The Ruckus

People We Like - Folk Radio UK

Today I am here to talk to you about one of my favourite radio stations. If I am listening to the radio you can pretty much guarantee it will be Folk Radio UK or BBC 6 Music. Once in a blue moon I will listen to Radio 1 (and quickly remember that I am not a fan) or Radio 4 on a sunday lunchtime, but if it's music I am after I tend to head for FRUK or 6 Music.

Folk Radio UK have two music channels, one called Frukie which plays Indie and Alternative Folk music, and the other called Roots which plays Traditional Folk, Celtic Music and Roots. Both are for sure worth a good listen.

But Folk Radio UK are not just a radio station, not by a long way. They are also a wonderful blog focusing on all things folk and indie in the UK. They are by far and away my favourite blog for folk at the moment, as they are insightful, friendly, and their posts are always very well written.

Getting to know Alex from FRUK on twitter has opened my eyes to a wealth of great music, as he has a tendency to suggest things to me based on what I tweet I am listening to. To me that is the basis of a damn good friendship! I am highly excited therefore to meet up with the FRUK guys at Open House Festival in Belfast this September, which they are sponsoring and covering.

Give them a listen, as they are online you can listen to it anywhere in the world, and I am sure that if you like folk music you will not be disappointed. And then go out and spread the word, as everyone should get to listen to music this good.

You can find Folk Radio UK here

People We Like: Orla Gartland

We do love the YouTubers here at The Ruckus, and 15 year old Dubliner Orla Gartland is our newest favorite undiscovered talent. She records charming, catchy originals, and covers in a variety of genres equally well (check out a bit of Mumford & Sons and Lady GaGa below the fold). She has the sort of fresh-faced appeal and adorable quirkiness that reminds us of Julia Nunes, with the authentic fearlessness that only a 15 year old can have, really (and the vocal chops to back it up).

People We Like: Jamie Ley

We probably have the promoter/label extraordinare, Communion to thank for quite a lot. We have discovered such exciting new music through Communion, truly living up to it's name. We attended a London Communion night and this fella, Jamie Ley is one that I was switched on to and of course felt the need to share.

The Fly Magazine, Camden's go to pick up free mag, declared they didn't care whether he sounds like the poppy Paolo Nutini or Jeff Buckley because it doesn't matter 'when you have a voice like that'. I actually think there is something Buckley-esque about his music and I'm not sure I would say he's Nutini like at all (especially the vocals), but either way - The Ruckus likes.

He's definitely one to watch, having played this year's Brighton's Great Escape Festival and not least for the fact that he can play a range of instruments; piano, ukulele and guitar, which to me definitely highlights his talent as a musician. There's something slightly Jack Johnson, Alan Pownall-esque to his music, but a tad more soulful and deeper in the lyrics and less poppy. I really like 'Suzy Sang', it hints to gritty Americana and although Jamie's music is not completely folk, it's more rooted in 'Alt-folk'.

Jamie's had some radio air play on BBC Introducing and I genuinely believe he'll be one to watch, his vocals are beautiful, the lyrics aren't simple, but honest. Check out 'Suzy Sang' below, and imagine yourself in the 50s listening to Jamie belt this out.

Play 'Suzy Sang'

People We Like: The Black Keys

Ohio is not known for its ground-breaking music scene. In fact, Ohio isn't really known for anything particularly cool or interesting. It is a state that produces a lot of presidents (used to, anyways), a lot of astronauts, and a lot of people that move to other states in search of Bigger Better Things. Ohio is also where The Black Keys, one of my favorite bands, formed and got their start.

Saying that I like The Black Keys is a bit of an understatement. I really really like them. It's entirely possible that I actually love them. And not just because they're from Ohio. The duo, composed of Dan Auerbach (guitar) and Patrick Carney (drums), makes music that walks the line between funk-tinged blues and garage rock and gets stuck in my head for days on end. Their new album, Brothers, is their best in a long time; the whistling on "Tighten Up" and Auerbach's surprisingly natural falsetto on "Everlasting Light" add a new depth to their sound, a bit of whimsy in just the right places.

If you want to check them out, and I highly suggest you do, you can listen to a few songs on their myspace or catch them at one of the stops on their rather extensive tour, going on right now. You can also get a free mp3 download of their formerly-7"-exclusive song "Ohio" by signing up at theblackkeys.com.

Photo by James Carney.

People We Like: Leah Mason

I really really love Leah Mason, and I think you should too. Up and coming darling of the London scene, not only can she sing amazingly but this girl can play guitar better than most people I have seen. She has just finished supporting the beautiful and wonderful Ellie Goulding on a UK tour, and The Ruckus were lucky enough to get down to Shepherds Bush Empire last week to catch both these lovely ladies perform.

Leah exuded old school rock chick vibes that made one of my friends compare her to the likes of Janis Joplin. Those are some pretty big shoes to fill, and it is still very much early days for Leah, but she has it in her to be massive. She has such an interesting voice, filled with soul, and as I have said her guitar playing leaves others in the shade. she has recently recorded some songs on old school recording equipment, and I really can't wait to hear how they sound as I can see her style lending itself to that 60's/70's rock chick vibe really well.

The track I have featured above (St Antoine) is available to download from Leah's myspace, and since I got my hands on it a couple of weeks ago I have been rinsing it on my stereo. It's a perfect summer tune, upbeat and slightly poppy, but still keeping it incredibly cool.

Leah is one to watch for sure, she has bags of talent and I can't wait to see where that takes her.

People We Like - Spark

The title of this should really be "people we love" as I am totally and utterly sold on Spark (aka Jess Morgan). I met her last night when she played at London's Lexington pub to a packed crowd. The queue to get in was out the door and the place was rammed with industry insiders keen for an early look at one of music's next big things.

Spark had only played one gig before she headed off on tour with Marina and The Diamonds, but seeing her on stage you would never know it. She oozes stage presence, can banter with the best of them, and sparked my jealousy by looking incredible in a pair of skin tight shiny leggings.

Go and listen to her demos on myspace now. You can also listen to her debut "Shut Out The Moon" on The Ruckus here. And if you get the chance to see her live then get your arse down there. You won't regret it and you'll be able to say you saw her before she was huge. Big love.

Photo Credit By Yafeu-Khamisi Rodway-Brown

People we like: Alex Starling

A London Ruckus favourite, Alex Starling is crossing the pond to play a few tour dates in the US and I recommend you go see him because he's quite good at what he does; playing indie rock type music with that British twist that we so love. It should also be noted that he is also quite amusing. Alex has been featured on our beloved BBC 6 Music as one to watch and we're adding the Ruckus stamp of approval.

By day, Alex is the piano playing rockstar for our boys, Ou Est Le Swimming Pool. The remaining amount of his time is spent with his other band, the really really cool named Starling Band. In fact, until recently we had only seen Alex perform acoustic sets with the lovely Alex 'mute' Sharman. But Liz and I saw him plug in with full band earlier this month and despite my drunkeness, we were really impressed, his special guest-star keyboard player did an amazing job too (Chazz from Ou Est). Some of the crowd got a bit a rowdy and seemed to really get into it.

He's a talented musician and is going to be supporting Bobby Long (of Twilight soundtrack fame) for a few dates and we recommend you go along and say hi.

I'm expecting all our Ruckus fans over in the United States to go do us proud. Alex's myspace with all the usual details here. We like him so you should too.