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BEATS: THIS year is already shaping up to be a memorable one for Oxford quartet Stornoway, who can count Jay-Z and Dave Grohl as fans.

The band released their first single, “Zorbing”, in July, 2009, and played a number of festivals last summer.

They signed to independent record label 4AD in March and will release their debut album, “Beachcomber’s Windowsill”, later this month.

They will showcase tracks from their forthcoming album at Manchester University tomorrow.


WHITE Rabbits is their name and upbeat indie pop is their game.

The band release their new single, “They Done Wrong/We Done Wrong”, on Monday and will preview that and other hits from forthcoming album “It’s Frightening” at Manchester’s Night and Day on Saturday.


SAN Francisco reggae soul sensation Natty was brought up to love a mix of folk and motown.

And it was this diverse upbringing that gave the born performer his eclectic musical palette.

Natty eventually found himself working in a London recording studio as a tea boy before climbing his way up to become a sound engineer.

He put a four-piece band together and began playing at open mic nights before launching his own club night, “Vibes And Pressure”, which attracted the attention of Atlantic Records.

Get a taste of Natty’s reggae rhythms at Manchester’s Ruby Lounge on Monday.


A SUNNY Day In Glasgow are gearing up for a whistle-stop tour of the UK, performing seven shows in seven days.

New album “Ashes Grammar” will be the focus of the tour .

Catch them live at Salford’s Islington Mill on Friday.


ESSEX quartet States of Emotion are gathering support the old-fashioned way — by getting out there and playing live.

The video to their debut single, “The Unsung”, features dedicated fan James Buckley, who stars in E4 comedy “The Inbetweeners”.

Catch them live at Manchester’s Academy 3 on Monday.