Lach is back at the Edinburgh Festival this year, and with his return Song, by Toad Records is going to end up involved in some different stuff than the more straightforward manufacturing and release of records.

There are three main things going on over the course of the next wee while, all of which you might be interested in, and some of which you might be interested in taking part in.

1. New album Ramshackle Heart out now on Song, by Toad Records
2. Lach’s Antihoot returns to the Gilded Balloon.
3. Solo show The Waitress, the Walls & the Weirdos part of the Free Fringe at Cabaret Voltaire.

First, a quick bit of background.  As I mentioned when I posted Lach’s Toad Session, the term Antifolk is bandied about so much these days it’s become a sort of generic catch-all for acoustic pop music, but the actual term originates from Lach’s Antihoot – the open stage in New York which gave starts to the likes of Jeffrey Lewis, Kimya Dawson, Beck, The Moldy Peaches and all sorts of others.  But it has a very specific origin, and a that origin was Lach.

1. New album Ramshackle Heart out now on Song, by Toad Records This album was recorded in Cornwall with Neil Halstead of Slowdive and Mojave 3 fame, and is out on 12″ vinyl, with a download code, and can be bought in Avalanche Records in Edinburgh, as well as from our own webshop.  And just as a kindness, here is a free song from it to help you make up your mind:

Lach – Break The Day by Song, by Toad

2. Lach’s Antihoot returns to the Gilded Balloon. If anyone wants to play this year’s Antihoot, just get in touch via info@antifolk.net .  The first night is this Thursday 4th August at the Gilded Balloon, and the slots are filling up fast.

This year between Lach, myself and the audience at large we will be selecting finalists to invite back to the last weekend (25th-27th August) when we’ll hold an Antifolk-off, which will basically just be a bloody great party whereby we record everyone, and a dozen or so bands will be chosen to appear on the Best of the Antihoot, which we’ll be releasing on Song, by Toad Records.

3. Solo show: Lach, the Waitress, the Walls and the Weirdos. Named after the people to whom he used to find himself playing at the end of the night at the Antihoot in New York, this is going to be part stand-up comedy, part anecdote and part music. It’s part of the Free Fringe at Cabaret Voltaire, so is free to enter, although you’ll be encouraged to give a wee donation.

The first night (Wednesday 3rd August) is officially the launch night for the new album as well, so please come on down and help us celebrate.

 And so the madness begins. The Edge Festival this year is still looking for something special, beyond Sebadoh and The National, but there is nevertheless an unbelievable shitload of stuff happening in Edinburgh over the course of the next four weeks.

Personally, I am going to have much more involvement this year, for two reasons.  For starters, last year I spent two weeks of August on holiday in China, and another week up at Haarfest in Fife, and this year I’ll be here the whole way through.

Secondly, of course, we will be releasing the Best of the Antihoot at the end of the Festival, meaning I will be spending an awful lot of time actually at the Antihoot, trying to figure out what I think is actually the best of it, and that means 12-3am most nights, and then a normal day’s work the next day.  Helloooooo coffee!

Monday 1st August 2011: Lady North, PAWS & Vasquez at Sneaky Pete’s.

I’ve been looking forward to the single for which this gig is the launch night for ages now.  Out on Gerry Loves Records, it is a 7″ split between PAWS and Lady North, and given the raucous excellence of the former and the reputed excellence of the latter, this should be a mightily excellent gig.

PAWS – Summer Wipeout

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Wednesday 3rd August 2011: Lach: The Waitress, the Walls and the Weirdos at Cabaret Voltaire.

This is the opening night of a run of solo shows Lach will be performing over the course of the Fringe – all part of the Free Fringe, with admission being on the basis of a voluntary donation.  The Waitress, the Walls and the Weirdos is named after the people Lach tended to find himself playing to at the end of the night at the Sidewalk Cafe in New York, when running the Antihoot over there.

Lach – Baby, I Don’t Want to Go

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Thursday 4th August 2011: The opening night of the Antihoot at the Gilded Balloon.

This show is also running throughout August (more of this later) and in September we’ll be releasing The Best of the Antihoot on Song, by Toad Records – compilation chosen by a combination of audience acclaim and executive decision.

Friday 5th August 2011: Avital Raz & Little Egypt at Henry’s Cellar Bar.

Those of us who were at the Avital Raz and Alex Cornish Song, by Toad House Gig in June were pretty much unanimous in thinking Avital’s stuff was absolutely amazing.  Well on the back of that gig Claire has booked her for Henry’s this Friday, with support coming from a band I have to confess to not knowing, called Little Egypt.

Sunday 7th August 2011: Edinburgh Independent Record Fair at Summerhall.

Scotland’s best independent labels, promoters and bands will be gathering in the Dissecting Room Bar at Summerhall, and combining live music in the lecture theatre with a series of stalls selling all sorts of bits and pieces of musical joy, soundtracked by DJ sets from all sorts of Scottish musical muppets luminaries.

FOUND – Anti-Climb Paint

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Sunday 7th August 2011: Born to Be Wide Edinburgh Night at the Electric Circus.

Born to Be Wide is also hosting in-stores by Rachel Sermanni and Withered Hand at Avalanche Records on the Grassmarket, and then moving to the Electric Circus for the evening, and short performances by a huge variety of new Edinburgh bands, interspersed with ‘celebrity’ DJs.  Already confirmed to play are: Chasing Owls, Austen George, Capitals, Bwani Junction, Withered Hand, Rachel Sermanni, Church of When The Sh*t Hits The Fan and Lady North.