I heart Hootananny

Hootananny Brixton has stolen my heart. Saturday nights will never be the same again. I'm a convert.

This seriously trendy and much loved pub (oh and it's totally free on Saturday nights by the way) bills itself as the best live music venue in London. Time Out called it "The best night out South of the River", I call it the best night out I've ever had in London; three weekends in a row.I can't help but ask what it is about this place though. It's not particularly glamorous, it's sort of in the middle of nowhere, but everything about this wonderful place excites me: the free entry, the jerk chicken, the reasonably priced drinks, lighting and stage area. Everyone is there to have a good time, hear some great music and let their hair down. I have so far not been disappointed with any of the bands I have seen and they have all been incredibly different. From funk and soul to gypsy folk to acid jazz...

Last Saturday I was introduced to an incredible band called The Killer Meters, by far the best band I have seen live for a while. Despite the fact that their songs were largely unknown, the crowd lapped up every note, drum beat and soaring vocal. I couldn't draw my eyes away from their phenomenal lead singer, Emma Prior, who had the stage presence of Beth Ditto/Florence Welch and Karen O all rolled in to one. The rest of the band were equally as skilled, with the drummer, almost resembling Slash with his top hat and curly hair, driving through the rhythms, and I have never seen anyone enjoy playing a bass as much as their bassist. All I wanted to do was dance and I didn't care what anyone else thought.

This is what Hootananny is all about - top quality live bands, unpretentious clientele with a willingness to embrace whatever band arrives to entertain them and a relaxed, vibrant and entertaining atmosphere where you can really let your hair down. I should know, I'm a regular now.

Click here for more on Hootananny

Check out the Killer Meters below and here

New Florence + The Machine Track

After almost two years of patient waiting and listening to Lungs on repeat, yet strangely never getting bored of it, Florence is back with a brand new track from her upcoming second album - due to be released on November 7th and as yet untitled. Her newly released track is called "What The Water Gave Me" and the best thing of all is that IT DOES NOT DISAPPOINT. I could not be more delighted. It's just as rousing, layered, rich and mystical as the majority of Lungs. When you write something as brilliant as the phenomenol Dog Days Are Over and so early on in your career there is always going to be a lot of expectation but judging by this first taster of things to come, we are in for a real treat.

'What The Water Gave Me' has the signature sound of harps and the crashing crescendos that underpin Florence Welch's breathtaking and unique vocals. This song needs to be played loud and often and will just have to keep me going until November...
See for yourself here:

Song of the week: Crystal Fighters "At Home"

Not to be confused with Crystal Castles, Crystal Fighters have been quietly beavering away over the last few years, gaining quite a following. I have been trying to come up with a way to describe this band and it's not easy so luckily I found this in the Guardian's review of a gig earlier this year:

"Crystal Fighters are a highly bizarre musical proposition: a band of arty east London hipsters who have created an uneven fusion of banging rave-era techno and quixotic folk music that makes use of the idiosyncratic wooden percussion, timpani and pipe whistles of the Basque country".

Yeah, so um, pretty straight forward! Anyway, I listened to them a bit a couple of summers ago but haven't really paid much attention since, until I had the pleasure of hearing a live version of this on BBC6 music this morning. "At Home" is a beautiful, catchy and melodic love song with some striking harmonies and touching lyrics. I haven't enjoyed a song as much as this in a while and compared to some of their other songs is almost verging on quite mainstream. Don't be fooled though. Crystal Fighters are no sell out band and if it's crazy punky folky Basque country music you are after then look no further - but for now just enjoy this and let it wash over you as you kick back and finally enjoy some summer weather: