lots of other brilliant local Oxford acts at all three, so be sure to head along if you can, this summery tune is bound to go down extremely well at the festivals!

(c) Milly Cope

Follow Catgod online - Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Soundcloud.

Tig Digs: Mt Doubt - 'The Loneliness of the TV Watchers'

Edinburgh's Mt Doubt have recently released their new EP The Loneliness of the TV Watchers - they're launching it with a show at Servant Jazz Quarters tomorrow night (7th June) with support from Duke Bradley and Oggy Why. The EP reflects on "the everyday sense of disillusionment and fear that affects all of us [and gives] an insight into the banality of everyday life" and features the track Reference Books, the video for which was premiered by The List a few weeks ago, who called the track "a blend of jangly guitars and stark lyrics, creating dark, pure indie". Take a listen to the track below!

The full EP is available through the band's page on Bandcamp and you can grab tickets for the show tomorrow night here to hear it live! 

Tig Digs: Dazy Crown - 'Multi Vitamin'

Norwich band Dazy Crown, who organised a mini tour through Tigmus last Summer, have released the first track from their upcoming debut EP. It's the follow up to their last single Peanut Butter Dreaming (which is a total tune), get listening to Multi Vitamin below:

The EP is set to be released on 16th June and launched at The Birdcage in Norwich on 14th June with support from Treacle People, Ellie Bleach and Peach Club - tickets just a couple of pounds through the FB event here!

Tigmus at The Great Escape Festival (May 2017)

A couple of weekends ago Team Tigmus headed down to not so sunny Brighton for The Great Escape, a 3-day festival with live music, conferences and all the free brunches and drinks parties our hearts could desire. As well as all this, we were there to run our own stage as part of the Alternative Escape at the wonderful North Laines Brewhouse on the Saturday, but first here's a little rundown of what we got up to on Thursday and Friday!

After kicking off the first day of the festival, a dreary rain-filled Thursday, with brunch at Dead Wax Social which had been taken over by the lovely folks at Music Glue, we caught a couple of panels at Duke's at Komedia for the drugs conference, including 'Music Making & Drug Taking'. A couple of us braved the rain and headed over to the Vevo stage at Wagner Hall to catch the end of Will Joseph Cook's stripped back set, which we followed up by a walk to Queen's Hotel on the seafront, where we dried off and caught one of my favourite sets of the weekend from Fil Bo Riva - check out his track Like Eye Did here. After fuelling up with burgers and catching up with the lovely Low Island chaps we caught some more live music from OUTLYA, The Amazons and another stand out act from the weekend - Leo Stannard, whose performance has already developed so much in the year since I last caught him playing.

Leo Stannard at Harbour Hotel

After drying out in our Airbnbs the sun came out (slightly) on Friday, and a couple of us headed to The Old Courtroom with Dazy Crown's Thomas for a really interesting talk hosted by PRS entitled 'Evolving as an artist with Marika Hackman' where Marika, her producer Charlie Andrew (Alt-J, Sivu), radio plugger Claire Collins and Tim Dellow from Transgressive were chaired by Radio 6 Music's Tom Ravenscroft, discussing her career as a musician and the work behind her second record, which is set to be released this Friday. It was really interesting getting an insight into just a small part of the team behind a musician and the different responsibilities that they all have!

Evolving as an artist with Marika Hackman panel at The Old Courtroom

This talk was followed by some great parties hosted by French organisation Oui Love (by bureau export), PRS for Music and Music Glue (with a Bear's Den DJ set, no less!) Once we'd taken a trip to the beach to make the most of the weekend's sun we headed to Komedia to catch MarthaGunn on my recommendation - thankfully the rest of the team enjoyed their set! They were opening up the Communion showcase and have since announced that they've signed to the label, so big congrats are in order! A perfect pairing if ever there was one. Once they'd finished, all our energies went into catching what we anticipated (rightly so) would be the stand out set of the weekend from our pals Low Island. It was a short walk away at Patterns and on the way we bumped into last year's Tigmus stage headliners Strong Asian Mothers who performed a card trick for us on the street... it was my first TGE personally, and a big highlight was all the friends and Tigmus alumni we bumped into across the weekend, walking with The Travelling Band's Jo to the venue and seeing Willie J Healey once we were there.

As we thought, Oxford's Low Island were pretty incredible and seem destined for great things... they've just spent the weekend playing at Dot To Dot Festival in Manchester, Bristol and Nottingham as well as stopping off at Oxford's Common People, and after a successful London show a couple of weeks back they're heading back for back-to-back shows at Corsica Studios in November, finishing up a UK tour, with lots of dates to be announced (tickets for those shows here.) Their latest release is the total tune That Kind of Love which you can check out on Soundcloud here! Once their set had finished we rushed back across town to see if we could get in to Komedia again to catch the Communion headliner, Dan Croll, and we got in just in time to catch his last track, From Nowhere - the perfect party tune. Look out for his new record Emerging Adulthood in July!

Low Island at Patterns

Suddenly Saturday had arrived and we fixed our lack of sleep with a delicious veggie breakfast from Wai Kika Moo Kau (if in Brighton we hugely recommend it) before heading to North Laines Brewhouse to kick off the afternoon session of our stage. From 12-4 we had the wonderful Catgod, Holly Redford Jones, Brudini, Neonomora, Hazey Jane and Valaire, and after a little break Pace, JYLDA, Bare Traps, The Fin., Gutxi Bibang and Little Brother Eli played us through til 11pm! After months of planning it was great to see the stage come together and to see lots of our favourite artists all in one day. The venue was really busy all day so huge thanks if you popped along for a set or two and helped to make it a great day - check out the Tigmus Instagram for photos from each set.

Be sure to also check out our album on Facebook for photos from across the weekend! After another brilliant and sold out show last week at Oxford's Sheldonian Theatre with Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and The Fusion Project we're going full steam ahead to Wesley Memorial Church (just round the corner in Oxford) for Sam Lee and Duotone today, 1st June (tickets). Keep an eye on the Tigmus site for full upcoming listings for the Summer!