Continuing Vertigo Smyth week here at Penny, the new video to the song which Future Sounds calls “an instant classic” is below – have a listen and say hello to Mr. Smyth over at www.vertigosmyth.com

Future Sounds 33 - Vertigo Smyth

The folks at Future Sounds recordings have seen the light that is Vertigo Smyth. Nice timing too, as we kick of what looks to be Vertigo Smyth week here at Penny Distribution.

Vertigo’s track “Comfort Me” is featured along side bands like Mumford & Sons, Django James and the Midnight Squires, Local Natives and Avi Buffalo on Future Sounds 33. Previous iterations of the FS series featured bands like Cat Power, Bonnie “Prince” Billy and Lykke Li, long before these artists gained the recognition they have today.

You can stream the entire album via the Future Sounds page at internet radio superstation WOXY.com, or check out the gorgeous new video for “Comfort Me” via YouTube.

The album is also available on iTunes.

UnConvention Salford kicks off today in Salford, UK. You can follow everything as-it-happens right here.

If you don’t recall the madness of UnConvention Belfast or even the original Un-Convention Event back in October 2008, it’s a music conference aimed specifically at the grass roots of the music industry – bands, labels, publishers, distributors (yay!) and new music businesses gather for education, inspiration and cake. Or pies.

Have a listen to listen to the mighty Tom Robinson’s BBC Un-Convention Special (BBC iPlayer) -http://bit.ly/8s05S or check this Spotify playlist for a taster of some of the amazing talent that’ll be playing over the weekend.

The full band lineup is here.

Penny’ll be represented by attendees Tom McShane and Amy McGarrigle, the creative force behind a collaborative musical effort between Penny Distribution, Big Sky Studios & Volte Face Records. Rich Dale, founder of Volte Face and bassist of indie rock band Escape Act, will be speaking in more detail on the project at the first of Saturday’s panels, “Bands as Enterprise”.

I’ll be updating the blog daily so keep it right here…

A quick update on what’s been happening here at Penny:

Cutaways – Earth & Earthly Things

Belfast’s own Cutaways are prepping the release of their new album, Earth & Earthly Things, due for release on June 9th 2009. Generous buggers that they are, you can hear the whole album over at their Music Page With a UK & Ireland tour in the works, I’d sign up to their newsletter ASAP to keep up to date. Check out a couple of great videos from the album over at YouTube too.

Un-Convention Salford: June 4, 5 & 6 2009 –

For disclosure’s sake, I should probably mention that I’m a member of the Un-Convention board in the UK. That said, this June see a reprise of the first UnConvention in Salford. 30 speakers, 5 panels, 20 bands over 3 days. All for only £25 – get in!

Some highlights include Martin Atkins and BBC’s Tom Robinson doing a special “UnConvention” show from BBC’s Oxford Rd. studios in Manchester – including live sessions from the bands performing and interviews. Woo!

We’ll be there for the whole weekend, so drop us a line if you want to meet up.

More info at: http://www.unconvention.wordpress.com

For all the amazing music on show at SXSW, Real-world rules apply here, too, though. You’ll run the whole gamut of god-awful bands right up to the life changing ones. And you’ll get about 10 “meh” or “get me out of here” experiences for every 1 “where am I? What is that heavenly sound?” experiences.

But that’s what we’re here for! Below are some more of my”where am I?” bliss outs from this year’s 4-day debacle in the Texas State Capitol.

Denis Jones

I’d missed Denis‘ show at UnConvention Manchester last year but by all accounts it was amazing. Still, the idea of basically a singer/songwriter using loop pedal wizardry wasn’t that appealling. How wrong I was.

Denis has a dazzling array of analog and digital gadgets on stage for his show and it’s more like an art / jazz improv set than a singer/songwriter show – and it’s certainly not some chancer looping a bass line then playing his song over the top of it.

He literally BUILDS the song on stage, sometimes with so many layers, twists and turns you feel he could lose it any time, but he never does – like the best jazz improvisers, the show is a true journey in experimentation with a close eye on melody & narrative. Has to be seen to be believed – thankfully, we have YouTube

The Wrens

I’d heard of The Wrens. The kind of band spoken of in hushed tones, the kind of band who played random shows in random places that when you walked into the venue your friend would nudge you and say “Dude, The Wrens played here”.

I was a little skeptical, being that I was completely unfamiliar with their recorded output, but what a show. They may be in their mid-forties but they played with more energy than many of the wannabes out on 6th St. Bass guitars flung into the crowd, ear-ache performance, blood, sweat and tears. Just what you need, really. I wouldn’t call my impression of the Wrens “hype”, but whatever it was it was wiped away on Friday night.

I’ll wrap up the panels and sessions from SXSW tomorrow for yiz…

SXSW music is the best music festival out there, but it’s especially great if you want to catch new bands – either ones who’ve been on your radar or completely new sweetness. Sure, the big names play there too (Metallica & PJ Harvey to name a couple who reared their heads this last week in Austin, TX) but to us, it’s about finding new music, the next White Denim for you to completely flip your lid over.

That’s what drags me into the hot-boxes and sweaty corners of Austin in mid-March every year – that thirst for the true live music experience.

Two Sheds:

OK, I had to start with this one because it hurts the most. I’ve been rocking their debut EP since the kind folks at the Bay Bridged spun their feature podcast last year. Caitlin Gutenberger is simply an amazing songwriter and the songs are exquistely executed – a less pretentious Feist with subtle arrangements would sum them up.

But of course I had to go and miss BOTH of their SXSW performances – d’oh! – but my compadres who were there were suitably blown away. It still stings as I’ll likely never see them perform given I’m rarely in San Francisco. But still – Two Sheds. Ace.

Efterklang

I’d be turned on by SF’s own Gabe Leis about 18 months ago – Efterklang’s “Tripper” is both operatic, experimental and will soothe you like Calpol at the same time. The live show was unexpectedly upbeat but so, so spiky. Not to mention their super-Danish accents and accompanying mustaches. Good show!

Slareffenland

As I’d tweeted at the time, Copenhagen must be the new Belfast. A community centre about 10 blocks north of 6 street was the scene for HomeTapes’ “Friend Island” event – a truly intimate affair and was my first taste of Efterklang tour-mates Slareffenland.

Sweeping songs, brass, an amazing drummer and yes, more moustaches, were Slareffenland. Highlight of the festival by a mile – although what was with that gigantic beer keg/truck with no beer? Clearly, the Danish are big teases too…

More to come tomorrow!

February is really a month to celebrate – Penny Distribution’s trans-atlanticism goes hay-wire and two of the most cutting edge, forward thinking and connected conferences are taking place in the two places we call home – San Francisco, CA and Belfast, Northern Ireland.

UnConvention:

Followers of this blog will be well aware of the impact UnConvention Manchester had on me back in October 2008. Check out this video for a taster of that event.

Well, when we came back – (that’d be Rich, Tracy , Jen, Andy and I) – we immediately set about setting up our own event with a similar ethos – sharing best practice, working toward collaboration and inspiring each other. With a slight twist, we added an element of “Barcamp” to proceedings, adding a nod toward the convergence of music and technology, as well as making sure that the event will focus on the audience, and all participants as it did in Manchester – not just those who’ve already established successful music industry careers.

So today, we just announced our lineup of panels for UnConvention Belfast, which will take place on February 6th & 7th in Belfast, UK – hopefully the first of many of UK UnConventions to spin off from that weird and wonderful week in Salford.

With participants from Europe and the USA as well as indie labels & music businesses from all over the UK and Ireland, it’s set to be one hell of an event that couldn’t have been pulled off without the immense support and enthusiasm of a huge array of people…

As one of the participants at UnConvention told me “It’s amazing what you can do when you don’t know what you can’t do”.

Follow @unconvention on Twitter or www.unconventionbelfast.com for more…

Industry Noise, San Francisco (part of the Noisepop Festival)

Noisepop has too many memories for me – Ted Leo, Spoon, John Vanderslice – as well as the array of artists and venues that make San Francisco such an amazing place to live and work.

Well, this year Noisepop is spinning it’s web off into a one day conference called Industry Noise. It will feature keynote conversations with influential artists and technologists, and panel discussions that encourage conversation between the digital music industries and the artists that are forging new terrain through its opportunities.

For those of you unfamiliar, Noise Pop is currently in its 17th year. This city-wide festival has hosted the most influential artists of our time including The White Stripes, Death Cab For Cutie, Modest Mouse, Jimmy Eat World, The Flaming Lips, The Shins, Bright Eyes, Wolfmother, Spoon, The Magnetic Fields, and Jeff Tweedy of Wilco to name a few. Confirmed headliners for 2009 include Antony and the Johnsons, AC Newman and No Age with more to be announced soon.

Have a look at http://www.noisepop.com/2009/industry.php for more…

Some quick updates from the Penny storehouse:

Overview

The mighty Overview have emerged from the studio, with new delectable rock morsels set for preview in February –

“When I think of the year before last, I think of dirty sleeping bags, my ears hurting, and spending half the year in another state. I would come home to my parents house, start a new job, then quit in a few months when I had to leave in a van again. We must have played 150 shows that year. However, playing a new song was a luxury we never had in ‘07. We’d set up every night, play our set, use our drink tickets, and then break our backs loading the trailer for tomorrow night’s show.”

Sound familiar? Prolly not if you’re most bands – These gents have been working their asses off and it shows. 2009’s gonna be huge.

Tom McShane

Tom’s worldwide travels continue. He’s playing the Troy in London (a sibling to Soho’s legendary “Discovery” club) on Thursday, January 15th. A jaunt on the east coast of the USA is in the works for the Spring.

Jessica Lurie

We’re excited to announce the launch of Jessica’s latest studio album, Shop of Wild Dreams. New York’s Zipper Factory will be playing host to the launch show this Wednesday, January 14th.

Vertigo Smyth

2008 was capped with Future Sounds “Song of the Year” nod for Mr. Smyth.

Vertigo Smyth’s been locked away in the studio working on some stellar new material. He even convinced Penny’s own Nick Fitzsimons to return to the ‘traps for the recordings!
He plays UnConvention Belfast on February 6th – not to be missed. http://www.myspace.com/vertigosmyth

UnConvention:

“On Friday 6th & Saturday 7th February, Belfast will play host to a ground-breaking ‘unconference’ for musicians and music industry professionals. With its innovative format of participant-led panels, workshops, speed mentoring, open-floor presentations and informal networking, coupled with a showcase of some of our best musical talent, Unconvention will be the first of its kind in Northern Ireland.”

Head over to http://www.unconventionbelfast.com to register and take part!

Vertigo Smyth – Future Happiness

It’s taken a while, but we’re happy to confirm that Penny’s helping the world hear the debut recording by Tim O’Mulline aka Vertigo Smyth. Recorded and produced by the exceptional Ian McNulty (he of The Terribles fame), “Future Happiness” fuses pop melodies with spritely guitar, ukelele and warm double-bass. Add to that the sonorous Jeff Buckley-esque croon of Mr. Smyth and you have a record that’s still one of our faves of the year.

Vertigo recently opened for the wonderful Juana Molina on her Irish tour.

Listen on AimeStreet.com

Vertigo Smyth on Myspace

The Tiptons Saxophone Quartet

Formerly The Billy Tipton Memorial Sax Quartet, the Tiptons meld second-line, afro-cuban and post-bop through the unique voices of alto, soprano, tenor and baritone saxophones, all combined with the inventive chops of drummer Chris Stromquist. We came across them via Jessica Lurie, the stunning saxophonist who recently signed up to work with us, who’s a member of the group. The maverick inventiveness and raw groove of Jessica’s music infects much of the Tipton’s music.

Their new record, Laws of Motion, is set to hit in late 2008 with the quartet embarking on a UK tour in April ‘09.

“The Tiptons have built a solid reputation as a stellar live band, capable of alternating ferocious with delicate, driving with subtle.” PULSE!

Listen to The Tiptons on Myspace

Tom McShane Supports…

While continuing to meld his first full length, Mr. McShane has been on some tasty bills lately. Slots with Portland’s White Hinterland, Brooklyn’s Nell Bryden and South Belfast’s Kitty and the Can Openers have made for some interesting music-making.

Tom McShane is opening for Portland’s wonderful White Hinterland (http://www.daytrotter.com/article/1429/white-hinterland) next Tuesday, Oct. 21st at Auntie Annies in Belfast.

“White Hinterland recalls pieces of Guaraldi, Sufjan Stevens, and Joni Mitchell at once, as Ms. Dienel’s endearing voice skates over that instantly familiar bassline and playful, jazzy piano shuffle, resulting in one of the best songs of this year” – Gorilla Vs. Bear