Gunning For Tamar – and so she thinks

Truck Festival 15 is coming…

admin — Mon, 09 Jul 2012 20:55:02 +0000

Anyone who has listened to the IAH radio show (don’t worry, nobody else does either – check out the listen again here http://rechargedradio.com/), will know that we have a massive soft-spot for Oxford. The scene, the bands – the architecture – it’s got everything we love about medium sized cities. In fact, we love it so much we dedicated a whole show to it! Of all its virtues though it is Truck Festival we love the most.
Our favourite child from the festival family, it has always had a special place in our drunken heart – whether it be breaking into the now defunct barn to interview Alphabet Backwards, keeping a tent going with pedal power, rocking out to ChewLips in a ‘stage’ no bigger than a wendy house, purchasing ice cream from the local priest, Dead Jerichos and Spring Offensive in the Last FM tent in 2011; Los Campesinos and Blood Red Shoes on the main stage in 2010, or Joy Formidable tearing up The Barn and Chew Lips busting out awesome dance moves in 2009

But, it was whilst at last year’s Field Day that we heard that Truck was apparently no more. An actual gasp left our mouths, before a tear formed in the eye. A victim of it’s own ambition and the economic crisis, it had been consigned to the festival waste bin along with Phoenix, Electric Gardens and many others. Or so we thought! With new partners in the shape of the Y-Not festival promoters, Truck is back, marking it’s 15^th Anniversary and coming with the prospect of being better than ever! Smiles of glee all round!
With headline sets lined-up from The Temper Trap (riding a crest of a wave after their second album release and playing their biggest shows to date) and Mystery Jets (festival stalwarts who know how to bring the party), it’s also the depth of this year’s line-up that impresses and excites. Friday’s main stage sees the likes of local heroes Fixers, Irish balladeer Villagers and one-man music machine Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly hitting the stage, with the added touch of variety (in every sense of the word), coming in the shape of Australian big-hitter Tim Minchin. Saturday also keeps the quality levels turned up to 11 with the likes of Emmy the Great, British Sea Power, Dog is Dead and the The Low Anthem in attendance.

Further down the bill on the second stage sees some of the newer darlings of the new music world – King Charles, Lucy Rose, Theme Park to name a few – rubbing shoulders with the more established names of Guillemots and Scottish rockers Frightened Rabbit. Not to be out done, respected labels Big Scary Monsters and Alcopop have taken over the Barn stage lining up a stellar collection of acts including Johnny Foreigner, Spring Offensive, Gunning for Tamar, Dead Jerichos, Three Trapped Tigers and Future of the Left.
With only a couple of weeks to go we are too excited for Truck – even with monsoon weather outside the window. With one of it’s strongest line-ups for years, mixing the best local talent with more established acts, we cannot wait to get back to those rolling Oxfordshire hills, grab a pint of ale and dance ourselves stupid till the small hours.
A limited number of tickets are still available at just £69 from www.truckfestival.com
Here’s four of the best local bands, to whet your appetite.

The Great Escape 2012 – Festival Special!

admin — Mon, 07 May 2012 19:40:40 +0000

It’s that time of year again, when It’s All Happening, along with thousands of music fans, hundreds of bands and a good percentage of the music industry head down to sunny Brighton, for The Great Escape. I could wax lyrical about it, but I will just let our special edition zine do the talking…
In it you’ll find our opinion on the following 57 bands, as well as where and when they are playing, to help you plan your weekend around maximum musical pleasure …Cut Ribbons, Deaf Club, Among Brothers, Alabama Shakes, Dry The River, Common Tongues, Mujeres, Me And The Bees, Ninette & The Goldfish, Seward, Amics del Bos, Oso Leone, The Suicide of Western C ulture, Furguson, The Robbie Boyd Band, Wet Nuns, Sonic Boom Six, Swim Deep, Yukon Blonde, Bos Angeles, Toy, Alt J, Maximo Park, Mystery Jets, Chew Lips, Dakota Beats, The Front Bottoms, Shabazz Palaces, Pikachunes, Tripple Nipples, BOY, Emily & The Woods, Rae Morris, Slow Down Molasses, Tall Ships, Fanzine, The Switch, Worship, Concrete Knives, Mammal Club, Saint Saviour, Spring Offensive, Gunning For Tamar, Clock Opera, Hymns, Dems, Munich, Escaoists, Team Me, The Joy Formidable, Warpaint, Katzenjammer, Rachel Sermanni, The Manic Shine, Hatcham Social, The Temper Trap & Jack Savoretti.
As well as the IAH team (Dan, John, Greta, Caroline, Michael, Katie and Francesca) the lovely Jen Long (BBC Radio 1), Chris Foster (Pop Noodle), Jordan Thomas (Recharged Radio), Ellie Coden – (Fierce Panda), and Steven Boniface (Labelled Independent) have all written guest articles – thanks guys!

Open publication – Free publishing – More bands

New EP from Gunning For Tamar – Time Trophies

admin — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 20:17:30 +0000

The CD is dead. Cassettes are having a revival. Or maybe it’s all about the wristwatch?
Oxford band Gunning for Tamar release next EP Time Trophies on March 19th, on their very own time trophies – wristwatcjhes that come complete with download code on the back of the timepiece for access to the EP.

The new vinyl?

Challenging, tightly executed epic pop-rock, they’ve already been tipped by the NME, BBC 6 Music and Rock Sound, and not even a year after they played It’s All Happening. Combining mathmatics with passion and rock with intelligence, as well as marketing with quirky, 2012 could be their year.

Live at It's All Happening, May 2011

Astronaut-Abort is available as a free download from the band’s Soundcloud page, and the tour in support of the EP taking in the following cities and towns.
11th February – Truck Store Instore, Oxford
19th March – Beercart Arms, Canterbury
22nd March – Avondale House, Southampton
23rd March – Bristol,TBC
24th March – *EP LAUNCH* The Cellar, Oxford
25th March – Old Blue Last, London
27th March – The Hope, Brighton
28th March – Buffalo Bar, Cardiff
29th March – Trinity Bar, Harrow
30th March – Shipping Forecast, Liverpool
31st March – The Chameleon, Nottingham

It's All Happening: The Christmas Collection

admin — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 22:27:29 +0000

Oslo’s given London a Christmas tree every year since 1947. Balthazar brought the little baby Jesus some gold. 27% of of men are hoping they’ll receive socks (according to TK Maxx). It’s All Happening want to go one better and bring you the ultimate festive gift – It’s All Happening: The Christmas Collection. Some of the best bands we’ve worked with this year, who have played the gig nights and generally delighted us all, have been lovely enough to donate tracks to our mixtape. Take a listen: it’s an absolute stonker, and like a puppy, not just for Christmas. Bet you wish you’d come to the gigs now hey?
Enjoy.
It’s All Happening: The Christmas Collection by It’s All Happening

Summersun – Ross & The Wrongens
Age Anti Age – The ID
Annika’s Song – Fievelwill
Tired of Being a Man – Killing Fields Of Ontario
Rocket Science – Cinemawave
Steal His Heart – Emily & The Woods
Aphrodite – Edit/Select
Plastic – Alphabet Backwards
Apes With Rollerskates – All Too Animal
Lion’s Throat – Barely Modern
Postcards To Strangers – Moustache Of Insanity
Soul and Substance – Peter Darling
In The Quiet – The Rifle Volunteer
Modern Hipster – Tracey’s Love
Truth Or Dare – ABI
Wired – Freak Static
Bonfires – Gunning For Tamar
Panic Don’t Panic – Secret Rivals
Joy – The Volitains
Heard It All Before – The Switch
She’s A Queen – Deadwax
Inuitses – Quadrilles
Rich and Famous – Lawrence Bray
Dancers In A Painting – Sugardrum
Burger Van Song – Rachel Sermanni
Taxi For Mr. Griffin – End Of Level Baddie

February, April and May..

admin — Sun, 22 May 2011 20:31:49 +0000

Sat 21st May was the first It’s All Happening night at The Gallery Cafe, opened by Abi Murraywho’s sassy soul has wowed us before and earned her slots at prestigious venues such as a headline slot at Camden’s Proud Galleries. Massive thanks, and we hope your Mum’s birthday went well!
The second act of the night were be Fievelwill, a wonderful duo from Kent that sent the audience into a mesmerising trance with their breathtaking talent. They have received some great plaudits for their live session on Kent radio station KMFM.
Gracing the stage as our headliners was the incredible Emily and The Woods, just one month before playing Glastonbury Festival. A quiet room, candelight, crisp soft vocals, and a double bass makes for a magical summer evening.
On Sat 20th we were pleased to welcome back Redwood Fall, a band who have really matured into a tight and talented outfit since they last played. New London Kings were A. Ma. Zing. Catchy hooks and rolling riffs kept us all riveted. Finally the wonderful Gunning For Tamar stepped in for us last minute, and wow I am a glad they did. Substantial scoundscapes, huge and harmonious scales and gutsy guitars – brilliant.
April 8th was played by Lawrence Bray, a songwriter influenced by the back to basics rock and roll of Oasis et al, local band Freak Static, electrifying brilliant, Oxford band Secret Rivalswith their crisp creations, and The Quadrilles, who were outstandingly tight, angles so astute they sliced through the air.
March we had a break. Sorry guys.
In February The K Shaped Rooms headlined, a full band accompanying Komla’s snakelike smooth guitar work, and the Cuckoo’s Nest has never been into the groove so much. Young lads The Rivieras were energetic and engaging, and we’ll definitely have them back! And this was the night that we first discovered Abi Murray – thank god for that!