LIVE (Photos): Folk In The Park, 19.08.2023

When you think of folk festivals, the Surrey town of Sutton isn’t necessarily what initially springs to mind… But Folk In The Park is looking to change that. Organised by local grassroots music venue The Sound Lounge (lead by musicians Hannah White and her partner Kieron Marshall), it’s a day of beautiful live music ranging from folk and blues – with tinges of jazz, rock and indie – with a family friendly focus and admirable sustainable ethos.

Arriving at the somewhat unlikely location of Manor Park in Sutton on Saturday morning, bright and early at 11am, I feel instantly at ease – greeted by sunshine, friendly faces and the twinkling tones of first artist of the day, Holly Henderson. With songs ranging from the gently empowering ‘Sunflower’ (“for all my ladies out there!”), to the lilting energy of ‘Wendy’ (a “dog love song”), Henderson’s rich, luscious vocals flow throughout with a sparkling uplifting charm. 

Following the dark humour and gravelly blues-strewn folk of Irish raconteur David Hope, local artist (“the last festival I played took me 4 hours to get to, but I walked here in 5 minutes!”) Hannah Scott takes to the stage. Having received acclaim from the likes of Dermot O’Leary on BBC Radio 2 and the likes of MOJO, as well as having her songs featured on medical drama Grey’s Anatomy, she delivers a stirring, emotion-rich set. Reflecting on themes ranging from the complications that come with ending a relationship (‘Untangling’), to the artistic need for pain and hardship in order to feel inspired (‘Hurricanes’), each song showcases the heartfelt grace of her crystalline vocals and accompanying resplendent melodies. 

After enjoying a little bop in the sunshine to Matt Owens & The Delusional Vanity Project, it’s time for Scottish artist Roseanne Reid. Despite being confined to a chair throughout the performance due to a mysterious toe-breaking incident, she succeeds in captivating me completely. With her blues-tinged Americana and a heartfelt raw emotion, she reflects on life’s complexities, singing of love for her child and wife, whilst oozing a blissful, stirring allure. Having recently released her gorgeous second album Lawside, and counting the legendary Steve Earle amongst her fans, Roseanne Reid is a new favourite for sure; a gifted songwriter capable of crafting truly exquisite creations with a relatable tenderness and honesty. 

With a slight shift in tempo, Sheffield’s Lauren Housley takes to the stage with her band The Northern Cowboys to treat us to a joyous blast of energy. Propelled by Housley’s rich, soulful vocals and an infectious funk-fuelled groove, they have the all-ages crowd dancing along in jubilant array to their spritely country-inspired anthems. 

As we continue to revel in the sunshine, enjoying the Lo-Cal pale ale and vegan hotdogs, it would seem that Hannah White is not only a fantastic festival organiser, but a wonderful musician too. Accompanied by her own ‘super group’, including husband Kieron Marshall and Geraint Watkins, she delivers each emotion-strewn offering with a soaring, glistening energy, as her beautifully honey-sweet vocals flow with a celestial splendour throughout.

Throughout the rest of the evening, the great music and lovely vibes continue; we shimmy along to the gritty blues-rock of Dana Gillespie as she regales awe-inspiring stories of her time in the music industry (“David (Bowie) wrote this one for me”) before feeling waves of comforting ‘90s nostalgia for Del Amitri’s uplifting set closing the festival.

A truly glorious day filled not only with the loveliest of music, but a wonderful sense of community. As people of all ages come together to enjoy a day in the sunshine in a local green space, it’s hard not to feel united both in our love of folk-inspired ditties and our common desire for positive change in the world. With its sustainable ethos and friendly, inclusive atmosphere adding to the brilliant line-up of musicians, Folk In the Park is just what we need right now; a blissful escape from the everyday worries of life. A little glistening beacon of hope at a time when things might seem rather bleak. 

So, thank you Folk In The Park – we’re looking forward to next year already!

Words: Mari Lane / @marimindles
Photos: Paul Dawes / @pauldawesart

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Introducing Interview: Alien Chicks

Having been massive fans of Alien Chicks since first hearing funk-fuelled single ’27 Stitches’ last summer, our love of the South London trio has continued to grow since having them blow us away playing live for us at Shacklewell Arms in December, and they have continued to showcase their unique creativity and unrelenting energy with each new release.

Now, fresh from selling out a headline show at The Lexington – with acclaim from the likes of BBC 6Music’s Steve Lamacq and Tom Robinson – and with frenzied new single ‘Candlestick Maker‘ out now, we decided to catch up with Alien Chicks to find out more…

Hi Alien Chicks! Welcome to Get In Her Ears! Can you tell us a bit about yourselves, and how you started making music together?
We are a Brixton based post punk trio. I’m Stefan – I play bass and sing. I’m Josef I play guitar and sing. I’m Martha – I play drums. Stef and Josef met in tap class, and then we started playing guitar together when we were about 17. We moved to Brixton to try pursuing music and met Martha in a practice room in Peckham.

We love your frenzied funk-fuelled sounds , but who would you say are your main musical influences?
We are really into a range of stuff, from black midi to Abba, and I think this comes through in our songs. There’s also a lot of rap influence in the vocals – Josef is really into rappers like Ocean wisdom and Denzel Curry.

You’ve recently released your new single ‘Candlestick Maker’, which is very exciting! Are you able to tell us a bit about it? And how would you say it differs from your previous releases?
‘Candlestick Maker’ is a fun song with some pretty dark themes. I think it’s different to our other stuff because it’s more dancey!

You’ve just headlined an epic sold out show at The Lexington – a fantastic night (and the biggest mosh pit I’ve seen for a while)! How was that for you? And, for those who missed it, what can fans expect from your live shows?
The Lexington was incredible! We expected it to be great, but it blew away out expectations! The crowd were wild from start to finish and it really felt like a momentous occasion – one we have been working towards since we started a band. Fans can expect high energy, erratic songs and an atmosphere like no other!

Is there a particular live show you’ve played that stands out as a highlight?
The Lexington defo stands out – it was awesome! The Windmill gigs in general are also always amazing, full of energy and excitement!

And, when out on tour, are there any particular essentials that you like to take with you to keep you going when away from home? 
Idiocy, Martha’s laptop so she can “work”, game… and Josef’s bandana. 

How do you feel the industry is for new artists at the moment? And do you feel much has changed over the last few years in its treatment of female and queer/LGBTQ+  artists? 
I feel like there’s more representation of oppressed genders and minority groups, but there’s definitely still more work to be done. We think Get In Her Ears is a great movement and really helps to promote marginalised and underrepresented groups.

As we’re a new music focused site, are there any other upcoming bands you’re loving right now that you’d recommend we check out?
House Arrest, Man/Woman/Chainsaw…

Finally, what does the rest of 2023 have in store for Alien Chicks?
We will hopefully be releasing an EP, and will be playing in The Hundred Club in November! COME ON DOWN!!!

Massive thanks to Alien Chicks for answering our questions! Watch the new video for ‘Candlestick Maker’ now:

‘Candlestick Maker’ is out now via Hideous Mink Records. Catch them live at The 100 Club on 2nd November – tickets here.

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Track Of The Day: Alaskalaska – ‘Glass’

Painting a sonic picture of mystery and gloom, South London’s ALASKALASKA brings a beautiful eeriness in latest single ‘Glass’. Taken from their new album release Still Life, it oozes a resistant spirit whilst confronting the question: “Do we work to live or live to work?”, pondering the unhealthy relationships we have with work and the societal expectations that come with it. 

ALASKALASKA uses a theme of choice to depict the coercive correspondence of hustle culture in ‘Glass’. Although mid-paced, everything about ‘Glass’ feels demanding while it requests our undivided attention as the track intensifies. Hypnotic synth pads and a crisp drum beat kick off ‘Glass’ with immediate sophistication that soon introduces Lucinda’s effortlessly cool vocals, the flow with. nonchalant grace while delivering their critical take on societal norms. Luncinda’s lyrics to speak for themselves, leaving room for listeners to reflect on themselves and consider their unique roles in the need to grind. 

Building from an indie-electronica base, ALASKALASKA seems to handpick elements of the genre solely to serve the disposition of ‘Glass’, whilst drawing on influence from artists such as Porches and Tame Impala to execute the track’s story. The lyrical concepts and rich mix of eclectic sounds make boundaries limitless, inspiring us to expand our philosophy on genre and society. If ‘Glass’ is just one avenue for ALASKALASKA, Still Life is certain to be a compelling journey in its entirety.

Still Life, the new album from ALASKALASKA, is out now via Marathon Artists. And catch ALASKALASKA live, currently on tour supporting Porridge Radio – details here.

Jill Goyeau
@jillybxxn

Photo Credit: Tami Aftab

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Get In Her Ears Live @ The Cavendish Arms, 20.08.22

For the second of our August gigs this year, we were at The Cavendish Arms in Stockwell for the first time to host immense Aussie duo Mannequin Death Squad, with support slots from two exciting new bands Maya Lakhani and Dogviolet. And what a lovely night it was at this cosy venue south of the river… Thanks so much to the three incredible bands, and to everyone who made it down to join us for this pretty special night!

Kicking things off, it’s the debut gig for brand new ‘supergroup’, Dogviolet. Formed of members of GIHE faves Naz & Ella, as well as The Dead Zoo and Suggested Friends, they deliver a stirring set to an adoring crowd. As swirling shoegaze-tinged melodies and a gritty grunge-infused energy flows, front person’s Naz’s raw, heartfelt vocals ooze an immersive shimmering emotion.

Next up, it’s another first gig for Maya Lakhani and her newly formed band. With a sparkling energy, their impassioned alt-rock blasts out as ferocious riffs swirl alongside her rich, compelling vocals. Reflecting on poignant themes such as violence against women, and including a spellbinding cover of the Kate Bush classic ‘Running Up That Hill’, it’s a truly impressive first outing for this exciting new project.

Closing the night, it’s a true honour to be hosting the London leg of immense Aussie duo Mannequin Death Squad‘s UK tour. Propelled by a gritty, angst-fuelled drive as riotous riffs and relentless thrashing beats rage with intensity, they deliver a truly exciting set. As Elly and Dan swap between drums and guitar every few songs, they treat us to their seething grunge-rock offerings with a fiercely captivating energy.

Biggest thanks to the three incredible bands who played for us last night, to everyone who came out to support them, and to The Cavendish Arms for being such a welcoming and lovely venue. Make sure you don’t miss our next gig on 10th September at The Shacklewell Arms with a joint headline set from Gemma Cullingford and Alice Hubble, plus support from Yay Maria – get your tickets on DICE now!

Words: Mari Lane / @marimindles
Photos: Paul Dawes / @paullikesrobots

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