The brainchild of 26-year-old Brighton born singer/songwriter Mike Rosenberg, Passenger is redefining the troubadour for the 21st century. Formerly a five-piece band, Passenger has now pared back to basics, quite literally bringing music to the streets on a series of lengthy busking journeys across Australia, America and the United Kingdom. A classic journeyman musician, cut from the same mould as Van Morrison, Neil Young and John Prine, Passenger has the unique ability to move from the humorous to heartbreaking with every song.

After a year spent crisscrossing the UK and US with his debut album Wicked Man’s Rest, Passenger’s markedly stripped down and soulful second album Wide Eyes Blind Love was brought to the public as it was created: on the road. Setting up on street corners across the UK and Australia, Passenger halted passers by in their hundreds; all connecting to the mellifluous tones and powerfully hewn lyrics emanating from this lone figure and his guitar. This is music as Passenger means it to be, unvarnished and honest, just pure talent and powerful tunes that tap straight into the heart of the crowd.

Struck by the dynamic freedom of the troubadour life, Passenger developed the grass roots method of Wide Eyes Blind Love into the germ of a new album. Impressively and entirely self funded through busking income, Passenger set about recording a series of collaborations with musical friends met along the way. Flight Of The Crow is the remarkable result of Passenger’s intrepid journey, with Australian artists Lior, Josh Pyke, Katie Noonan, Boy & Bear, Kate Miller Heidke, Philadelphia Grand Jury, Brian Campeau and Elana Stone, Matt Corby, Jess Chalker and Dead Letter Chorus all lending their voices to this serendipitous creative venture. Flight Of The Crow was recorded in Sydney’s famous BJB studios over February and March of 2010, and co-produced by Berkfinger (AKA Simon Berkleman from Philadelphia Grand Jury).

As a second album born of the road, Flight Of The Crow speaks to the compelling quality of Passenger’s music and the striking sincerity of his lyrics, both of which are matched by his dedication to this grass roots style of craftsmanship and collaboration. How utterly remarkable that a lone musician can travel the globe, and literally from the street, connect with some of Australia’s finest musical talents to produce a self-funded album. This is the stuff of legend, with Passenger clearly evoking the humble, hardworking creativity of the troubadours of old.

Agent – Colin Keenan

THE VICTORIAN ENGLISH GENTLEMENS CLUB get pleasure from building cold-hearted shambolic weirdo pop music with drums, voices, electric mandolins, an Indian shruti harmonium, a self- made bow-screamo (wire nailed to wood), sparrows, telephones and a church bell hit with a hammer. They listen to Grinderman, Liars, ’154′ by Wire, Deerhoof, Cardiacs and ‘Flowers of Romance’ by PiL, but have an affinity with the three-minute pop song. A bag of 3 noisy, existentialist, Dada-esque punk mercenaries who have been sent from afar (Cardiff) to re-ignite the discordant DIY art school blaze. With unashamedly lo-fi leanings they’ve progressively evolved from minimalist post-punk to the far darker no-wave feel which they now piss proudly from every pore.

TVEGC formed at Cardiff Art School, art being a driving force behind the bands creation. With no clue of what a band should do they started playing terrible shows immediately, using a lot of visual imagery and songs that had a tendency to implode. The first 34 demos were recorded in a city centre youth project for £3.20 an hour. They quickly got good and Fantastic Plastic Records released the sparse and shouty self titled debut in 2006. Love On An Oil Rig followed in 2009 on This is Fake DIY Records – a darker, heavier record influenced by a discovery of Wire and PiL. The new album, Bag Of Meat (2011) is a weird dark pop record, the most accessible and coherent. TVEGC have toured enough times to drive round the UK and Europe blindfolded, played the USA three times, and toured with Sons And Daughters, Archie Bronson Outfit, Deerhoof and British Sea Power. They write daily and are, as always, working on a brilliant and original new record.

Agent – Colin Keenan

“With its succinct, she-wolf-in-ewe’s-clothing connotations, Kitty the Lion’s name provides a clear pointer to this young Glasgow quintet’s smart, mouthy, adrenlin-fuelled folk-pop.” Celtic Connections brochure 2011

“The song-writing really showcases the talent of this band, with harmonies and hooks adding to Anna’s lyrics and honest delivery. A band I can actually believe in.” Ally McCrae, Radio 1

In the two short years since the release of Kitty the Lion’s debut single, the band have gained considerable support and acclaim from the Scottish music scene and beyond, earning them coveted slots at Rockness and T in the Park, and the chance to play to thousands at Edinburgh’s Hogmanay festivities at the turn of 2011. In the last year, the band have played several dates with Communion Record’s Ben Howard, and had their music featured in BBC drama series ‘Lip Service.’

The finely-crafted lyrics by front-woman Anna are perhaps the defining aspect of the band. Word-play and double-entendres characterise Kitty the Lion’s songs, as well as the waspish delivery of the lines: “imagine a less laconic, much cleverer, Scottish Lily Allen” (The Scotsman). What matters most to the band though are their ballsy live performances, causing a fine racket and setting every toe tapping.

Having released two singles and and a three-track EP on their own label, Kitty the Lion are now preparing to release their debut album in the summer of 2012. During their time playing together, the band’s sound has matured and developed, and they are looking forward to showcasing the new material in the coming year.

Agent – Colin Keenan