Airport Girl + The Zebras + Pocketbooks + Fists

Event information

AIRPORT GIRL
Formed in 1997 in the East Midlands, Airport Girl’s original influences ranged from the Scottish pop of The Pastels and Belle and Sebastian to the American flavours of The Modern Lovers and Pavement. Their first album “Honey, I'm An Artist” (2001) saw them played by John Peel, Steve Lamacq and John Kennedy (XFM) while NME, Melody Maker, Careless Talk Costs Lives and Les Inrockuptibles all had kind words to say. Second album “Slow Light” was released in 2007 and demonstrated a shift towards a radically altered sound, a glistening downbeat country-pop hybrid inspired by American alt-country and the antipodean sounds of The Triffids and “16 Lover Lane”-era Go-Betweens. The album attracted a slew of excellent reviews from the likes of The Guardian, Metro and Drowned In Sound, praising the luxuriant arrangements with their judicious use of violin, cello, trumpet, harmonica and melodica, and the world-weary, country-tinged songwriting.
"Airport Girl take their cues from Aztec Camera's breezy charm and The Go-Betweens lovelorn melodies” (Fire Escape Talking)
http://www.airportgirl.com
http://www.myspace.com/shamboliclofiindiepop

THE ZEBRAS (AUS)
From the same Brisbane backwater that was home to groups such as The Go-betweens and The Saints, The Zebras have formed a substantial and loyal following in their home country and their recordings have been widely acclaimed nationally and internationally. Their sound is driving but clean, the uncompromising vocal melodies with generous layers of chiming guitar giving their sound a unique sparkle. The Zebras second album “Worry A Lot”, was released last year through Melbourne label, The Lost and Lonesome Recording Company (brainchild of Mark Monnone of Lucksmiths fame). Home recorded and with modest arrangement and production, the songs are intelligent yet hummable as hell. The Zebras have been described as being reminiscent of The Go-betweens or the Flying Nun bands of the 80’s and 90’s, so if that is your bag, The Zebras are sure to please.
“Beautiful vocals rest dreamily upon a light layer of sunny instrumentation that you just know is one of many logical next steps that stem from the C86 sound: sensitive, but not stupid." - You Ain't No Picasso (USA)
http://www.myspace.com/ilikezebras

POCKETBOOKS
Pocketbooks are a pop band from London, combining melodic boy/girl harmonies, spiralling guitars and delicate piano lines. Since appearing on the seminal “The Kids At The Club” compilation they’ve released a single on Atomic Beat records and an EP on their own Make Do And Mend label, been played on BBC 6music and played fabulous pop shows with the likes of The School, Radio Luxembourg, Butcher Boy and Saturday Looks Good To Me. Think Camera Obscura, The Pastels, Belle and Sebastian, The Sundays and expect a sprinkling of dazzling 60s soul alongside some sparkling indiepop charm!
“Nuggets of exquisitely crafted pop that slyly references the timid bashfulness of 'Tigermilk' era Belle and Sebastian and the spring-hued shimmer pop of early Heavenly” (Losing Today)
http://www.pocketbooks.org.com/
www.myspace.com/pocketbooks

FISTS
Fists spent their formative years listening to skiffle, vintage heavy metal and Daniel Johnston and have been trying to invent a new type of music that sounds like a mixture of skiffle, vintage heavy metal and Daniel Johnston with varying degree's of success ever since. They have no money so they make their music with whatever shit is lying about the house (bugle, washboard, kitchen knife, guitar, etc). Despite the results often sounding a bit rubbish once they've recorded them they've somehow managed to get themselves featured on both Huw Stephens and Steve Lamacq's Radio 1 shows. They're very pleased about this and are now trying to record something proper so they can release a record.
"Mangling blues through a toy voice amplifier while putting the art into heart, Fists are a lo-fi revelation" (FHP Magazine)
http://www.myspace.com/fistsmusic