The Jolly Boys are back. From the sounds of calypso music mixed with mainstream chart toppers check out the Jolly Boys new album, ‘Great Expectations – the birth of modern mento.’ Due for release on 20 September 2010 the Jamaican legends have teamed up with Albert Minott to tour the UK this summer.

Last week was a great week for us and was something I really was not expecting. TNC gets millions of emails a day and it’s sometimes it’s hard for us to find out what is going to be good and what is going to be great. Then we got sent info on The Agitator, or Derek Meins on Vocals and  Robert Dylan Thomas on drums, and something just hit in my  eyes. This sound is one you are going to remember, recommend, and celebrate.

What we have here is one hell of an outfit that is really putting originality, life, and passion back in to the UK music scene, these are without question the band to watch.

What makes this even more exciting is The Agitator or going to be performing live at Rounder Records in Brighton as a celebration of the release of their new single. And TNC has a chance to interview Derek just after his instore show today. But if you can’t make Rounder Records on Wednesday there is going to be a HUGE party to really celebrate the single launch in London, details above, DO NOT MISS THIS.

For more information on The Agitator checkout their MYSPACE and our interview with Derek will be live tomorrow. The guys are also going to be at this years Big Chill Festival – and you know how much we love the Chill!

Big Chillers in 2010 are in for a unique and worldwide treat in the first ever live performance of the iconic 1990′s band Morcheeba have reformed and will be performing (from what we can gather) their ONLY UK Festival. Big Chill 2010 has managed to do the near imposible and added to their already bulging line-up one of our favourite bands.

It was sad when the guys broke up and things sounded like they where not as amicable as appeared.  When the Ross and Paul came back with their 5th album sans Skye the sound was not right. Though a great offering the tone changed too much and the it never felt the same.  Another album a few years ago ‘Dive Deep’ was released which was more of a compilation as they brothers worked with a few other artist.

Wilderness Skye?

Skye wasn’t quite and after taking her time she released two studio albums that kept at its heart the style and warmth, creativity, and magic of her old band whilst moving her in a new fresh direction.

In February this year she let the cat out the bag on on her myspace, the new album is called ‘Blood Like Lemonade‘:

I’ve been Keeping Secrets, and it’s time to come clean and let you know that there is to be a Morcheeba Reunion! We’ve been working on a new album which is due for release in the summer. How? Why? When? I hear you cry!! Well it all happened quite by chance. I bumped into Ross a few months ago, I was coming out of our managers office as he was going in. I can tell ya, it was such a shock! It had been seven years since I’d seen him. That was at our last Morcheeba gig in London, Trafalgar Square back in 2003. We were both very surprised to see each other but it was totally cool. We gave each other a big hug and had a chat.

A few days later, I had a meeting with our manager. He mentioned that Paul and Ross were working on a new record and would I be interested in singing a few songs. To be honest, my immediate answer was ‘Nope’. But then I went away and thought, “You know what? I don’t want to sing a few songs, I think we should do a whole album together, do it properly and make it special” So a meal was arranged for the three of us. We met up in a restaurant called Julies. I got there early and ordered a double whisky whilst I waited for the Godfrey brothers to arrive. I was sooo nervous. Remember, I still hadn’t seen Paul in over 7 years! We got pretty drunk that night and had a laugh. It was cool. And so it was agreed, lets make another Morcheeba record. Lets do some shows!!

Ross now lives in LA. Paul lives in France and I’m in the UK, so it’s been pretty interesting collaborating via the net. Ross sent me tracks, I sent them melodies, Paul sent me lyrics. Then when we had enough material, it was time to record vocals, which I did at my home. Modern technology!

Friends have been asking, “what does the new Morcheeba record sound like? My answer? “It sounds like Morcheeba” Of course! And I’ll still be doing my solo albums, I should have some shows in April to promote Keeping Secrets.

Watch this space for Skye and Morcheeba tour dates.

Till then…

Skye**

This is an amazing chance to see Morcheeba for the first time in 7 years and just what this new album is going to be like know body but them know but this is going to be ONE of the highlights of Big Chill 2010.

This is a sad day for all those who had planned to go to this years Glade Festival – and their line up was pretty sweet.  But news that we have just got is this years festival has been cancelled.  Though the is sad news there is one hell of a bright shining light at the end of this particular tunnel.

Big Chill have said:

“Any festival goers who purchased full price Glade Festival tickets via Ticketline for £135, can contact Ticketline requesting to swap their Glade ticket for an Adult Weekend Big Chill ticket. Glade ticket holders will be charged an additional transaction fee of £7 per ticket swapped, meaning that they will get a Big Chill ticket which would havecost them £155 + £7 booking fee for £135 + £7 booking fee instead, saving them £20.”

We have been to this festival two years going now and each year they outdo the last by not simply going overboard but by having a real passion for the type of festival Big Chill is.  Unlike many festivals that are going to be happening in the UK during the summer Big Chill is the only one that boast a calm, laid-back, gentle approach.  But don’t let that fool you, they know how to throw a party and they know how to leave you with one of the biggest smiles on your face.

Last year they had a Guinness World Record attempt for the most Zombies, they film a scene in a film there, they had one of the greatest music line ups of any of the major festivals, and they had a visit by Michael Lang, the creator of Woodstock.

This year the line us of music acts alone are going to make the whole experience worthwhile.  From M.I.A (recently in the news for her new video being removed from Youtube), the incredible Plan B (who is without doubt one of the UK biggest and brightest new stars), Massive Attack and many many more.

Also this year renowned artist, Spencer Turnick, has been commissioned by the festival organisers to produce one of his most unexpected installations to date.  It’s hard to find a festival that takes what they do with a high level or seriousness and professionalism, but then steps back and allows the ‘chillers’ to come and simple chill.