avalanche records

Archive for April, 2011

Couldn’t get away until 6pm so caught a little of The Last Battle who sounded great as usual. Managed to see all of Ballboy’s set which opened with some hen party dancing and then was spoilt/enhanced by Mark E. Smith / a Mark E. Smith lookalike dancing at the front for the rest of the set. Gordon was on top form with his banter, sang a song about the Grassmarket, lectured Nick on his pullover (when to wear and when not to wear) and played Alexa’s favourite Ballboy song. He also explained that writing happy songs was hard.

Any doubt about the identity of the guy dancing at the front should have been ended when he was challenged to stop and he shouted “I’m a fifty year old man what you gonna do about it?”

Without wanting to jinx things the weather is looking good. Possibly a little rain early morning but then nothing but  sunshine for the three days. OK I’ve definitely jinxed it. Anyway a bumper attendance is expected so a few more stewards wouldn’t go amiss. Half or full days. Simple stuff like finding lost children, telling folk when the bands are on and where the record shop is ! If you have any first aid training that would be even better. Anybody feeling in a generous mood to offer help should email on the address below. There is no money but we will “owe you one” which can be quite useful if you are in a band and there will be free coffee and cake if you are not in a band but like cake. If you are in a band and like cake then it really is a no brainer.  avalancherecords@hotmail.co.uk

Friday 29th April to Sunday 1st May. Obviously a little bit over long so we’ll be calling it the Grassmarket Music Festival ! With Avalanche sending the begging emails (all the bands are very kindly playing for free), Red Dog providing the equipment and the Academy filling in any gaps and providing even more expertise hopefully this should be a winner. Ballboy headline the Friday night @ 7pm as Gordon returns to his home for many years and I suspect he may mention the royal wedding. Support comes from The Last Battle @ 6pm and Supermarionation @ 5pm with the whole thing being kicked off @ 3pm by the Academy showcasing some of their best students.

The Saturday starts off again @ 3pm with two young bands Kalatara who have promised they won’t sound like Kasabian and Donnie Willow fronted by the improbably named Arthur Piddington who are under strict instructions to not sound like Biffy Clyro. Trapped Mice get a 5pm slot after strong sales for their recent second EP and with all the Gillyflowers unable to make the date we are still hopeful Kirsten Adamson will be able to provide guest vocals with current Avalanche favourites Star Wheel Press. The line-up is completed by Burnt Island @ 7pm who if you haven’t seen them before should definitely not be missed.

Sunday kicks off again @ 3pm with These Fading Polaroids another young band who have a CD for sale in the shop that their friends come and look at from time to time. Good name, some great song titles spoilt only by a little too much prog rock for my liking but hey they’re young and they’ll learn. Wanting to embrace more than just indie the Banjo Lounge 4 promising covers of AC/DC and Beyonce just had to be put on the bill. Edinburgh School for the Deaf’s meshing of the Mary Chain and Phil Spector is always worth seeing and after several attempts I have finally managed to get all the members of the Second Hand Marching Band in the same place at the same time (6pm). Headlining the day @ 7pm are TV21 and hopefully all those young  whippersnapper bands will come along to see how it is done properly. Forever 22 is simply a classic.

There is of course lots more too so do go to the website for information about all the stalls etc and if you have ever wanted to go to a tea dance your dreams have been answered !  http://www.grassmarket.net/

Those lovely people at Dan’s US record label Absolutely Kosher have said I can have 30 of the very limited (200) white vinyl copies they are pressing. I already have orders for 8 copies so it will be first come first served. Get your orders in ASAP using the shop email. It’s like Record Store Day all over again only without the queueing. For anybody with a white/coloured vinyl phobia I can get black vinyl too. avalancherecords@hotmail.co.uk

We are indeed spoiling you. As if  last weekend wasn’t enough for anybody we have Aberfeldy playing in the shop @ 2pm this Saturday. While you are in do have a look at the work of Jenny Soep at the back of the shop. Some are for sale so buy one before they start selling for thousands !

More copies in stock after we briefly ran out. Lovely hand made sleeve. Really looking forward to seeing them at the Grassmarket Fesrival on Saturday 30th April. Guest vocals from Kirsten Adamson of the Gillyflowers. Ryan Hannigan of Star Wheel Press will also have a stall at the Festival selling some of his prints. Finally on sale in our online shop now we have more stock.

Competition may be a bit of an exaggeration. We had a tape put by for James of Twilight Sad but he emailed today to say his label had kept him one already so we could give the tape to one lucky customer who missed out on Saturday. Simply sign up to our mailing list using Twilight Rabbit as your address and we will randomly choose somebody to receive the tape. We won’t even ask for money ! Entries will close at midnight on Saturday.

The Glasvegas signing will now be @ 6pm after their soundcheck. It does mean you will be able to meet the band and then head straight to the venue.

It is free but do let either myself or Tim know if you intend to come along so we can have some idea of numbers. There will of course be coffee and cake !