There’s some good stuff in the ‘Burgh this week, including a couple of highly recommended local folk acts that I have yet to catch live, so it might mean the domestic chores getting put on hold for another week. I’ve heard a fair bit recently about both My Kappa Roots and Withered Hand and they are both playing Henry’s Cellar Bar this week, the former on Monday 25th February and the latter next Sunday, 2nd March. I don’t know if I’ll be able to make it to either gig, which is more than a little frustrating, but I’ll try. There are, as Mrs. Toad has to keep reminding me, chores to be done.

Wednesday 27th February: Stephanie Dosen at the Ark.
What happened to her? I heard a fair bit about her about this time last year and since then, nada. God only knows why she’s playing the Ark, which is a shabby place indeed, but she’s easily their most high profile booking for ages.

Wednesday 27th February: Kid Harpoon at Cabaret Voltaire.
After the release of his Second EP a few weeks back, I am really looking forward to his slightly folky indie stuff, and apparently he’s terrific live too. I’m also looking forward to seeing local band The Kays Lavelle for the first time as well, in support.
Kid Harpoon – Flowers by the Shore

Thursday 28th February: Found & Down the Tiny Steps at Cabaret Voltaire.
Down the Tiny Steps are absolutely superb – they go from acoustic folkiness to shoegazey guitar to experimental electronica, often in the same track. They’re superb live too. I’d be here just to see the Tinies, but throw Found into the mix and there’s no chance I’m missing it – what a first class lineup.
Down the Tiny Steps – Aye Spy
Found – You’re Really Quite the Catch

Sunday 2nd March: The Futureheads at The Liquid Room.
Without really expecting it I’ve slowly turned into a really big fan of the Futureheads. The tracks from their new album have a rockier edge than the indie-pop they’ve tended to produce thus far, and they sound terrific. Oddly under-rated if you ask me.
The Futureheads – Broke Up the Time

Mrs Toad and myself went to Bestival on the Isle of Wight last year and, although we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves, I must admit that this year I was after something a little smaller. There’s something rather uninspiring about bald fields covered in a sea of broken plastic cups and a two hour queue for warm beer. Once the truly abysmal Bestival lineup for 2007 was announced – Beastie Boys, Chemical Brothers, Primal Scream? Have I gone back in time by ten years or something? – I decided that was it, I was looking for something smaller and far more friendly. Sod the bands, I just want a nice weekend.

Well I’d exchanged a few emails with Simon from End of the Road Records about The Young Republic, who are superb and recently signed to the label. I knew the label had formed from the End of the Road Festival so I thought it might be a good one to take a chance on. There wasn’t much in the lineup that I recognised, but what the hell – a festival full of smaller, less well known bands would be quite fun. And besides, Howe Gelb was on there, so that did it for me and I bought a couple of tickets.

That was something in the region of a month ago. Since then that lineup has just got better and better, as Simon has dropped one gem after another into the mix. This morning they announced Midlake and Yo La Tengo. I can’t believe it! Suddenly instead of just looking forward to this, I am excited as little boy.

Full line-up thus far (I’ve highlighted the ones I think are interesting and provided a few samples – although I haven’t used the little player this time as the javascript would slow the whole page down too much with this many links, sorry):

Alessi (music)
Archie Bronson Outfit
Architecture In Helsinki - Heart it Races
The Bees
Besnard Lakes – Cedric’s War
Brakes
The Broken Family Band
C. W. Stoneking
Charlie Parr
The Congregation
Dan Sartain
Darren Hayman
David Thomas Broughton
David Vandervelde
Devastations
Euros Childs
Findlay Brown
Fionn Regan
Herman Dune
Howe Gelb – Pontiac Slipstream
Hush the Many
Hyacinth House
Indigo Moss
James Yorkston – Someplace Simple
Jeffrey Lewis
Jim White
Joan As Police Woman
Johnny Flynn – Brown Trout Blues
Josh T Pearson
King Creosote – Missionary
Micah P Hinson – I Still Remember
Midlake – Van Occupanther
Misty’s Big Adventure
Monkey Swallows the Universe
My Brightest Diamond
Paris Motel - Entrez Dans la Salpetriere
Pete and the Pirates
Port O’Brien
Reigns
Richard Swift
Seasick Steve
Slow Club
Sons of Noel and Adrian
Stephanie Dosen – Vinalhaven Harbour
Sunny Day Sets Fire
Super Furry Animals
Telegrams
The Twilight Sad – And She Would Darken the Memory
Viking Moses
Woodpigeon – Home
Yo La Tengo – Tom Courtenay
The Young Republic – Your Heart Belongs in Tennessee

Now all Simon has to do is pull off some miracle of scheduling that allows me to see absolutely all these bands, as well as leaving some space for me to check out some of the new ones. Good luck, mate!