I've been a Sugababes fan since I first heard Overload way back in 2000. It was, and still is, a pop classic. Over the years, I managed to catch them live a couple of times. The first time I caught Sugababes live was way back at Creamfields 2002. Unfortunately Siobhan had left the band by then and been replaced by Heidi, so I never got to see the original lineup. Did it matter much at the time to me? No, not at all, I was just their to party! As a side note, post Sugababes, Siobhan went on to release two solo albums, Revolution in Me in 2003 and Ghosts in 2007. The next time I saw them was at Oxegen 2008, and by then Mutya had left the band and was replaced by Amelle, leaving Keisha as the only remaining original member. It was a tad strange seeing the band with only one remaining member, but again, it was a festival and all we were looking for was a good time, which we definitely got! Another side note, just like Siobhan, Mutya went on to release her own solo work, a gr
Bandcamp Friday... If any online music company comes out of the Covid19 Pandemic with honours, it looks like it will be Bandcamp. Why? Well, it's quite simple, it's down to Bandcamp Friday.
What's Bandcamp Friday? Well, on the first Friday of each month, Bandcamp waives its fees on album and merch sales (on both physical media and downloads), meaning more money goes to the artists. This all kicked off in March as the world ground to a halt and with it, the music business.
OK, the waiving of these fees won't make up for the loss of earnings from not gigging, but y'know, every little bit helps.
Today, being the first Friday of the month, I did some shopping. I picked up a copy of the Sowing Acorns Limited Edition EP by Emma Langford on cassette. Yes, you read that right, on cassette. Look, don't ask why, just go with it!
I also picked up a copy of a copy of The Swedish Railway Orchestra LP by, well, The Swedish Railway Orchestra on vinyl. Yeah yeah, I know, look at him buying vinyl. Look, I like it, I like the fact it's tangible, I like the fact that it's big, I just like it! Anyway, you couldn't find two artists further apart in their styles if you tried, but hey, it's all good music!
So yeah, that's just a brief note on Bandcamp Friday and why I think it's a pretty cool thing. I've been using Bandcamp for a good few years now and I've no complaints about the service at all. You should check them out and maybe support your favourite independent artists through it.