Look, up in the sky! It's a club... it's a promoter... it's a record label... it's Legendary London Indie Club/Label/Music Obsessives Track and Field's fourth annual 'Winter Sprinter' festival, a sure-fire cure for the post-holiday blues. From heart-breaking alt.country to challenging electronica, there's something for everyone in this eclectic and adventurous line-up.
Shows are £5 each, or you can purchase a season ticket for £10 from the Track And Field Website.
The first night, Tuesday 7th January at the Arts Cafe, features an alt.country sort of feel. THE MENDOZA LINE meld the classic singer/songwriter tradition with two greatest pop bands of their formative years - American Music Club and The Replacements. HERMAN DUNE play a gorgeous, haunting Swedish/French take on the Velvet Underground's more heart-breaking moments, while the THE BROKEN FAMILY BAND are a warped, warm and fuzzy rethink of country.
For those wanting a more classic indie thing, try Wednesday 8th January at the Water Rats. OF MONTREAL begin their UK tour, showcasing "Aldhils Arboretum" a new album of Elephant 6 style psychedelic sunshine pop, now available on Track & Field's own label. Rounding out the bill are HOMESCIENCE and AEROSPACE, sure to delight C86 style indie fans, so wear your best anorak, and those of you in the cheap seats rattle your Sarah Records badges!
Thursday, 9th January at the Arts Cafe things go a bit indie-tronica. CAPITOL K mix gorgeous, textured guitars with dots and loops and beatz galore. MARSHMALLOW COAST weave a gentle tapestry of incandescent melody and sweeping emotion while PRINTED CIRCUIT bleep, glitch and screengaze galore.
And if that's not enough for you, the week is rounded out by a celebratory Booze Appocalypse Indie Disco at the Betsey Trotwood on Friday, 10th January. Three floors of a mind-boggling assortment of music throughout the ages - where else are you going to hear Stereolab, the Shop Assistants, the Ronettes and Chicks On Speed, all in the course of one DJ set? Dance until dawn... or at least 2am.