Video exclusives from The Smittens and Winston Echo!

What’s really impressed us this year with the Indietracks blog is just how much effort some of the bands have made with their blog contributions, particularly videos! Earlier on here we featured smashing videos from the likes of Paisley and Charlie and MJ Hibbett, and today it’s the turn of the ever-excitable Smittens and train fan Winston Echo.

The Smittens have made a “fun lil’ video about indietracks enthusiasm and tips and looking forward to things and stuff”. They reveal their favourite Indietracks food, bands they’re looking forward to seeing, but we have to warn you some of the performances are a bit ‘two-dimensional’. You’ll have to watch it to see what we mean!



The Smittens have a new remix album coming out on July 19th on Oddbox records. There’s details and a player where you can stream all the tracks on the Oddbox website. They also have a bunch of shows pre- and post- indietracks – check out their last.fm events page for full details.

Winston Echo has also made a train-related especially for our blog, which has made us all nostalgic for previous festivals and longing for this year’s to arrive. The video’s below and you can also download the MP3 free here: Train Song

Indietracks interview #24: The Millipedes

Sheffield garage rock super-group The Millipedes formed in 2007, originally featuring a singer called Milly. The singer didn’t stick around but the name did. The Millipedes boast pseudonymous members of bands including The Long Blondes, Smokers Die Younger and Velodrome 2000.

Playing music that sounds like the raw punk of The Sonics mixed with the sleazy rhythm & blues of Andre Williams, The Millipedes can do super-stupid horror themed punk trash and seedily beautiful blues, sometimes at the same time. The Millipedes debut album Shake Your Bones is being released by Odd Box Records.

Chris has joined us for an interview and supplied a fiendishly impossible quiz.

Hi Chris, tell us a bit about the Millipedes

We are the Millipedes, we like garage rock'n'roll music. No subject is too dumb to be tackled in one of our two and a half minute epics. In fact the dumber the better. There's a fine line between clever and stupid and we're searching hard for it each and every day.

Do you have any special skills or hobbies you wish to share?

Our singer, Rockin' Oliver D'World, is a top cartoon illustrator and he drew all the artwork for our boxed set album/badges/T shirts etc. with only his hand and some pens.

What will be on your mixtapes as you travel to Indietracks?

I'll be listening to music from Balamory and Yo Gabba Gabba on the way to Indietracks with my little family. I'll be hoping to get in a bit of Urusei Yatsura and the Vaselines as well.

Do you have anything special planned for the festival?

We're planning to do a 'singer handover' gig, where first we have one singer, then we have 2 singers, then we have our new singer round off the set. Let's hope it's a peaceful transition!

Quiz time!

If you’d like to win a Millpedes t-shirt, please attempt this Millipedes logic puzzle and email your entries to indietrackspress@gmail.com by Friday 16 July – we’ve had a look and we’re not sure we even understand the rules, but we know you’re a smart bunch!

Indietracks warm-up shows

Hello! Can you believe Indietracks is only two weeks away now? If you haven't bought your ticket yet, they're still available to buy online at the Indietracks website. It's not that long to wait but, if you're anything like us, you want a slice of Indietracks action now!

If that's the case then you're in luck, as some of the country's finest indiepop promoters are putting on Indietracks warm-up shows in the next couple of weeks. We've provided a list below, and we're keeping this information updated on the Warm-up Shows page of the Indietracks website, so if you'd like your gig to appear on that page just e-mail indietracksonline@gmail.com with the details!

Friday 9 July 2010
The Haymakers, 54 High Street, Chesterton, Cambridge CB4 1NG
Crushing Death
Bands: Betty & The Werewolves + The Mai 68s + The Give It Ups

Friday 9 July 2010
The Library, Leeds
Idiot Brother
Bands: Tender Trap, Standard Fare and LookImakemusic!

Saturday 10 July 2010
The Flying Duck, Glasgow
Half My Heart Beats
Bands: Standard Fare + Kid Canaveral + Water Wolves

Tuesday 13 July 2010
Saki Bar, Wilmslow Road, Manchester
Postcards From Manchester
Bands: The Lovely Eggs + Hotpants Romance + This Many Boyfriends

Tuesday 13 July 2010
The Wheatsheaf, Oxford
Swiss Concrete
Bands: Tender Trap + Les Clochards + Shrag

Saturday 17 July 2010
RoTa, Notting Hill Arts Club, London (Free admission)
Oddbox Records
Bands: The Monorals + The Hillfields + Sock Puppets + The Sequins

Monday 19 July 2010
The Flying Duck, Glasgow
Half My Heart Beats
Bands: The Smittens + Boy Genius + Gordon McIntyre + Springfactory

Tuesday 20 July 2010
The Autumn Store
The Victoria, Birmingham
Bands: The Smittens + Lime Chalks + Jam on Bread

Tuesday 20th July
Oddbox Records
The Wilmington Arms, London
Bands: The Blanche Hudson Weekend + Boy Genius + Insect Guide + Micktravis

Wednesday 21 July 2010
Fortuna Pop!
The Luminaire, Kilburn, London
Allo Darlin' + The Smittens + Antarctica Takes It

Thursday 22 July 2010
2nd Floor Cafe, London Fields, London
Baby Honey "Indietrash - An Indietracks warm-up in that London!"
Bands: Burning Hearts + The Felt Tips + Onwards Chariots + The Give It Ups + The Sock Puppets

Thursday 22 July 2010
The Musician, Leicester
Sweeping The Nation
Bands: MJ Hibbett & The Validators + Standard Fare + Lime Chalks

Thursday 22 July 2010
The Redhouse, Sheffield
Invisible Guitar Solo and Pop-o-matic!
Bands: The Smittens + Springfactory + The Pete Green Corporate Juggernaut + The 10p Mixes

Thursday 22 July 2010
Brixton Jamm
How Does it Feel to be Loved?
Bands: Tender Trap + Shrag + Betty and the Werewolves + Antarctica Takes It + Pocketbooks

Tuesday 27 July 2010
Pivo Pivo, Glasgow
Bubblegum Records
Bands: Onward Chariots + The Felt Tips + Always Me Me Me

Workshop interview #3: How to build the perfect pop song

At midday on Sunday at Indietracks, Ben from Onward Chariots will be running a workshop on how to make – and add pop loveliness to – a great pop song. Ben's popped by the blog to tell us more about it.

Hi, tell us a bit about yourselves

Ben has spent much time feverishly studying the great songs of the last fifty years, from the Beatles to Camera Obscura and even Phil Collins. He may or may not also have studied classical music at a university or two, and yet he is still full of passionate ideas about what makes great pop songs, well, great pop songs. Once he played a bit with Cake. Presently he leads the band Onward Chariots, is writing a musical about anarchists, and is attempting to prove his twee credentials by writing a musical about Angelina Ballerina.

What will the workshop be like?

We will chat about what makes a great pop song and how to add pop loveliness into any song. We'll talk about how to make a melody catch the ear, how to create tunes of aching beauty, what makes a hook, how to give a song shape and drama... and how to develop an idea into a complete song. Depending on how the conversation goes, we might even talk about lyrics - how to craft meaningful words in a world already filled with hundreds of thousands of songs. We will discuss existing songs and write one or two songs together. Please bring in your own songs for discussion!

What are you looking forward to the most at Indietracks?

There are so many bands I've never seen that I'm looking forward to seeing... but mostly I'm looking forward to finally meeting face-to-face the fascinating people from around the world with whom I have been corresponding since starting this band!

Do you have any camping tips?

Bring long, bad jokes with pointless endings to tell around the fire. And marshmallows. And a rake to kill venomous snakes. On second thought, you'll find me at the hotel.

Have you been to the festival before? Do you have any Indietracks stories/gossip you'd care to divulge?

I'm excited to be making my first trip to Indietracks! But I do dearly love gossip, so please share with me any you might have.

Will do! But possibly not on here, we'll save it for the campfire!

Onward Chariots Links: Myspace / Facebook

Indietracks interview #23: The Pooh Sticks

Sixteen days until the festival starts! Today we're interviewing Swansea pop mavericks The Pooh Sticks, who have reformed exclusively for the Indietracks festival.

Forming in the late 80s, the Swansea band started out by using ramshackle pop charm to lighten up the indie scene. They were notable for their jangly melodiousness and lyrics gently mocking the indie scene of the time such as on “On Tape”, “Indie-pop Ain’t Noise Pollution” and “I Know Someone who Knows Someone who knows Alan McGee Quite Well”.

The band changed direction on their 1991 US breakthrough The Great White Wonder, eschewing the indie pop sound for a more American-styled Power Pop sound. Subsequent albums Million Seller and Optimistic Fool followed in this style. We're joined by Huw Williams for a few questions.

Hi Hue, over the last few years there have been various retrospectives and fond rememberings of the 80s indie scene. Do you find people reflect the period accurately or is there a temptation to romanticise or reinvent history?

Well as much as I enjoyed bagging all those Sea Urchins flexis, I also remember grabbing early Def Jam 12''s and hopping out to Big Black and Sonic Youth shows.

The group started out quite jangly and poppy and then took a power pop direction for the later albums – which are you most pleased with?

We were always a pop group whether it involved a bit of jangle or a spot of power.

Apparently you used to make up overblown stories, fictional line-ups and other fun ways to market the band – which were your favourite?

I have no idea what you're talking about. I think you've mixed us up with another group. The only fib I can recall is that we pretended that Amelia from Tallulah Gosh was on some of the records.

Okaaay. Is there anything you regret doing as a band or wish you’d done differently?

Turning down a support slot on Nils Lofgren's European tour in 1991.

What have you been up to since the band was last together?

I've been staying in with my memories!

Why did you decide to get back together for Indietracks? Simon from The Loves claims it was his idea…

Yes it was all Simon's idea. Malkmus was telling me the other day it was also Simon's call to get Pavement back on the road. So if you want your fav band to reform, suggestions on a postcard to Si Love!

What can we expect from the band’s Indietracks performance? Will you be playing a career-spanning hits set?

We'll be giving it 110 % and it'll be a show of two halves.

Will you be playing or recording any new songs?

Is that a dare!

Yes, a double dare in fact! Are there plans for the band to do anything else together after the festival?

I'm gonna jump into the Pooh Sticks jalopy and jam in my 'Owl Service' DVD.

Great! See you at the festival!

An Indietracks Wedding!

We’re thrilled to say that this year’s Indietracks will be hosting a wedding! Gary Morgan, who plays drums for Ballboy, will be marrying his fiancée Sarah on the Sunday morning, with the ceremony taking place in the signal box on the Swanwick festival site. Gary’s popped by to tell us all about it…

Sarah and I met at the Brunton Theatre Musselburgh back in 1997 where we were both working. She is a primary school teacher and was working there part time as part of the Front of House team and I was Stage Manager. We used to get together after work as a team at a nearby pub and that is where it all started between us.

The band were booked to play at Indietracks on the Saturday night, we as a family (we have two sons), were making plans to come down anyway and Sarah noticed that the signal box had a license to conduct civil marriages. We had been talking and thinking about getting spliced for a while, but we had not found a place, or a time, or a way to do it that clicked. It tickled us both the idea of getting married in the signal box, there would be the opportunity to combine our celebration with wonderful atmosphere at Indietracks. It just feels right.

We are getting married in the signal box on Sunday morning at 10am. We are keeping the arrangements fairly loose, but we will celebrate there for as long as is appropriate and as we are camping, we plan to put on a “reception” barbeque sometime in the afternoon at the campsite. It is very informal and we want to catch a lot of bands of course. And if people want to come along and join us, that would be just fine.

Friends and family are pretty excited by it all. It is a bit of an adventure to up sticks and head for Derbyshire for a bit of a do, so these are the logistics we have been sorting out. The biggest surprise in all of this was that in order to get married in England as non residents (living in Scotland), we have to stay in England eight days and eight nights before we can register the marriage. That was a bit of a surprise.

I like to imagine as we are wed, as in a story of Thomas the Tank Engine, all the locomotives blow their whistles and people throw their hats in the air and shout hurrah! I think the boys would like that.

We look forward to seeing you all around and about!

Gary

Indietracks interview #22: Jam On Bread

Jam On Bread makes lo-fi ukulele pop songs about sea creatures, Swedish indie-pop labels and 80s pop singers. Since Christmas 2007 he's played about seventy gigs, performed live sessions on Resonance FM, Oxide Radio and Fuse FM and popped up on Dandelion Radio and Tom Robinson's 6Music show.

He'll be playing on the steam train as it speeds through the countryside on the Saturday afternoon of Indietracks.

Hi, tell us a little bit about Jam On Bread

My name is Steve, I'm 23 years old, and I've been doing this Jam on Bread stuff for about two years now, which is nice. I make kind of poppy folk, I suppose you might call it, with my ukulele. I've played a lot of gigs and met some wonderful people over the last couple of years as a result of being a pretend musician. I'd definitely recommend becoming a pop star*. It's ace.

*in the loosest possible sense of the word.

What music are you enjoying at the moment?

The new Radio Dept LP 'Clinging to a Scheme' is really great. It might even be their best! Other than that, the Mat Riviere album 'Follow Your Heart', the Middle Ones 'Things Grow There EP' and the Empty Set's album 'As Neat as a New Pin' (Which was released last year) are all on constant rotation. I've been listening to a lot of the Housemartins recently as well.

Do you have any exciting plans for the rest of the year?

I've recorded an album called 'A Railcard Adventure' that was supposed to be getting released very soon, but I'm not sure what's happening anymore. If anyone reading this wants to release a Jam on Bread album, get in touch! It's features Chris from Internet Forever, Grace from the Middle Ones and Will from Stairs to Korea in my superstar backing band and I think it sounds alright.

Also, I'm in a new band with Grace from the Middle Ones and Mat Riviere. We're called Lynx Africa and we've only played two gigs, but we've played with Trash Kit and Internet Forever already so we've been dead lucky! I put my ukuele through a distortion pedal in Lynx Africa and it sounds amazing! I think we're probably going to make some more songs and play some more gigs together over the summer, which'll be fun.

Who are you most looking forward to seeing at the Indietracks festival, and why?

The Middle Ones! Internet Forever! Winston Echo! I've managed to avoid seeing the Pains of Being Pure at Heart thus far, so I'm excited that I'll finally get to see them. I'm dead excited about getting to see Springfactory as well. I love Springfactory. Ooh, MJ Hibbett too! He was one of the highlights of last year's festival for me, even though some idiot woman shouted at me for 'blocking the air' on the train. Where else was I supposed to stand?!

Thanks Steve!

Workshop interview #2: Knit a Neuron

Ever wanted to find out about the wonders of the human brain while knitting or crocheting a neuron? Yes! Then come along to the Indietracks workshop tent at 3pm on the Saturday. We've caught up with the workshop organisers to find out more!

Hi, tell us a bit about Knit a Neuron?

Anne and Helen are the brains behind Knit a Neuron. We're both scientists by training, science communicators and avid yarners. Anne knits, while Helen prefers the hook. In an attempt to combine our love of science and yarn we came up with Knit a Neuron project. We hope that by garnering the support of hundreds of knitters and crocheters we can create a beautiful artwork which illustrates what happens to the brain when it is injured by a stroke.

How will the workshop work?

Drop by for some woolly fun. Find out about the wonders of the human brain while knitting or crocheting a natty neuron. Add your brainy creation to the rest, help create a wonderful work of art and support a charity too. Bring your own yarn/needles/hooks if you wish - but we have plenty to share. And don't worry if you can't knit or crochet, come along for the chat anyway.

What are you looking forward to the most at Indietracks?

Seeing lots of bands, hearing new music and meeting lots of lovely folk.

Do you have any camping tips?

Take your own toilet roll packed in a plastic bag. Never underestimate how cold it gets at night.

Have you been to the festival before? Do you have any Indietracks stories/gossip you'd care to divulge?

We're Indietracks virgins.

We're sure you'll have a fantastic first Indietracks - see you there!

Indietracks interview #21: Sarandon

Sarandon are three men who like pop to be short and sharp and spiky and infectious. The band formed in 2003 with a mission to make exciting, snappy, itchy, uncontrollable pop music

Their 2004 seven track album, 'The Miniest Album' received radio play on the John Peel show, and turned Everett True into a fan. Three further seven track albums followed, with a full length album 'Kill Twee Pop' released on Slumberland Records in 2008.

The band are playing with fellow Indietracks 2010 stars The Cannanes in London tonight  (Friday 2 July) and in Nottingham tomorrow (Saturday 3 July) so do pop along if you can.

Hiya, tell us a little bit about Sarandon

Sarandon currently consist of Crayola, Alan Brown and Tom Greenhalgh. They play together very rarely as they live in different parts of the UK and have far better things to do with their time.

What are the band up to at the moment?

The band are currently working on the follow up to "Kill Twee Pop!" which looks set to be something of a concept album with the title "Sarandon's Age Of Reason". It will be released later in the year on Slumberland (USA) and Oddbox (UK). As with KTP! it looks like there are some interesting people lined up to make guest appearances. Over the years Sarandon have never really been a three piece as they've always had extra people helping out. There's been Phil Wilson and Rhodri Marsden, John Robb and Ian Masters to name but a few. The people who will join the band for the new recordings are currently being kept tip top secret.

What do you get up to when you're not being Sarandon?

Outside of the band Crayola spends much of his time being irritating in various online journals and generally being grumpy about things, Alan can usually be found supporting Doncaster Rovers and complaining about how he always ends up in bands with a guitar player that can't tune his own instrument, and Tom is still young and full of beans and has far too much energy for his own good, which is why he hits the drums so hard.

Crayola and Alan plan to knock some sense into him.

Do any band members have any interesting hobbies or claims to fame?

Alan has perfect pitch.

Tom shares his name with a member of The Mekons and is very muscley.

Crayola doesn't have perfect pitch and isn't very muscley.

What's going to be on your compilation tapes as you travel down to Indietracks?

As Crayola will be doing the driving for Indietracks and the UK tour with The Cannanes it'll be his car and his iPod. That means plenty of the following:

Genesis (circa Peter Gabriel), Dr. Feelgood, bIG fLAME (much to Alan's embarrassment), Wolfhounds, Marillion, Sparks, Eno, The Creepers, The Fall, Julian Cope, Napalm Death, Membranes, Dawson, Age Of Chance, Adam And The Ants, Jethro Tull, Beat Happening, Iron Maiden, Thinking Fellers, Gary Numan, Bauhaus, Tubeway Army, PIL, Killing joke, Nightingales, Dire Straits, and various bits of 60's garage punk.

And finally, what attracted you to play the Indietracks festival?

In all honesty we were surprised to be asked considering the stance the band takes regarding The New Millenium of Indie Pap. How could we possibly say no?

Thanks guys - see you at the festival!

Indietracks bands seek to storm the charts

A couple of our Indietracks 2010 bands - Shrag and Foxes! - are involved in an audatious attempt to get lots of new music into the UK top 40 this week.

The campaign, Storm The Charts, is encouraging people to download tracks from a list of 40 songs from independent bands and musicians, as selected by either a public vote or a panel involving Huw Stephens, Emily Eavis, Tracy Morter and Louise Kattenhorn among others. Shrag (pictured above) and Foxes! saw off competition from nearly 600 acts to make it onto the shortlist.

The campaign has over 30,000 members on Facebook, so it's possible we could see an Indietracks band or two in the charts this week. Of course, this year's Indietracks is no stranger to chart success - in White Town, we've a UK number one artist playing, and The Primitives also had a string of chart hits, including a top five single.

If you like the idea, you can find out more on the Storm The Charts website. To count towards this week's top 40, we think you need to purchase any songs by this Saturday 3 July. The charts will be announced on Sunday 4 July, which coincidentally is US independence day, and the bands are, of course, all independent. Nice!

Here's videos and Amazon MP3 links for our two Indietracks chart candidates! The tracks are also available on iTunes, but we think they're cheaper (49p) on Amazon.

Foxes! - Who Killed Rob? (Amazon MP3 link)



Shrag - Rabbit Kids (Amazon MP3 link)