Three Billy G.O.A.T.s

I've managed to go the whole weekend without watching a single complete set from the Glastonbury Festival. 

 

Admittedly, Lady K and I have caught a few moments whilst channel surfing but it tended to land on acts like Coldplay or Shania Twain, prompting a reflexive prod of the remote control to move swiftly on. 

Billy Nomates performed on the Leftfield stage on Saturday, though perhaps unsurprisingly after last year's appalling trolling and abuse, her set is not available to view on BBC iPlayer. A shame, as Tor Maries was easily one of 2023's highlights for this armchair festival goer and I've no doubt that she was brilliant this weekend too.

Billy Bragg joined Billy Nomates on stage for a version of the Bard of Barking's classic A New England. Sadly, no sign of this live rendition on YouTube either (yet), however Billy has shared her demo of the song, re-titled new ingland, with Billy Fuller (Beak>) on guitar. It's available as a name your price download on Bandcamp and suffice to say, it's rather special.

 

 

As a reminder or introduction, here's a selection from each of Tor's previous mixtapes/albums, tor tapes (2023), CACTI (2023) and Billy Nomates (2020), plus a new song wwid released in May.

I've reactivated the link to the Billy Nomates selection that I compiled in June 2023, which you can find here..

Tor's on tour, joining The Streets at Birmingham Centenary Square in August, then playing around the UK in November and December, culminating in a hometown gig at Strange Brew in Bristol on 5th December. I'll be there.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sticky Beak>

Beak> are back!

 

Whilst there has been a lot of attention - and deservedly so - on Beth Gibbons return after what seems like an eternity, fellow Portishead genius Geoff Barrow, together with Billy Fuller and Will Young (<sigh> no, not that one) released >>>> at the end of May.

Their first album in six years, according to the promo the songs were recorded "in a house called Pen Y Bryn in Talsarnau, Wales [...] Remote and with only ourselves and the view of Portmeirion in the distance." The album was completed at Invada in Bristol and released via the label of the same name.

A video for The Seal was posted on You Tube last week and gives you a flavour of what to expect. >>>> ploughs a similar Krautrock/motorik groove as before, though none the less engaging or infectious for that. 

Another characteristic of naming songs after places in Bristol and neighbouring counties is also present and correct. >>>>'s contribution to this alternative road map is Windmill Hill. Not an usual name as of itself, lots of places use it, but I used to live near this one in South Bristol, which is home to a rather lovely city farm.

 

 

Here's another called Iron Acton, going back to their very first release in 2009 and geographically the closest to Casa K's current location.

 

 

Coincidentally, I was there at the weekend with Mrs. K, looking for another barrow, of the wheeled variety. No luck there but we came away with a bird bath instead. First world problems, eh? As a wee boy, my parents used to drive past the road signs for this place, which I would misread as Iron Action. The reality is there's not much action in Iron Acton but the music is great...!

 

Beak> have also recorded several sessions for Mark Riley's show on BBC 6Music which are worth checking out. In July 2019, they delivered a 4-song set, opening with covers of two Gary Numan classics, Cars and Films. Great stuff.

Beak> will be playing a few summer festivals and then touring the UK later this year, concluding with a hometown gig at SWX in Bristol on 14th December. I've got my ticket...see you there?