The Leaf Label: NEWS ARCHIVE FOR SEPTEMBER 2009

Polar Bear Join The Leaf Label
Published 1 September 2009 by BWL

We are delighted to announce that acclaimed British "dream jazz" outfit Polar Bear have swelled the ranks of The Leaf Label's international roster. The London-based group, led by drummer Sebastian Rochford (Acoustic Ladyland, Fulborn Teversham, Basquiat Strings) will release their fourth album on Leaf early next year.

Polar Bear's second album, 2005's Held On The Tips Of Fingers, was nominated for The Mercury Prize, and also made a list of '100 Jazz Albums That Shook The World' in Jazzwise magazine.

Alongside Seb Rochford, Polar Bear is Pete Wareham (tenor sax), Mark Lockheart (tenor sax), Tom Herbert (bass) and Leafcutter John (electronics/guitar). The group will be touring extensively in the UK this autumn as well as some dates in Canada, Belgium and the Netherlands.

http://www.polarbearmusic.com
http://www.myspace.com/sebastianrochford

The shows:
Fri 18 Sep 2009 The Rex, Toronto, ON, CANADA
Sat 19 Sep 2009 Lola Festival , London, ON, CANADA
Fri 25 Sep 2009 Croydon Clocktower, Croydon, UK
Mon 12 Oct 2009 Electric Theatre, Guildford, UK
Sun 25 Oct 2009 The Glee Club, Birmingham, UK
Tue 10 Nov 2009 de Singer, Rijkevorsel, BELGIUM
Wed 11 Nov 2009 Kavka, Antwerp, BELGIUM
Thu 12 Nov 2009 November Music Festival, 's-Hertogenbosch, NETHERLANDS
Wed 18 Nov 2009 Broomhill Sculpture Park, Barnstaple, UK
Thu 19 Nov 2009 The Phoenix, Exeter, UK
Fri 20 Nov 2009 Jazz Cafe, London, UK
Tue 24 Nov 2009 Band On The Wall, Manchester, UK
Fri 27 Nov 2009 Howard Assembly Room, Leeds, UK
Sat 28 Nov 2009 De La Warr Pavilion, Bexhill-On-Sea, UK
Sun 29 Nov 2009 Colston Hall, Bristol, UK

Goodbye Efterklang!
Published 3 September 2009 by TM

The release of Efterklang's Performing Parades live album and film on October 19 will mark a joyous but sad farewell to our Danish friends as they move to pastures new. The band have just signed to our old friends at 4AD for the world, and will release their third album proper in 2010.

The band have come on leaps and bounds since their self-released debut EP, Springer, in 2003 (which Leaf subsequently reissued following the release of debut album Tripper), and we wish the band all the best in their future endeavours. If the new songs they've been playing live over the last year are anything to go by, the next album is set to be their best yet. Rasmus, Casper, Mads and Thomas have been a delight to work with, and we will sorely miss their energy, creativity, professionalism and, above all, their music.

You can find the band's own announcement about the new deal here.

Performing Parades will be released as limited edition CD+DVD and 2LP/DVD packages.

The release will be followed on October 28 with their biggest UK show to date, with the Britten Sinfonia at the Barbican in London. More info and tickets here.

http://www.efterklang.net/home
http://www.myspace.com/efterklang

A Hawk And A Hacksaw Feature In Award Winning Film
Published 9 September 2009 by BWL

Jeremy Barnes and Heather Trost of A Hawk And A Hacksaw took part in the filming of Housle last year. The short film, also featuring the music of the duo, picked up Best Picture at the Albuquerque Film Festival. The film was directed and produced by James Longmire who also directed the recent live videos of tracks from AHAAH's new album Délivrance which can be found here:
'I Am Not A Gambling Man'
'The Man Who Sold His Beard'

A Hawk And A Hacksaw begin their latest North American tour this weekend with Sam Johnson (trumpet) and Mark Weaver (tuba) completing the live band. All the dates can be found here.

Or watch on Vimeo.

http://myspace.com/ahawkandahacksaw
http://ahawkandahacksaw.blogspot.com
http://www.ahawkandahacksaw.co.uk
http://theleaflabel.com/ahawkandahacksaw

Nancy Elizabeth new video online and album shipping this week
Published 20 September 2009 by BWL

Nancy Elizabeth has released a video for her new single, 'Feet Of Courage', which is out today. Taken from Wrought Iron, the beautifully shot video was directed and filmed by Esther May Campbell and John Minton at the Portishead Open Air Pool earlier this summer. Campbell was also responsible for the BAFTA winning short film September, which was released this month in a deluxe DVD/CD/recipe book package, the soundtrack featuring Nancy Elizabeth and A Hawk And A Hacksaw.

You can watch the 'Feet Of Courage' video here:

Or youtube.

Buy the single (with remixes by Paddy Steer and Germ) here.

You can also pre-order Wrought Iron here now.

We will be shipping out physical copies of the album later this week, ahead of the official release date on Oct 5. If you order the vinyl version of the album you can get a free mp3 or flac download of the album immediately (just follow the instructions on the page). In addition, CD and LP orders will be delivered with a free copy of Nancy's 'I Used To Try' single on CD, while stocks last!

http://www.nancyelizabeth.co.uk
http://www.myspace.com/nancyelizabethcunliffe
http://www.theleaflabel.com/nancyelizabeth

Nancy Elizabeth London headline show this Thursday - win tickets
Published 22 September 2009 by BWL

Nancy Elizabeth makes her first London headline appearance in well over a year this Thursday (September 24) at the Union Chapel's Upper Hall, previewing songs from her forthcoming second album Wrought Iron (released October 5). This will be a solo performance with Nancy on piano and guitar and promises to be an intimate affair. You can buy tickets here.

We are giving away two pairs of tickets for the show, which you can be in for a chance of winning if you can answer this question:

Which Scottish folk artist did Nancy collaborate with on his last album, When The Haar Rolls In? Is it:
1) Ewan McGregor
2) Ronald McDonald
3) James Yorkston

Use the Contact form here to send us your answers (send using the 'general' heading) - Please include your phone number so we can contact you with info on how to get your prize! The competition closes on Wednesday Sep 23 at 6pm.

Meanwhile, Nancy will record a session for Tom Robinson's BBC 6 Music show this Friday September 25 which will be broadcast live from 7-9pm. More info here.

Following the show on Thursday, Nancy will support Efterklang at four dates on their upcoming UK tour before heading for a tour in Italy. All dates below:

Thu 24 Sep 2009 Union Chapel, London, UK
Thu 29 Oct 2009 The Asylum, Birmingham, UK (with Efterklang)
Fri 30 Oct 2009 Oran Moor, Glasgow, UK (with Efterklang)
Sun 1 Nov 2009 Brainwash Festival, Stylus, Leeds, UK (with Efterklang)
Mon 2 Nov 2009 The Concert Hall, Reading, UK (with Efterklang)
Thu 12 Nov 2009 Diagonal Loft Club, Forli, ITALY
Sat 14 Nov 2009 Calamita, Cavriago, ITALY
Sun 15 Nov 2009 Circolo Caracol, Pisa, ITALY
Tue 17 Nov 2009 Init, Rome, ITALY

http://www.nancyelizabeth.co.uk
http://www.myspace.com/nancyelizabethcunliffe
http://www.theleaflabel.com/nancyelizabeth

Free Wildbirds & Peacedrums Remix Available To Our Subscribers
Published 23 September 2009 by BWL

Earlier this month saw the release of Wildbirds & Peacedrums first ever physical single, 'My Heart'. The track from The Snake was backed up by a wonderful remix by Deerhoof but remixes by AU and John Eriksson (Hortlax Cobra) were to be found on the download EP (click here to download). However, the remixing frenzy did not stop here. Remixes were also done by Swedish band Weapon Family, which can be found for free here and Lee J. Malcolm (Vessels), who also produced a fantastic rework of volcano!'s 'Slow Jam' previously.

This Lee J. Malcolm remix we can offer as a free download to our newsletter subscribers. Current subscribers can click the link at the bottom of their most recent newsletter, but if you are not subscribed already, click here and follow the instructions.
http://leaf.greedbag.com/subscribe/

http://www.myspace.com/wildbirdsandpeacedrums
http://www.theleaflabel.com/wildbirdsandpeacedrums

Preview Efterklang's Performing Parades DVD
Published 25 September 2009 by BWL

With the release of Efterklang's final album for Leaf, Performing Parades (October 19), and the live performance with the Britten Sinfonia at the Barbican in London on October 28, we can bring you a sneak preview of what to expect with the release of two video clips from the DVD which accompanies the CD and double LP. Recorded in the group's hometown of Copenhagen with The Danish National Radio Chamber Orchestra, the selected songs are their last single, 'Caravan', and triumphant album closer 'Cutting Ice To Snow':

Caravan (live):

Or youtube.

Cutting Ice To Snow (live):

Or youtube.

For more about the album, and links to pre-order it, click here.

Norwegian collective Jaga Jazzist have been named as support for the Barbican concert in a very rare UK performance, making an even more exciting prospect. You can find out more and buy tickets here.

Efterklang have a busy touring schedule for the rest of the year as they prepare for their third album proper. All the dates can be seen here:
http://www.theleaflabel.com/efterklang

http://www.efterklang.net/home
http://www.myspace.com/efterklang

Nancy Elizabeth Confirms London Headline Show And Plays BBC Introducing Session This Sunday
Published 30 September 2009 by BWL

Nancy Elizabeth has just confirmed a London headline gig on Saturday November 21. Taking place at The Borderline, you can buy tickets here.

See all of Nancy's shows here.

Meanwhile, Nancy joins up with BBC Introducing in Manchester this Sunday October 4 for an interview and session. The show airs from 10pm-1am, more info on how to hear the programme here.

http://www.nancyelizabeth.co.uk
http://www.myspace.com/nancyelizabethcunliffe