Attic Lights, Wickerman Festival 2008 - by edinburgh photographer on flickr

A lot of up and coming bands come through our door.  A lot of those bands show a massive amount of talent. Naturally I prefer some bands sessions to others, but I have begun to start noticing a theme running through all my favourite sessions… they have all been well mannered bands who aren’t big headed and are genuinely appreciative of the support we’ve just given them.

Favourite sessions include The Little Kicks, Frank Turner, The Red Light Company, Mia Riddle and our most recent session… the Attic Lights.

Attic Lights are an up and coming indie band from Glasgow who have had a fantastic 2008 and by the looks of things are going to have an even better 2009. Their debut album “Friday Night Lights” is one of those albums that you can listen to from start to finish and not skip any track, something I find very rare these days.

When they came in on Sunday, Andrew spoke to them about the recent news that they had been asked by Channel Five to perform the theme tune for the newly recommissioned 80’s comedy drama Minder… they then performed the theme for us.

A bizarre but rather enjoyable session.

You can download the session (including an acoustic version of Wendy) and the interview on Episode 52 of the Sunday Showcase podcast.

It has taken me over two weeks to get round to posting this.  I’d like to think it’s because I am incredibly busy between work, studying and partying, but the real reason is because we’ve just got a Playstation and a new telly and between writing this blog and playing Grand Theft Auto in High Def, it’s clear which one is going to win.

That’s me meeting Noel Gallagher, all thanks to work.  It still seems like a bit of a dream.  I’m just a normal member of joe public and next thing I know I’m sitting in a room with one of the Gallagher brothers.

Thankfully my colleague Neil was doing the main part of the interview which meant I got to sit there enjoying the moment without getting too nervous.  You can hear the interview on episode 51 of the Sunday Showcase podcast.  I ask Noel about his favorite tv show, Seinfeld… a bizarre moment.

It was that night I realised I have one of the best jobs ever.

David

The Red Light Company were in for a session yesterday.  They’re a new band with hints of the Arcade Fire in them.  They’ve recently been added to the playlist at Radio 1 (which tends to be a sign that you’re getting recognised even if you don’t agree 100% with everything Radio 1 plays).

Really nice bunch of guys too.  Hear their session on the show this Sunday from 6pm, www.originalfm.com

They played Drummonds in Aberdeen last night. Would have gone had I not been up for work at 5am this morning.

They also performed at the Electric Proms recently, click here for more.

David

There’s a track on the new Oasis album (Dig Out Your Soul) called The Turning, and it kind of sounds like Devil Woman by Cliff Richard….

Andrew with Mia Riddle and Dan Berry

We had one of my favourite sessions on the show this week, Mia Riddle, a folk singer song writer all the way from Brooklyn. She’s fantastic. And she’s only signed in Japan, she really should be signed here… if only I owned a record company.

I got a copy of her new album which is going to be out in about July, very nice. Look out for it.

Here’s my favourite song from the session, City Song:

Andrew and Frank Turner - nicked from Andrews Blog

A couple of weeks back on the Sunday Showcase we had solo folk singer song writer Frank Turner on. I’d heard the name before but wasn’t over familiar with any of his work. I happened to be in the office when he came to do the session (occasionally due to time constraints on the artist we have to record them rather than doing them live).

I’m not always in the studio for live sessions, that’s Andrews forte. But this time round I’m glad I went in. What a brilliant session and a very down to earth and modest guy.

If you get a chance check out some of his albums, and especially his new album Love Ire & Song, which is where this track this song comes from:

Frank Turner - Long Live The Queen

You can download this session on the Sunday Showcase Podcast - Episode 21

And also check out the song Photosynthesis on Love Ire & Song.

David