3RD BIRTHDAY MEGA BIRTHDAY PARTY

We’re getting old and apparently so are you. Whether you chose to fight it like an aging marsupial exposed to too much sunlight or let the water drizzle from your back like a majestic swan, it’s happening. Why not celebrate our ever spiraling demise together at a mega party that we’ve decided to throw to mark our 3rd birthday.

It takes place at The Victoria, Dalston on August 31st with a variety of ffamiliar ffaces thrashing it out onstage, plus some newer ones that we’d love for you to get to know. Do expect surprises, sing-a-longs and super fun.

Tickets can be purchased from http://artishardrecords.bigcartel.com in a variety of formats - including one that features our special 3rd birthday t-shirts!

Lineup so far:

Best Friends
Despite rolling up a little late in the game (aih011), BF have quickly climbed the ranks to become one of our most released artists - deservedly so.

Joanna Gruesome
Having signed to Fortuna Pop! with a debut record imminent, it’s great to welcome firm-life-pals JoGro to the bill.

The Black Tambourines
Ever raucous, ever prolific (and they might have something else out before the event swings around), these four Falmites have been generating blinding pazazz at discos up and down the country all the year long - now it’s our turn.

Playlounge
This loveable two-some are currently running around Europe with Johnny Foreigner so expect them to have returned with a palette of adventure stories to write punchy new tracks about.

Nai Harvest
We’re not even anything to do with these guys but having produced one of the best records of the year so far, our mouths ache from all the smiling that’s occurred since they agreed to play. 

Birdskulls
It didn’t take long for the Exeter scampers to win our hearts. Not sure whether you remember but we had our mothers form a chinese sweatshop to sew unique hats together. Go spot them bobbing about in trendy Shoreditch clubs (WE DID).

RadStewart
“The UK’s answer to Parquet Courts” say DIY - whether you agree or not come make your own buzz band comparison and out-pun Jake May.

Ides
Beautifully melancholy, endearingly beautiful. We couldn’t be happier than to swoon to Ides’ heartbreak tales, it can’t all be party-party guys.

+ loads more tba!

PCC07 - Bayy - Left on earth

Is aquatic pop a thing? If not, Bayy are making something that could certainly be described that way. Following on from their last track ‘Aquarium’, ‘Left on Earth’ is a woozy ballad dedicated to waking up and finding everyone else dead. Guitars weave over a bed of ‘ooooo’s’ whilst building to a Beach Fossils’esque crescendo that marks the all-too-soon end of the song. Bayy are a four piece from Brighton and feature Paeris from Yrrs on drums, they will be supporting TRAAMS at their EP launch in Brighton on the 9th of June. 

Listen to their Postcard single and check them out on Facebook.

Buy single (£1.10) | Buy 16 part subscription (£15)

10 reasons why Latitude is the greatest and best festival you’ll attend all year*

I attended Latitude during its second year. Despite having little money I really really wanted to witness the Arcade Fire/Jarvis Sunday night combo and had somehow realised that artists can let a limited amount of people that they know in for free (!) .. I didn’t actually know anybody in any bands so spent more than just a few hours trawling through Myspace pages of tiny artists that I hadn’t heard of posing as a faux-hardcore fan. Make Model kindly said they’d leave some tickets on the gate for me and I couldn’t believe I’d gotten away it. *

Here are ten reasons that make up why Latitude Festival is the best event you could and should attend this year.

1. AIH represent

Running a label can be comparative to parenthood. Occasionally we’ll have to change wetted bed sheets but each time it’s done so with a big ol’ smile. Watching our artists climb higher up the festival spectrum is a bit like accompanying them to the prom the night prior to that fateful wet incident, proudly watching them come of age from a distance. Flamingods and Joanna Gruesome perform on The Lake Stage.

2. Adam Buxton: BUG

For a show which has one key gimmick structured around the simple task of reading out comments left by disgruntled Youtube users, the portlier half of cult TV/radio duo Adam and Joe compiles a genuinely fresh gawf-n-tear affair showcasing music videos and inter network buffoonery. Adam Buxton performs on The Comedy Stage.

3. Thurston Moore

You must’ve seen the signature Latitude poster, the one that has Bloc Party and Foals in the biggest/boldest lettering of all, completely straight faced? Hidden somewhere on the 9^th stage down is the title of a man that fronts one of the most influential alt rock group of all time. Why so far down? A rare, short spoken word performance, friends. On a rare day off during his extensive Chelsea Light Moving tour no less, what a guy.

4. Biggest of the Smallest

Hidden between the smallest darkest creases in the line-up are some of our favourite new talents; enter the fierce Hookworms (whose debut album is right up there as one of the best so far this year), Deptford Goth (repeat previous sentence), DIIV (there’s a pattern emerging here/insert 2012), Drenge .. forget ‘year of the comeback’, 2013 is performing loud and proud on the spectrum of new music.

5. Robin Ince’s Dirty Book Club with Kevin Eldon and Jo Neary

.. If they don’t sit around analysing the contemporary bonerfide Mills and Boon that is the Mr. Gray series, not going to lie, I’ll be slightly disappointed. Whatever they’re up to, we’ll get to see the face behind of the best BBC sketch show since Serafinowicz was denied a second series become an Eldon amongst the pigeons. Catch this on The Literature Stage. Yep, a stage dedicated to literature. What could be the most pretentious premise for any mainstream festival ever, and those of you previous attendees will know, is actually one of the most inviting. 

6. Modest Mouse

Headlining The BBC 6 Music Stage on Friday night, so looking forward to hearing a preview of the long overdue new material they’ve been testing out recently. Fingers crossed for a late summer LP.

7. David Shrigley

I can’t even imagine what he’ll be up to .. hopefully this remarkable artist will be showcasing some work or even participating in live art from his warped mind. Find out a little more about him and his recent BFI showcase, you’re bound to recognise something he’s done.

8. Jake May

Rumour has it he’s on the guest list and who better to spend four days in a field with than a real life Almost Internet Meme.

9. Yo La Tengo

Another contender for album of the year so far, thank god I don’t have to write one of those stupid lists at the end of the year or else I’d most certainly asphyxiate myself in having to chose.

10. Parquet Courts

Okay they’re not even on the lineup but bring yourself a mini jukebox and sit around the campfire cranking out their so-good-it-should-be-illegal debut album and you’re sure to make friends.

* - I DON’T HAVE A FUCKING TICKET YET SOMEONE PLEASE HELP ME, WILLING TO PART WITH ORGANS

http://www.latitudefestival.com/

PCC06 - Year of Birds - Black Pines and Fun In The Fog

Week 6 of the Postcard Club and for the first time we’re returning to one of our Pizza Club acts. Year of Birds are the recording project of DIY hero Oli Heffernan.

Last year we described YOB as noisy discordant punk with the bark of Mark E. Smith and thankfully that’s still the perfect way to label them. If you’re unfamiliar with Year of Birds, Black Pines and Fun In The Fog (yep a two track, one track single) is the perfect introduction. They know when to cut things short, when to bludgeon you with a repetitive riff and, most of all, how to put together some excellent Postcard art.

Buy single (£1.10) | Buy 16 part subscription (£15)