SKINNY LISTER & BEANS ON TOAST 'THIS CHRISTMAS' SINGLE // OUT 20 NOVEMBER 2015 // PROCEEDS GO TO SHELTER

Xtra Mile Recordings labelmates and tour buddies Skinny Lister and Beans On Toast have written and recorded a festive ditty called 'This Christmas', released on 20 November 2015. Money raised from sales will go to homeless charity Shelter.

You can buy the single on iTunes or get it from our digital shop. You can also support Shelter’s emergency Christmas appeal. Please visit www.shelter.org.uk or text SHELTER to 70060 to donate £3.

While touring the US with Frank Turner, the riotous rum-soaked troupe and the ragged-throated troubadour bonded leading to this inevitable collaboration. 'This Christmas' is crammed full of poignant, bittersweet, funny but ultimately uplifting anecdotes of seeing family and friends at Christmas. The song boasts pounding drums, sleigh bells and decorative accordion while Jay Beans and Lorna from Skinny Lister duet around lines that are stuffed with turkey, presents and undeniable sentiments: “I love you, I miss you and I can't wait to see you and forget about all that other business”.

Watch the video below:

They had this to say about the union:

“‘This Christmas’ wraps up all our memories of Christmas into a neat four minute song to be delivered as a gift to our friends and followers this Christmas. It’s got family, nostalgia and festive cheer in abundance! Written and recorded on our recent tour across America, the Santa hats were crucial in providing that extra little bit of seasonal magic in the studio! We’re giving all the proceeds to Shelter, the amazing charity taking care of those without a home. Everybody deserves something nice at Christmas right?”

Skinny Lister are supporting Frank Turner once again on his UK tour throughout November while Beans On Toast headlines his own tour throughout November and December. Full dates can be found on our gig calendar. Their dates are also on their websites www.skinnylister.com  and www.beansontoastmusic.com.

Skinny Lister’s recent album Down On Deptford Broadway was released in April of this year garnering rave reviews across the board, with Q Magazine roaring “three cheers for a band who give pub rock a good name”, while the Evening Standard declared “it’s harder to imagine anything more mischievous”. Beans On Toast releases his seventh studio album Rolling Up The Hill on 1 December which has been described by Rocksound as “quite possibly his most accessible and immediate album to date.”

The money raised will support Shelter’s Christmas campaign. In Britain, 100,000 children will wake up homeless this Christmas morning. You won’t see these children on the streets. Rather, they’ll be hidden away in temporary accommodation – including cold, cramped B&Bs and hostels that are damaging to their health. Their suffering risks being forgotten.

Shelter

To support Shelter’s emergency Christmas appeal please visit www.shelter.org.uk or text SHELTER to 70060 to donate £3.

Shelter helps millions of people every year struggling with bad housing or homelessness – and campaign to prevent it in the first place. Shelter is here so no one has to fight bad housing or homelessness on their own.

www.skinnylister.com / www.beansontoastmusic.com

facebook.com/ShelterUK / Twitter @Shelter / www.shelter.org.uk

XTRA MILE XMAS XTRAVAGANZA – 17 DECEMBER 2015 @ THE MONARCH, CAMDEN // XMR CLUB NIGHT WITH DJS AND LIVE MUSIC

Xtra Mile Recordings will be celebrating the festive period with an Xmas Party that will polish off a fantastic year for the label.

On 17 December at The Monarch in Camden, acts from the Xtra Mile family will be providing live music and DJ sets for a party to last late into the night. There for your entertainment will be To Kill A King, Rob Lynch, Beans On Toast (DJ Set) and Oxygen Thief’s side project, Non Canon, with more to be announced.

Tickets are £7 and available here.

As proven by the packed-full, sweaty fun of the Summer In The City party back in July of this year – a gig that sold out despite a disruptive tube strike starting that evening – Xtra Mile have a solid track record at hosting feel-good, life-affirming, boozy nights out where bands watch their fellow labelmates perform, occasionally joining in on stage and often hanging out with the crowd. They’re family affairs where everyone is welcome and the Xmas Xtravaganza will be no different.

To Kill A King — photo by Wolf James Photography

Rob Lynch – photo by Andreas Hornoff

The acts providing the night’s entertainment have all had a great 2015. To Kill A King released their much-acclaimed self-titled second album, headlined Shepherd's Bush Empire on their March UK tour, were nominated for Best Live Act at the AIM Independent Music Awards, and headlined the Lake Stage at Latitude Festival and the Invaders of the Future stage at Bestival.

Rob Lynch has been busy writing and recording songs for his second solo album, the follow-up to 2014’s acclaimed All These Nights In Bars Will Somehow Save My Soul, so expect some exclusive first listens during his set.

Non Canon is a mysterious side project by the face behind Oxygen Thief. Wanna know more about it? Then come along to the show.

Once the bands have played their short sets, our XMR DJs will take over the night and play non-stop dancefloor fillers until the early hours of the morning.

In 2015, XMR has released stunning albums by Skinny Lister and Will Varley, both of whom are currently touring with Frank Turner – riding high on his second number two charting album, Positive Songs For Negative People, and a sold out UK arena tour. Their albums, Down On Deptford Broadway and Postcards From Ursa Minor respectively, have been fondly received by critics and label followers alike.

As well as that, there have been brand new albums from the likes of Franz Nicolay, Esmé Patterson, Dan Andriano In The Emergency Room, PJ Bond, plus highly-anticipated first vinyl pressings of Million Dead's Harmony No Harmony and Reuben's Very Fast Very Dangerous, which have ensured it's been a bumper year of records for XMR.

Topped off with Against Me!'s first ever live album 23 Live Sex Acts, on triple vinyl / double CD, and a 10-year celebratory, seven-vinyl box set of Frank Turner's First, Second and Third Three Years compilations, with a bonus 10-track vinyl entitled Ten For Ten (all under the name The First Ten Years), 2016 will have to go some to match the quality and quantity of this year's packed schedule.

 www.tokillaking.com / www.roblynch.com / www.noncanon.bandcamp.com

BEANS ON TOAST NEW VIDEO 'I'M HOME WHEN YOU HOLD ME' / NEW ALBUM 'ROLLING UP THE HILL' OUT 1 DECEMBER 2015

Beans On Toast has revealed the video for his new single 'I'm Home When You Hold Me', the first to be taken from new album Rolling Up The Hill, out 1 December 2015, and available to preorder on CD or download from our digital shop. Preorder to receive the single right now.

'I'm Home When You Hold Me' is a heart-on-the-sleeve love song, full of honesty and emotion, showing Beans’ talent for lyrical storytelling. Watch the video below:

Rolling Up The Hill is his most creative record to date and it’s an album all about friendship, travel and art. It’s also about drinking and protesting. It was recorded back in August in Kansas with husband and wife country duo Truckstop Honeymoon, who are currently supporting Beans on his UK tour as well as doubling as his backing band.

November and December UK tour dates are here. 

Beans met the duo at Larmer Tree festival last year, and after hanging out and playing some shows with them in New Orleans, they hatched a plan to go to The Ninth Ward Picking Parlour in Lawrence, Kansas to make an album together. The duo brings together double bass, mandolin and finger picking sounds to Beans On Toast's unique art of songwriting. Of course, they were still joined by long-term partner in crime Bobby Banjo, on harp and banjo (whose wrestling-themed Christmas card designs you might just want – go find them here). 

Throw in a couple of Kansas players dropping in some horns and some drums and you’ve got a Beans On Toast album that is fresh, fun and exciting while at the same time not losing any of Beans On Toast’s original cheap and easy English attitude that has got him to where he is today.

Ten years in the game and Beans has built up something of an underground following around the world, and is now ramming out festival fields and tents on the UK circuit and constantly touring new and foreign lands. This year alone he’s played shows on rooftops in Cape Town, tropical islands in Barbados, folk festivals in Canada, and covered over 10,000 miles in the USA. He also toured the fringes of the UK in the wake of the terrible result at this year’s election, taking in the mood of the country by visiting Harlow, Preston, Chester and the like. He has, of course, got songs all about these travels.

As usual Beans on Toast has made the album he wants to make it; no rules, no one to impress, just simple opinionated songs about honest subjects.

Tracklist:

1. The Mudhills Crew
2. Robin Hood Costume
3. I’m Home When You Hold me
4.The Great American Novel
5. Driving Me Crazy
6. The Industrial Estate
7. God is a Cartoonist
8. The Art of Friendship
9. Afrikaburn
10. Numbers and Words
11. A Bit More Track in the Monitor
12. Middleageman

facebook.com/beansontoastmusic / Twitter @beansontoast / www.beansontoastmusic.com / Youtube.com/beansontoasttube

WILL VARLEY 'TALKING CAT BLUES' VIDEO // NEW ALBUM 'POSTCARDS FROM URSA MINOR' OUT 30 OCTOBER 2015

A week away from the release of new album Postcards From Ursa Minor, Will has revealed his more humorous side in the video for 'Talking Cat Blues'. This truly is the culmination of every cat video you'e ever seen on social media. Watch it below.

You can preorder Postcards From Ursa Minor from our digital shop with a ticket to attend the album launch party at The Windmill in Deal, Kent. Choose the ticket and CD, vinyl or download bundle to see this exclusive show. Tickets are only available from here. You can also preorder the album on its own.

Produced by Tristan Ivemy and mastered at Abbey Road by Frank Arkwright (Arcade Fire, Blur) Postcards From Ursa Minor pushes the boundaries of the ‘one man and a guitar’ format. From rowdy drinking songs with sprawling chaotic arrangements to his sparse solo performances he covers a range of subjects with his trademark sprinkling of social commentary, politics and wry humour.

Observing the world and the plight of humanity as if perched cross-legged on the edge of the moon, Varley’s existential themes cover the planet’s lonely existence within the universe as well focusing in to tackle the everyday minutia of human life.

Postcards From Ursa Minor tracklisting is:

As For My Soul
The Man Who Fell To Earth
Seize The Night
Outside Over There
This House
Talking Cat Blues
From Halcyon
Dark Days Away
Send My Love To The System
The Endlessness And The Space Between
Concept Of Freedom
Is Anyone Out There?
The Question Of Passing Time

Full details of the album can be found in our original announcement.

You can also listen to and watch previously revealed track  and 'The Man Who fell To Earth' video — both taken from the album — below.

Taken from the forthcoming album 'Postcards From Ursa Minor' released on 30th October through Xtra Mile Recordings. Pre-order now: Xtra Mile Recordings: http://smarturl.it/WV-Postards_XMR Amazon: http://smarturl.it/WV-Postards_Amazon Banquet: http://smarturl.it/WV-Postards_Banquet iTunes: http://smarturl.it/WV-Postards_iTunes

facebook.com/willvarleymusic / Twitter @willvarleymusic / www.willvarley.com

WILL VARLEY ALBUM LAUNCH SHOW — 29 OCTOBER 2015 // BANQUET, RISE AND ROUGH TRADE INSTORES

WIll Varley will play an album launch show at The Lighthouse in Deal, Kent on 29 October 2015, the day before Postcards From Ursa Minor is released. He will also play a number of instores that week. 

You can only get tickets for the Lighthouse album launch show by pre-ordering the album. There are three bundles: ticket & CD, ticket & vinyl, and ticket & download. If you can't make the show but would still like to preorder the album, you can do that at our digital shop.

On top of Will Varley's 2016 headline tour news, and just before he's off supporting labelmate Frank Turner on the Positive Songs For Negative People UK arena tour, Will will also perform at a number of instores. These are listed below, and at our label gigs calendar including tickets for the Banquet Records show. Other instores are free and not ticketed.

OCTOBER
29 Kingston, UK @ Banquet Records (6pm — ticketed show)

NOVEMBER
02 Cheltenham, UK @ Rise Records (3pm — free show)
02 Bristol, UK @ Rise Records (6pm — free show)
03 Worcester, UK @ Rise Records (3pm — free show)
03 Nottingham, UK @ Rough Trade (8pm — free show)

www.facebook.com/willvarleymusic / Twitter @willvarleymusic / www.willvarley.com  

WILL VARLEY HEADLINE UK TOUR 2016 // SUPPORTING FRANK TURNER IN NOVEMBER 2015 // 'POSTCARDS FROM URSA MINOR' OUT 30 OCTOBER 2015

Will Varley has announced his 17-date solo UK tour in February and March 2016 culminating in his biggest headline show to date at London's Scala. This will be in support of his new album Postcards From Ursa Minor, out 30 October 2015, through Xtra Mile Recordings.

You can preorder the album on CD, vinyl and download from our digital shop, Banquet Records, Amazon, and mp3 from iTunes.

Dares are below, and also on our Xtra Mile gigs calendar:

FEBRUARY

10 Newcastle @ Cluny 2
11 Edinburgh @ Voodoo Rooms
12 Glasgow @ King Tuts
13 Manchester @ Night and Day
18 Leeds @ Brudenell Social Club
19 Liverpool @ Buyers Club
20 Nottingham @ Bodega
23 Cambridge @ J2 at Junction
24 Norwich @ Waterfront Studios
25 Birmingham @ Hare & Hounds
26 Cardiff @ Clwb Ifor Bach
27 Bristol @ Louisiana
28 Exeter @ The Phoenix

MARCH

02 Plymouth @ The Junction
03 Falmouth @ Mono
04 Southampton @ Joiners
10 London @ Scala

The rambling folk singer, who once walked over 500 miles along England's south coast with a guitar on his back and played shows, is also supporting labelmate and confimed Varley fan Frank Turner on his UK arena tour in November. Frank Turner described Varley as "one of the best singer-songwriters in the UK". Those dates are below:

NOVEMBER

05 Llandudno @ Venue Cymru
06 Southampton @ Guildhall SOLD OUT
07 Southampton @ Guildhall SOLD OUT
09 Falmouth @ Princess Pavilion SOLD OUT
10 Falmouth @ Princess Pavilion
13 Glasgow @ Barrowland SOLD OUT
14 Newcastle @ University SOLD OUT
15 Nottingham @ Rock City SOLD OUT
16 Nottingham @ Rock City
18 Birmingham @ Academy
19 Sheffield @ Academy SOLD OUT
21 Bristol @ Colston Hall SOLD OUT
22 Bristol @ Colston Hall
23 Manchester @ Academy SOLD OUT
24 Manchester @ Academy
26 London @ Alexandra Palace

You can also watch his self-made video for album track 'The Man Who Fell To Earth' below:

This headline tour follows a jam-packed couple of years for Will who has played at the Royal Albert Hall for the Teenage Cancer Trust, headlined his own spring tour earlier this year, played dates with cult legend Beans On Toast, released a digital EP (Live At the Lighthouse), and spent a summer supporting The Proclaimers across the UK as well as playing his own festival appearances at Bestival, Secret Garden Party, Green Man and BoomTown, among others.

www.facebook.com/willvarleymusic / Twitter @willvarleymusic / www.willvarley.com