Crosstown. Terrific
The UK’s most exciting concert promoter, label and all round music fan and artist loving venture launched in London on a magic roundabout, Peace Day Eve, 2016.
True music fans put fellow music lovers first. We follow bands, so know this to be true. That’s what’s thrilling about Crosstown Concerts, who definitely fall into the “Next Music Industry” that we, TheZineUK team, believe in.
Crosstown (gig promoter and record label) have been bustling behind the scenes this year, but officially launched on Tuesday 20th September 2016 with a mini festival of a house party on Old Street Roundabout in London. Putting their money where their collective mouth is, their invited guests were a mixture of entertainment business, artists and some of the music world's true day dreamers and inspiring imaginations.
Having bumped into co-founders Paul Hutton and Conal Dodds at many a gig over the years, their fresh approach works. Crosstown Concerts aim to treat the fans with respect (including being tough on the internet ticket resale scam) and to nurture up and coming artists. That’s a terrific win win foundation to build on. Crosstown Records does exactly that, with two dramatically, ambitious sounding star turns - Keir and MOSES - as their first signings, and an exclusive primary ticketing and technology party in Songkick for the events.
With the likes of The Pixies, PJ Harvey, Little Simz, Savages and Super Furry Animals (who were one of the star turns on the decks at the launch) among a plethora a great shows in the near future, this business has hit the ground running.
Super Furry Animals DJ and show magic at the Crosstown launch (ace to grab a quick chat with Gruff, too)
Conal and Paul were previously directors at Metropolis Music, one of the UK’s leading, long established, concert promoters. Veterans of UK music, they know what they’re doing. Crosstown is fiercely independent while remaining professionally slick. Their first show (a joint venture with their fellow co-founder, Fraser Duffin) was a sold out, 30,000 capacity homecoming concert on Bristol Downs for the mighty Massive Attack.
This launch was an equal statement of intent, executed with considered organisation and presentation, while being as informal as it gets. Like a night up a magic pub.
It's a serious matter, though. The motivation and ethos is staging high quality events at all levels, which includes working with promising artists from the start of their careers. Putting this (and the fans that actually finance the music industry from their own pockets) at the top of the "food chain", is a refreshing change in an age when super-greed has become the norm.
Food n Friends n Tunes
We all want the best time EVER when going to experience live music. Some of our most amazing memories/friends happen there. You could do worse than visit the Crosstown Concerts page when seeking your next gig adventures.
various bars and eateries, a mini festival of funshine. free drinks appreciated by everybody
Audiences having an amazing experience at a show extends to the industry supporting musicians with potential to supply that demand. Keir (artist) and MOSES (band) arrive this autumn with with two different, but dynamically dramatic releases, charged with aural ambition. Both of the Crosstown Records first signings are indicative of a tidal newer wave in new music. We're experiencing the most electric sparks flying in composition and performance, for decades. Step away from the screens a minute. This is awesome.
Instant classic stars have been brewing in the small venues recently and, in 2016 especially, are coming to the boil. The Crosstown Concerts launch was also Chapter One for the Crosstown Records signings reaching the real starting line of their career as recording artists. Keir’s forthcoming release; ‘Probably’ has a hint of Jaques Brel-meets-Aretha underlying a song that reels you in, from the start stop start, even before his power-lung vocals kick in. The debut London headline show is on 1st November (blag free tickets here, to get in) at The Old Blue Last in Shoreditch.
M O S E S are one of TheZineUK’s favourite new bands. It’s an incredible year with some of the biggest potential bursting out of the UK’s threatened new music circuit. They still manage to stand out. As Brexit's shameful "Summer of Hate" fight's with a punky reggae party's summer of uplifting, noisy love and festival unity, this quartet are the ultimate antidote to feeling down. Engaging musicians from Bucharest, South Korea, Northern Ireland and the East End, they are typical Londoners, but not so typical a band.
When it comes to delighting alt rock and energetic, punky gig lovers alike, no truly sussed “Ones To Watch 2017” band list will be complete without recommending MOSES. Loaded with anthems, they never leave a stage without having won some new hearts. This month alone they supported The Enemy and Jimmy Eats World and are part of Alan McGee's, nationwide Musicians Against Homelessness campaign for Crisis.
Their debut EP leads with 'Leave Leave Leave'. Guitar TUNE electricity, it's a brilliant way to introduce themselves to the general public, released on 28th October. More on this release in the near future. For now though, what is also the debut of Crosstown Records (CTR1) can be pre-ordered as a signed 10” vinyl physical or as the 4 track M O S E S EP digitally via iTunes and get ‘Leave Leave Leave’ now. Hear via Spotify link
Papped! Juno, Victor, Zakk and Matt at the launch; a band for the next, and every generation of rockers
Want a glimpse of how 2017 should be sound tracked with excitement? Follow : facebook.com/MosesOfficialPage * @MosesOfficialUK * instagram.com/mosesofficialpage
Ah… Crosstown Concerts, Crosstown Records. Beautifully done. The sky’s the limit.
Thank you so much, Crosstown, for inviting us to the party. Fun, friends old n new, food with #holyfuck sauce (!), courteous hospitality (free love included),
words/snapshots; @TheZineUK