Hey there Gigantic Gang,
Yes, we know it STILL January – but who cares? Because Gigantic has a blog and playlist bringing you all the banging tunes you need to take you right through the weekend!
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SINGLES
EXAMPLE – ‘Back On The Wreck’
Example continues his new DJ/production project with the release of 'Back On The Wreck' on Heldeep Records. Bringing a fresh feel to old school sounds, the new track brings a 90’s house feel bang up to date with this new club classic. You can see him behind the ones and twos at Rock City next month.
Example tickets are currently available.
LAURAN HIBBERD – ‘Bang Bang Bang’
The brat is back! Having enjoyed a huge year which saw the release of her EP ‘Everything Is Dogs’ plus a string of killer singles, Lauran Hibbard and signals she is ready for more with the launch of her candy indie pop tune ‘Bang Bang Bang’.
“‘Bang Bang Bang’ is my ode to the teenage girl. It’s built for the prom scene in ’10 Things I Hate About You’. It’s the cycle of going back to the same person even when you know you shouldn’t and I guess the fallout of all of that”.
Lauren will be appearing at SWSX later this year, plus you can see her smash it at Louisiana in Bristol and The Bodega in Nottingham next month. Get your ticket with Gigantic!
Lauran Hibberd tickets are currently available.
APRE – ‘Your Heart’s Like a Jungle’
Not only have brothers Jules and Charlie AKA APRE announced their very first headline tour; but the pair have also just dropped their single ‘Your Heart’s Like a Jungle’. It comes following the release of their initial EPs which have been garnished with critical acclaim plus prominent support slots, touring with such major players as Sam Fender, Friendly Fires, Inhaler and Lany.
The band explains their impassioned song “is about being lost in a relationship. It describes that frustrating feeling when you are trying your best to love someone, but you fail to understand their emotions and get lost in your feelings for them. It’s about the dead ends that mean you will struggle to get along, and the hardships when trusting the person you really love not to break your heart.”
It looks like 2020 will be a big year for the brothers, and the release of ‘Your Heart’s Like a Jungle’ and the tour is just the start. Keep your eyes on APRE as they are showing every sign of being THE breakthrough act of the year.
APRE tickets are currently available.
ALBUMS
PINEGROVE – ‘Marigold’
Combing elements of emo and al-country, New Jersey band Pinegrove have grown from cult favourites to win over fans all around the world. The indie rockers were first formed in 2010 by childhood friends Evan Hall and drummer Zack Levine, and their latest LP builds on their signature sound and shows how the band have grown as individuals and as a collective.
“This is a lifelong project. We’re always thinking about how to be better humans and humanists. It’s about how to keep going, and to respond to the world as it is right now.” – Zack Levine
‘Marigold’ is released LP, CD, MP3, a limited edition marigold yellow cassette plus limited edition marigold yellow vinyl which you can pick up from Rough Trade HERE. All physical orders come complete with a Pinegrove custom bookmark while stocks last. Also, don’t miss your chance to see Pinegrove when they come to the UK and Manchester Academy2, SWX at Bristol and Electric Ballroom in London.
Pinegrove tickets are currently available.
ANTI-FLAG – ‘20/20 Vision’
Pittsburgh punks Anti-Flag have been rallying against injustice and penning fiery left-wing protest songs for twenty years, and now they drop their new album ‘20/20 Vision’. Produced by Matt Good, lead guitarist and singer from Floridian post-hardcore band From First To Last, their twelfth LP is a takedown of Trump’s America which continues to send out dog whistles to the Far Right and using the age old tactic of divide and conquer by stoking up fear, hate and prejudice.
“We have actively chosen to not attack Presidents directly, either with album art or songs about certain times in history, because we recognize that the issues we’re dealing with are cyclical. But this record in particular, we kind of said, well fuck that, we need to be on the record in opposition to the policies of Donald Trump and Mike Pence.” – Chris #2
“This record is a warning to people holding neofascist ideas or people who are enabling these types of positions, whether you’re outright racist or you’re enabling racism or sexism or homophobia or transphobia. You need to make a choice at this point. What we’ve seen with this White House is that there’s no grey area anymore.” – Justin Sane
Anti-Flag tickets are currently available.
LOUISE – ‘Heavy Love’
Louise releases her first album in fifteen years; ‘Heavy Love’. After finding fame with 90’s girl band Eternal, Louise proved she had what it takes to go solo and released such huge hit singles as ‘Let’s Go Round Again’ and ‘2 Faced’. Having taken time out to focus on her family, she now returns with new album ‘Heavy Love’ which deals with personal issues plus those that effect many women, including sexism in the music industry, which she feels reflects her growth.
“It taught me that it's okay to be honest. It's okay to not have to always portray perfection on how I look. I do not care about perfection anymore. I think it taught me that it's okay to feel. It's okay to be honest to people that you don't know. I think I'd always been so that kind of veneer of, “I need to say nothing.” But actually, from opening up and not being scared to be honest I feel so much better. I was a broken mess at some points doing this album.” – Louise
Following her on Zoe Ball’s BBC Radio 2 show (which you can listen to HERE), Louise will be hitting the road in March to show off her brand new album. Tickets are on sale with Gigantic – and going fast!