Swn 2009: The DiS Review
I lived in Cardiff for five years and I love the place. Swn, to me, encapsulates the best of what it has to offer: an independent spirit, a sense of immense self-belief, and a determination to get things done.»
I lived in Cardiff for five years and I love the place. Swn, to me, encapsulates the best of what it has to offer: an independent spirit, a sense of immense self-belief, and a determination to get things done.»
You shall be glad to hear there is no unnecessary preamblage from me today. We are just going to dive in like greedy sorts. »
This week's Spotifriday playlist.»
From the archive... DiS did the Camden Crawl 2008 the weekend just gone, chasing NW1’s cracked pavements in pursuit of hawt young t’ings. And the Fratellis. Here's an In Photos gallery of many Crawl acts, including those on the DiS stage»
From excellent mixtapes from some of our favourites to in-depth analysis of what makes a band tick, we've broadened our journalistic horizons somewhat since the relaunch. Catch up with this handy digest»
The second fortnightly instalment from the legendary Everett True, which puts the classic 1976 album, The Modern Lovers into the context of the present. »
It's October first... Happy Birthday to us! And now for an indulgent dose of nostalgia as DiS' founder looks back at previous incarnations of the site»
It's not long now (two weeks in fact!) 'til the Shred Yr Face tour hits the road so without further ado, here's a quick reminder of what's in store»
A couple of weekends ago, DiS ventured to Wales to brave the incessant downpour for the sixth annual Green Man Festival. Here's some of what we saw»
More words from the road… the roads of nations far away. Live and direct from Japan: the latest diary from Johnny Foreigner»
DiS is proud to present the Shred Yr Face tour this October, featuring Los Campesinos!, No Age and Times New Viking. Get all the info here»
Held on August 15-17, the Green Man Festival features one of the best bills of any of the summertime weekenders. Founder Jo Bartlett speaks to DiS»
Indietracks is like no other festival DiS's experienced, with Los Campesinos!, Darren Hayman and The Wedding Present on the bill»
DiS's ATP virgin Luke Slater heads to Camber for the first of two May weekenders, taking in Bon Iver, Sebadoh and the glee of Los Campesinos!»
Johnny Foreigner singer Alexei previews his band's debut album ahead of its June release, PLUS see them live in London for a special price»
We at DiS have a gooey spot in our cold hearts for indie-popsters Los Campesinos!. Here, singer Gareth selects us some top-quality listening»
London three-piece Factory Floor make noise like pylon cables sizzling in the wet; the sound of taut menace splayed ominously overhead. Read how their Single Of The Week puts the 'spl-' in the rest of the bunch's 'iffy' here»
DiS went to South By Southwest 2008 and all we got were these photographs... and these words... and no sun burn this time... mercifully»
Johnny Foreigner spend much of February on the road with Los Campesinos!, doing their best to lose their gin at every show and reacquiring wandering snare drums. Somewhere along the line they practise being decapitated»
Cripes! One minute we’re all “Yay Spurs” and loving the Beautiful Game; the next we’re ducking chimney stacks as Britain rocks to some Richter Scale madness. Bonkers. Still, the jolts have stirred DiS into collecting February’s key releases»
With their debut album Hold On Now, Youngster released via Wichita this Monday, February 25, DiS invited Los Campesinos!’ own Gareth Campesinos! to dissect the new record for the reading pleasure of you lot»
DiS was in central London on Sunday night to catch Brooklyn's Les Savy Fav play their largest-ever London show, ahead of the release of their Inches album (Wichita, March 10). We got some photos. Bingo»
Yesterday we ran through our picks to break through at a low-ish level in 2008, to tickle the fancy of those with taste. Here, we’re upping the commercial ante: these acts are in with a shout of crossing over – brighter tomorrows, bolder ambitions, bigger budgets. Next-Steppers we are calling them»
This time last year DiS was outlining its tips for the following twelve. Next week we’ll be doing similar – bringing to your attention the bands we think will matter in 2008 – but before we get stuck into the future, let’s dwell upon the past a little»
Los Campesinos! are a band, and they like to tour, sometimes. Here, DiS is pleased to present an account of their most recent October trip about these isles in the words of one of their own, vocalist Gareth»
The Huw Stephens curated SWN Festival takes place this weekend in Cardiff. The Radio 1 DJ drops into the DiSopolis to explain the thinking behind the Welsh music blow-out»
Rocking up the crest of their seventh birthday, DiS scribbler Gareth Dobson hacks away at the defences of Castle Wichita to reveal a set of rather contented innards, complete with tales of DFA1979 loss, guitar solos that never finished and why no-one got The Cribs for the first four years...»
This time last year, the four boys and three girls that make up Los Campesinos! had one common objective, and that was getting through their second year at Cardiff University. Dom Gourlay catches up with the seven-piece in Nottingham to see how they've progressed, and to find out what's next for the much-tipped indie-poppers...»
Colin Roberts and Mike Diver play some of the top tips for 2007 as featured on DrownedinSound.com, as well as some of the cream of our forthcoming live acts. Music comes from Los Campesinos!, Sky Larkin, Blood Brothers, Cold War Kids, The Besnard Lakes, Rolo Tomassi, Lovvers, Jack Peñate, Lovvers and more.»
As promised, here’s part two of DiS’s Tips for 2007. Each and every one of the acts mentioned below have been getting the powers that be at the DiSopolis particularly excited of late, and we’re predicting bigger and better things for them over the next twelve months. Might they touch you? They just might…»
Hey, you! Chew that turkey properly and then give us a hand. We want to know about your tips for 2007...»
2006: twelve whole months of DiS running about the country, up stairs and down basements, into hotel rooms and outside into pub gardens, chasing bands. It's what we do, so that you don't have to.»
A young man stands on stage smiling in incomprehension. His band, just 14 gigs old, are halfway through their set at Camden's Barfly. The crowd sings along, cheering to tracks they've only heard on the internet like they're Greatest Hits staples. It's one o'clock on a Saturday morning and this, ladies and gentlemen, is Los Campesinos! »