The Artists
NQ Arbuckle | Miwa Gemini | Vesta Varro | The Free Press
NQ ARBUCKLE (Toronto)
BIO
coming soon!
REVIEWS
"...Arbuckle attacks each tune like a modern day folk tale, focusing in on single moments of alcohol-enhanced encounters and fleshing them out until his characters are living, breathing and stumbling.:
-Splendid
"Neville Quinlan's third NQ Arbuckle album is yet another disc full of alt.country that's perfect for drinking to at your favourite watering hole."
-Chartattack
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/nqarbuckle
Official Website: http://sixshooterrecords.com/
MIWA GEMINI(New York)
BIO
New York chanteuse Miwa Gemini, takes on the darkest affairs of the heart with a saccharine smile, haunting vocals and a bag full of riffs you won't hear anywhere else. A multi-instrumentalist, Miwa incorporates guitar, banjo, mandolin and piano to drive powerful songs of loss and redemption: Think Nina Simone meets Bjork, and you're getting close.
REVIEWS
"Cute as a button and talented as few, Miwa Gemini is a breath of fresh air to the female “singer-song writer” stable. Her voice is sweet, yet deep, and her folk-music stands out from the crowd thanks to the use of banjo and mandolin. It’s a bit like throwing The Mountain Goats together with Nina Simone and Tom Waits: hazy, organic, and simply stunning."
-Rock Sellout
"Gemini casts a strange spell. Her Japanese accent, slight stature, and strangely kinetic lyrics are reminiscent of Bjork's distinct style of cerebral pop."
-Soundproof
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/miwagemini
Official Website: http://miwagemini.com/
VESTA VARRO (Ireland)
BIO
Vesta Varro's debut album 'Exit Here' was released on June 8th 2007. The first two singles entered the Irish Top 40. The album was recorded in legendary recording studios, Windmill Lane in Dublin with triple Grammy award winning producer Richard Rainey (U2/Mansun) and engineer Kieran Lynch (REM/Elvis Costello). Their first single 'Blue Mirror Boy' was recorded and produced by Crowded House bass player, Nick Seymour.
Their tracks have appeared on various compilation albums worldwide, stretching as far as the USA, Australia, Germany, Canada and Ireland. VV have also signed a licensing deal with the Major American TV Network CBS. Four of their songs have featured on the network so far.
Vesta Varro are currently touring in support of their debut album and while also finding time to work on new recordings with The Cranberries guitarist Noel Hogan.
REVIEWS
"Up next was Vesta Varro, a band hailing from Ireland and winners of Indie Week 2007. To start off, they blew my mind. Vesta Varro have so much more energy and enthusiasm on stage than most of the bands I’ve seen since I started going to shows here in Toronto. Vocalist Damien Drea has one amazingly gripping stage presence; he captivated the audience from the start and didn’t let us go until the end of their set. The rest of the band members Keith Forde (guitar), Peter Forde (guitar), Rod Smith (bass), and Shane Lee (drums) showcased some great musicianship. Vesta Varro are more than welcome to come back and rock my socks off any time they want. Seriously, I mean it."
- torontoindie.com
"An exciting blend of U2's 'Boy' and Muse's 'Showbiz; packed with plenty of big punchy guitars, gutsy vocals, a rhythm section that's so solid you could build a marriage on it... With songs as good as 'Pyramid Clocks', 'Coming Back' and 'Weighted Love' in their canon, this ambitious, talented and driven band are destined for very big things... 'Exit Here' is one of the best Irish records of the year."
Alan Jacques - Limerick Independent/Live 95 FM's Green and Live show
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/vestavarro
Official Website: http://vestavarro.com/
THE FREE PRESS (Toronto)
BIO
Toronto's The Free Press are a bold breakthrough in Pop music a band that thinks as hard as they rock, or in the context of their live show, a band that entertains as much as they ask their audiences to think. It's a combination that comes from the band's unique blend of personal and musical backgrounds, and from their enduring belief that as cliché as it might sound rock 'n' roll can still change the world.
REVIEWS
"heavy hitting rock 'n roll, leaving the crowds feeling plenty inspired pop rock that refrains from pretentiousness" - QuadB, Blogger
"The mesmerizing charm of a new U2" Rick Hutt, Producer
THE NICE DEVICE (detroit)
BIO
The Nice Device have slimmed down to a shiny four piece once more and are slicing up a path of destruction with tales of jealousy, anger, love and love nots. The result is an indescribable yet undeniably catchy mix of crunchy guitars, electro-synth leads and sing along choruses. With a crashing real estate market and so many people on the same device, do us a favor and go see them before your server gets dodgy won't you? FACT: Vocalist/guitarist Alicia Gbur and guitarist Matt Lannoo spent the past year moonlighting in a former Sire Records band called The Von Bondies.
Their songs have been featured in Degrassi: The Next Generation, Radio Free Roscoe as well as inclusion on the Maybelline New York/JANE Reader CD!
Past Shows
They have earned supporting slots for national acts such as Shiny Toy Guns, Hot Hot Heat, The (International) Noise Conspiracy, Stars, The Dears, Circa Survive, The Sounds, Electric Six, and VHS or Beta to name a few. Quietly at work, crafting buoyant pop cadence they are poised to go from private to public.
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/thenicedevice
Official Website: http://www.thenicedevice.com/
MIWA GEMINI(New York)
BIO
New York chanteuse Miwa Gemini, takes on the darkest affairs of the heart with a saccharine smile, haunting vocals and a bag full of riffs you won't hear anywhere else. A multi-instrumentalist, Miwa incorporates guitar, banjo, mandolin and piano to drive powerful songs of loss and redemption: Think Nina Simone meets Bjork, and you're getting close.
REVIEWS
"Cute as a button and talented as few, Miwa Gemini is a breath of fresh air to the female “singer-song writer” stable. Her voice is sweet, yet deep, and her folk-music stands out from the crowd thanks to the use of banjo and mandolin. It’s a bit like throwing The Mountain Goats together with Nina Simone and Tom Waits: hazy, organic, and simply stunning."
-Rock Sellout
"Gemini casts a strange spell. Her Japanese accent, slight stature, and strangely kinetic lyrics are reminiscent of Bjork's distinct style of cerebral pop."
-Soundproof
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/miwagemini
Official Website: http://miwagemini.com/
