Artist

Most bands function like a family, seeing how touring, writing, and studio time force them to share a lot of small spaces for extended periods of time. But Family of the Year has taken that familial feeling a step further, and not just with its moniker. The members of the Los Angeles outfit have formed unbreakable bonds amongst themselves that come from cohabitating in a run-down house and relying on each other for inspiration and support, which has led to the kind of camaraderie that allows members to finish each other’s sentences. It also doesn’t hurt that frontman Joe Keefe and drummer Sebastian Keefe are real-life siblings.

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 After four years milling over the concept and fifteen months recording alone in the tool shed behind his mother's house in Jacksonville Florida, Ben Cooper, AKA Radical Face, is finally ready to release his sophomore album ‘The Family Tree: The Roots’ out October 4th on Bear Machine. It's the follow-up to his 2007 debut indie triumph Ghost, and the first installment of what will eventually be three stand alone records all tied to the theme of a Family Tree--once again separating himself from all things traditional.

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Completed by fellow vocalist Sarah Hayes (also flute, piano), Kevin Brolly (clarinet, keyboards, backing vocals), Joe Rattray (bass, double bass, backing vocals) and Philip Hague (drums, vibraphone, backing vocals), Admiral Fallow’s richly distinctive mesh of acoustic and electric textures with multilayered harmonies has gained a fast-expanding fanbase either side of the Pond, prominently including Guillemots’ Fyfe Dangerfield, Elbow’s Guy Garvey, Radio 1’s Huw Stephens and BBC2’s ‘Whispering’ Bob Harris. They made their stateside debut with an appearance at last year’s SXSW, where they received praise from NPR’s influential All Songs Considered and Paste Magazine. They followed their triumphant SXSW performances with a busy summer of European festivals, including Glastonbury, Latitude, Cambridge Folk Festival, Green Man, End Of The Road, Sligo Live, Crossing Border and many more.

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 Young Liars are an Electro Indie Pop group from Vancouver, BC

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 Julia Stone is a singer/songwriter from Newport, Australia.

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Neil Mason is a writer and multi instrumentalist born and raised in Nashville, TN. He first started working in the music industry while still in high school, signing a major label recording contract with MCA Records with his pop/rock band LLAMA. LLAMA released a record "Close To The Silence" & an EP "The World From Here" in 2001 and 2002. The band's songs were featured in such movies as "Van Wilder" and "Swim Fan." Following the breakup of LLAMA he continued writing and began playing drums with artists such as Kyle Andrews, Jeremy Lister and Eliot Morris. In early 2005 Neil began writing with high school friend Jaren Johnston that led to the formation of American Bang. American Bang would go on to sign a record deal with Warner Bros. Records out of LA and make their self-titled debut album with legendary producer Bob Rock (Metallica, Bon Jovi, Aerosmith).

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Avalanche City is the brainchild of Dave Baxter, a musician whose background stretches across many genres and influences, culminating in a sound that is an impressive and eclectic range of various instruments, melodies and harmonies. The depth and perspective create a dynamic atmosphere that is rich and raw all at once. The epicentre of Avalanche City is Baxter himself, who writes, conceives, produces, records and plays every instrument on this debut album ‘Our New Life Above The Ground’. 

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Jennie Matthias' boundless energy was first given room for expression with The Belle Stars, as they benchmarked the music business with their all girl group in the cornucopic pop scene of the early '80s. Following the release of three original singles Hiawatha, Slick Trick and Another Latin Love Song they finally scored their first Top 40 UK chart hit with ’Iko Iko’ in 1982, a cover version of the 60’s classic by The Dixie Cups. The Belle Stars version proved to have further longevity by becoming a Top 20 hit in the US in 1988 and a chart success worldwide following it’s appearance in the Oscar winning US movie ’Rain Man’ featuring Tom Cruise and Dustin Hoffman. The Belle Stars released a further 7 singles after Iko Iko, scoring their biggest hit with their signature tune ‘Sign of The Times’ which reached No. 2 in the UK charts and was a Top 10 hit in Europe.

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Hey Ocean is to many the quintessential West Coast band. With three Vancouverites at its core (Ashleigh Ball, David Beckingham, & David Vertesi) it’s true that their roots, their name, and many of their lyrics hark back to the pacific shores they call home. However, over the last 6 years they have earned a reputation as much more than just ambassadors of the Pacific Northwest.

Truly independent for over half a decade, Hey Ocean is also a representative of the new generation of DIY artists. They have been hands on every step of the way, releasing through their own label, Pop Machine and touring tirelessly from coast to coast. Their captivating and energetic live show has not only earned them the loyalty of an ever-expanding fan base, but also the reputation for being one of Canada’s best young bands.

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Yukon Blonde is a Vancouver based band.

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