Underground pop label Brainlove Records is pleased to announce the 2009 Brainlove Festival, featuring performances from Kid Carpet, Internet Forever, Napoleon IIIrd, The Duloks, gwEm, Pagan Wanderer Lu and a parliament of exciting new bands from across the musical spectrum.

Having failed to learn lessons from squeezing on 10 bands last year, the 2009 lineup adds a second stage, clocking up a total of twenty performances, with surprise guests to be announced on the day. From boy-girl Casio-pop to 8-bit computer metal to tweecore folk to a 14 part all-girl choir: Brainlove Festival is a day not to be missed by fans of underground music and experimental pop.

BRNLVFSTVL will this year take place on May 30, 2009 at Brixton Windmill, and will have outdoor performances in the garden area and acoustic sets throughout the day.

The limited edition 2009 BRNLV compilation FEAR OF A WACK PLANET will also be on sale for the first time, featuring songs by many of the bands on the bill.

Lineup (alphabetical):

A Scholar & A Physician
Ace Bushy Striptease
Braindead Improv
Christopher Alcxxck
The Duloks
Gaggle
gwEm
Heartbeeps
Internet Forever
Jam On Bread
Keyboard Choir
Kid Carpet
Laura Wolf
Mat Riviere
Napoleon IIIrd
Pagan Wanderer Lu
Stairs To Korea
The Middle Ones
Thee Oracle
We Aeronauts

Tickets are priced at £8 in advance and £10 on the day, and a link to buy will be available soon.

Last year's event reached the venue capacity, although there were a few tickets available on the door in the afternoon.

Supported by last.fm and Woolfire Festival.

- Kid Carpet announced as headliner
- 30/05/09, 2pm-midnight, Brixton Windmill, London SW2
- £8 adv/£10 door, free barbecue, Guest DJs all day

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Woolfire Festival is back in 2009 for an unmissable weekend of groundbreaking live music, visuals and décor, set against the beautiful rural backdrop of Vicarage Farm. Escape into the site's lush parkland, let your hair down and enjoy some of the freshest and most exciting new artists from across the musical spectrum.

Pure Reason Revolution are set to headline the festival on Saturday 15th August, 2009. Described as "updating the legacies of Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin with the earth-shattering heaviness of modern masters like Muse...one of the greatest new bands in Britain" by Rock Sound, PRR are embarking on a European tour to promote their superb new album 'Amor Vincit Omnia'.

Other festival highlights so far include the return of DIY indie label Brainlove Records. Label mainstays Napoleon IIIrd, Keyboard Choir and Pagan Wanderer Lu will be joined by a cross section of the best new leftfield bands of the moment, as seen at Brainlove's weekly showcase at Club NME in London. Southampton based indie record label Sotones also join us at Woolfire with an awesome line-up of local artists, including JayEtAl, The Moulettes, and Peter Lyons.

A welcome presence on the UK festival circuit, Woolfire is notable for its diverse music policy and support of emerging underground talent. From dubstep DJs to cutting edge indie bands, folk troupes to ambient electronica and much more besides - every act at Woolfire is carefully chosen to bring you the best new music, all in one place.

Woolfire Festival 2009 lineup:

Pure Reason Revolution
Napoleon IIIrd - David Thomas Broughton
Cats In Paris - Keyboard Choir - Pagan Wanderer Lu
Alex & The Ligers - Amine - A Scholar & A Physician - Disco_R.Dance - Jam On Bread - JayEtAl - Life In Film Mat Riviere - The Moulettes - Nedry - Peter Lyons Ratface - Remnant Psyche - Rude NHS - Thos Henley - We Aeronauts
+ many more still to be announced ...

Festival dates: 14th - 16th August 2009

Location: Vicarage Farm, Woodmancott, nr. Winchester, England SO21 3BL.
Woolfire takes place in an idyllic woodland valley located in between Basingstoke and Winchester, just twenty minutes drive from each. The festival site is very easy to get to, as it's located right on the A33, just off junctions 7 and 9 of the M3.

For tickets, news and more information, go to:

Woolfire Festival Official Website

2008 has been a big year for Keyboard Choir, with them playing Brian Eno's 60th birthday party, and storming White Heat and Club Motherf****r.

Uncut hailed their album as "timeless electro", and the Independent gave them a glowing 4/5 live review.

Now they're offering a free download. They say - "we came over all Chrismassy and put together this special ode to an accident that happened in the elf's happy little town. It's called Deathw@nk in Toytown."

Download Deathw@nk in Toytown MP3

The photo is from their recent last.fm show at Cargo, which was turned into a film for last.fm/presents. Check it out here - Keyboard Choir - last.fm

Brainlove Records MySpace

Keyboard Choir MySpace

Oxford based band the Keyboard Choir is a unique collaboration of musicians that, in their own words, "make music with the turbulence and dynamics of traditional 'ensemble' performances from purely electronic sound sources and 'found sound'".

The group recently released their debut album 'Mizen Head to Gascanane Sound' on Brainlove Records, and word has been getting out about their music and strange on-stage antics (that have included cardboard robots).

Their music has been receiving rave reviews: "It borders on the celestial" - DiScover Album of the Month, drownedinsound.com; "this is a beautiful and endearing album that proves that when you take away all the visual elements of their live performance, the music is still what makes them truly special." - musicomh.com; "a piece of challenging, different and overwhelmingly beautiful electronica, with an industrial edge..." - subba-culture.com - and I wouldn't be surprised if one day they pop up on Later...with Jools Holland or even late night at the Glastonbury Festival.

In case you're wondering about the interesting album title, the name was taken from a map that was on the wall in the room where the band was recording in Ireland.

Exclusive interview with Keyboard Choir keyboardist Seb Reynolds:

Jenny May: How long have you been playing music?

Seb: Since I was 4 or 5, I was obsessed with the idea of playing the theme from the Pink Panther on the saxophone, so I stuck at recorder all through primary school...then went onto sax and piano, got into keyboard at about 15 I think, so I've been at it for 10 years....

Where did you grow up?

In a really idyllic little village called North Hinksey, on the outskirts of Oxford. I have really fantastic memories, fields, rivers, summers that go on forever, isn't it hmmm, jumpers for goal posts? etc etc

Where has been your favourite place to play live and why?

I think the Trailer Park stage at Truck Festival has been an awful lot of fun, playing 1st thing on the Sunday morning has been great. The upstairs room at the old Zodiac in Oxford used to be a real treat too, cos we could bring our robots and have visuals and make a proper huge show of it.

When did the Keyboard Choir form?

Feb '04, I did it as a 21st birthday present to myself. Shit, we are almost 5 years old, well, that's certainly our mental age...

How did it come about that you guys decided to form the band (are you a "band")?

We are a band, it works best with the current five piece line up. Although, we have played at least two really great gigs this year with different people standing in. Me, Guy and Ady have been in it since the very first practice, James has been around for quite a while, Alex is the newest member, has been in the band since the summer. The story of how we met is far too long to go in to here... I've got to save something for the bestselling autobiography coming out at Chrimbo... Although I will say, being keyboard players, we felt like getting together and making a big racket... and it was fun... so we kept doing it.

What is the inspiration behind the concept of the Keyboard Choir?

To make passionate, emotive, powerful, spontaneous music with electronic instruments.

Any famous fans?

Brian Eno, Emma Watson, Peaches Geldof, Greig Guillemots, Moses, Saddam before they got him...

Will you be hitting the festivals in 2009?

We will be hitting them hard...

Who are some of your most influential artists?

Godspeed, Kevin Shields, Dr Dre, Autechre, Mozart.

Where did you record your latest album? What was the recording process like?

We did the bulk of the recording in two weeks in a house on the south west coast of Ireland. It was one of the most amazing experiences of my life so far. Then Ady spent untold hours editing and mixing the album, literally months. It was a learning process for all of us, I certainly hope that the next one will get done alot quicker... Dr Dre's gonna record it. hahaha.

What gear is the band currently using on stage?

Me and Alex use slightly shit old keyboards through knackered guitar pedals. A couple of micro korgs, a laptop with Ableton live, it's the best software that we've found for what we do. James has a Triton work station, I forget what Guy has, a DW8 I think and some Yamaha thing. I also use a Boss sampler fed through a Kaoss Pad, that's where I trigger alot of the vocal samples and atmospheric shit from.

Craziest incident on stage so far?

The laptop broke at a gig at the Port Mahon in Oxford. Woody started playing the music from Worms and Beethoven's 9th and we had a massive spazz, it was very amusing. NOT!

Keyboard Choir live dates for November:

8 Nov 2008 4Talent Stage (Dragon Bar) @ Gigbeth Festival - Birmingham, Midlands
21 Nov 2008 Last FM @ Cargo - Big Smoke, London and South East

'Mizen Head to Gascanane Sound' on amazon.co.uk

Keyboard Choir MySpace

Brainlove Records

Gigbeth is Birmingham's biggest celebration of music. From November 6th-8th, 2008, Gigbeth will host a diverse lineup of established artists such as Guillemots, The Young Knives and The Sugarhill Gang alongside breakthrough acts The Keyboard Choir, and Iain Woods, set in the inspirational environs of the Digbeth creative district - like Birmingham's very own Glastonbury.

Channel4's 4Talent, which helps the UK's creative people in TV, comedy, film, documentary, new media and radio find their way through the industry mire, is proud to host a stage at Gigbeth 2008.

The 4Talent Stage at Gigbeth on the 8th November, at the Dragon Bar (Barfly) in Birmingham will feature some of the leading lights of new music in the UK. The lineup includes krautrock noise merchants Einstellung, Oxford-based electronica ensemble Keyboard Choir, The Icarus (noise-hip shoegaze-hop), Brum-based minimalist piano protégé Richard Batsford, classical-meets-grime and dubstep art school terrorist Iain Woods & The Psychologist, plus an IDM/electro DJ set from ace club night Robot vs Dinosaur.

4Talent commissioning editor Catherine Bray will be on hand all evening to take press kits and promo CDs from local bands who would like their music to be considered for use on 4Talent podcasts and videos.

ABOUT THE ARTISTS:

Einstellung

Einstellung have close associations with Digbeth. The band's rehearsal studio is in the middle of the changing industrial landscape and they are no strangers to the many Digbeth venues.

Andrew Moscardo-Parker (guitar) said:
"There are some great venues around Digbeth - lots of character in all of them and we've played many of our gigs in the area. I think it's really good that Gigbeth focuses around Digbeth - it shows that there are different creative areas in Birmingham".

Einstellung's album 'Wings Of Desire' (Capsule Recordings) will shortly be released as a double vinyl set in a gatefold sleeve designed by Birmingham artist Lucy McLauchlan (Beat 13).

The Icarus

The ICARUS was born from a need to create music. A need to experiment with lyrics, structure and instrumentation. A need to push convention and explore personal space. In a world where commodity is king, war is conversation and religion is hypocrisy, The ICARUS' message has never been more urgent.

Having formed in 2007, this electronic outfit have released their debut album 'Monologues' to rave reviews, have seen their music used on the forthcoming 'Bones' TV advert and have recently performed live on BBC Radio One.

"The Mahavishnu Orchestra for the nauseating noughties." - The List

Richard Batsford

Fusing the chiming modernism of Reich and Glass with the accessible pop sensibility of Wilson and Simon, Richard Batsford is a true highlight of the Brimingham avant garde scene.

"Inspired by Philip Glass and Steve Reich, his music displays amazing beauty in repetition and minimalism. Definitely a performer to keep your eyes on." - Evening Mail

Keyboard Choir

Keyboard Choir is the collective name for Ady, Alex, Guy, James, and Seb, 5 musicians who make music with the turbulence and dynamics of traditional 'ensemble' performances using only electronic sound sources and 'found sound'. They have supported the likes of Coldcut, Metronomy, The Egg and F*** Buttons amongst others, and recently were personally invited to perform at Brian Eno's 60th birthday party.

"Bubbling, analogue bubble-bath synths; resonating passages of lo-fidelity; symphonic splendour; prog-rock song titles. Ladies and gentlemen, we are floating in space. Welcome to the world of the Keyboard Choir." - Stool Pigeon

"It borders on the celestial" - DiScover Album of the Month, drownedinsound.com

"Timeless electro" - Uncut

Iain Woods & The Psychologist

Former art school student and panic attack-plagued genius Iain will be bringing his unique voice, sound and aesthetic to the stage with the help of scratch DJ Jay Roberts and the 'Sectioned' String quartet.

Iain has been bigged up by Tom Robinson on his BBC 6Music Introducing show and has been Shortlisted for the Channel 4 Talent awards in the music category. His photographic and conceptual works have appeared in group and solo exhibits in London and around the UK.

"Iain Woods calls his brand of dirty pop 'Groul' - a compound of grimey soul, but such a tiny word fails to sum up the far-reaching ambition of his debut release." - Source Magazine

Robot vs Dinosaur

Birmingham's premier IDM/experimental electronica DJs will spin a headswimmingly intriguing set, encompassing everything from Brian Eno to Venetian Snares.

ABOUT 4TALENT
4Talent is the gateway to all Channel 4's talent initiatives, helping creative people across TV, comedy, film, documentary, new media and radio find their way through the industry mire, develop their careers and realise their potential in multi-platform media.

Online, 4Talent showcases both emerging talent and established professionals via text, video and audio features that provide details of the varied - and often unconventional – routes into the industry, alongside inspiration, guidance and opportunities for aspiring creatives to get their foot onto or advance up their personal career ladder.

On the ground, 4Talent boasts a dedicated team of editors and producers based in London, Birmingham, Scotland and Northern Ireland, offering opportunities for emerging talent around the country to take part in workshops, masterclasses, seminars and live events.

For more information, go to:

Gigbeth Official Website

4Talent

Photo: Keyboard Choir

A special fundraiser benefit gig for the Oxford based Buddhist charity group, So-Wide, will be taking place Sunday 19th October, 2008, at the dining hall of Wolfson College, Oxford.

Featuring performances from atmospheric acoustic maestro Padma and a special, ambient set from Oxford based electro soundscapists Keyboard Choir.

Watch Keyboard Choir "Bugs" video:

Plus, cosmic DJing courtesy of Pindrop Soundsystem.

About So-Wide:

So-Wide (http://www.so-wide.org) promotes the accurate understanding of Buddhist wisdom and tradition in academic research teaching and in, clinical research, teaching and training in mindfulness based applications through its activities and sister Charities, The Oxford Centre for Buddhist Studies (www.ocbs.org) and the Oxford Mindfulness Centre (www.oxfordmindfulness.org).

£6/£4 concs

19 October 2008
19:00 - 22:00
Wolfson College
Linton Road
Oxford

For more information, go to:

So-Wide Official Website

Oxford's Keyboard Choir play "legendary party boozer" The George Tavern in Whitechapel this Friday, April 18, 2008 to kick off a busy summer of touring and festivals.

Their debut album, 'Mizen Head To Gascanane Sound' is out now digitally and this summer on CD, and has caused quite a stir amongst critics...with praise coming from Stool Pigeon, Plan B, Drowned In Sound and many others.

The band's fearsome live reputation have led to last-minute addition to the inaugural Stag & Dagger urban festival, and they have more festival bookings being confirmed now.

The band are available for bookings, sessions, interviews, the works. Expect great things from this inspired new band on Brainlove Records.

Download Keyboard Choir "Bugs" MP3

What people are saying about Keyboard Choir:

"Bubbling analogue bubble-bath synths; resonating passages of lo-fidelity; symphonic spleandour; and prog rock song titles. Ladies and gentlemen, we are floating in space. Welcome to the world of Keyboard Choir." - Stool Pigeon

"The icy-blue xylophones of Macondo beam across spluttering drums. The Shiver loops like a slow-mo boomerang. Skylab fogs your conscience and makes like a hummingbird's heart, laptop beats spitting like ticker tape." - Plan B

"The ideal 6am headphone fix, all ambient waves and understated electronica...like the result of a Burial/Aphex Twin collaboration. It borders on the celestial." - Drowned In Sound

"This is a beautiful and endearing album that proves that when you take away all the visual elements of (Keyboard Choir's) live performance, the music is still what makes them truly special." - Music OMH

"Keyboard Choir have all the makings of being your euphoric end of night dance companions on warm summer evenings, shuffling about on damp grass, beer in hand, as the sun goes down." - Contact Music

"Thank the maker. Something vaguely original is happening in music today." - Smash Music

Keyboard Choir - Mizen Head to Gascanane Sound on amazon.co.uk

Watch video: Keyboard Choir - "Electrical Unity" live

Keyboard Choir 2008 live schedule:

Dates could be added or changed! Go to the Keyboard Choir's Official Website/Myspace for the latest shows and information.

18th April - Club Wanderlust, The George Tavern, Whitechapel
10th May - Cellar, Oxford
15th May - Stag & Dagger Festival, London
24th May - Brainlove Festival London, Brixton Windmill
30th May - Club Brainlove, The George Tavern, Whitechapel, London
12th July - Zap Festival, South Park, Oxford
15th August - Maps Magazine Club, The Luminaire, London
29th August - Woolfire Festival, near Winchester

Keyboard Choir Myspace