I Don't Mind THE VELVET HANDS!
Garage Rock/Indie-Punk up and comers - The Velvet Hands - take a break from recording their debut album for February events.
Friday 3rd - The Velvet Hands new single 'I Don't Mind' c/w The End - is released as a digital download and limited 7” blue vinyl on Easy Action Records
Saturday 4th - The Velvet Hands are Featured Band of the week on BBC Introducing London (LBC) interview with Gary Crowley (8pm GMT)
Wednesday 8th - Free Gig at Camden Monarch. Look out for that vinyl and their always cool t shirts (which sell out) at their 'I Don't Mind' celebration for Mark Beaumont (NME); Billy Bibby (ex Catfish & The Bottlemen), Pink Hotel, The Velvet Hands, Weekend Recovery and Vito - all tipped as FECK!
The Velvet Hands photographed by Ellen Offredy)
Still teens, they've caused a stir in just over a year.
To date the band have earned over 10,000 social network video views,plus the seeds of an organic fan base.
Their latest release, 'I Don't Mind', has clocked up their fastest views to date with over 1,000 views in a week. It is a tad insane (don't try this at home), but the perfect accompaniment to a song that sounds like a newer wave hit from the first beat. Nonchalantly cool but racing into a chanty verse and sing-along-chorus at a lively rate of knots that is obviously loads of fun to jump around too. A gorgeously crafted slice of perfect, rock n rolling, alternative pop.
Self releasing their first two singles; 'Games' and 'Habit', TVH picked up marvellous online press, radio support from BBC Introducing and their first BBC 6 Music play from Radcliffe & Maconie. Support slots with The Bluetones, Yak and Wild Smiles followed. Already collectable, their first (white 7”) vinyl release, 'Trains' / 'Curtains Closed' (Easy Action Records) was a Record Store Day in April 2016. All 300 copies sold out on the day. 'Trains' won further airplay from Radcliffe & Maconie. The Velvet Hands also picked up plays from Steve Lamacq and Tom Robinson on BBC 6 Music, Gary Crowley on BBC London and continuing support from BBC Cornwall which resulted in appearances at Boardmasters Festival and Looe Festival. They also played at Tate Modern Art Gallery. By autumn 2016, The Velvet Hands had attracted the attention of landmark music events like This Feeling and Camden Rocks Presents. New friends made, loudly, on both occasions. These have, in turn, led to new possibilities for the future. Their amazing year ended with two punky live riots (with legendary producer, John Cornfield of Sawmill Studios, doing the sound). Way to go!
Alongside being in the Top 20 of Cornwall's Cool List (to be fair, they do excude stage style), the band begin 2017 in Troubadour Studios, Falmouth, working on the album scheduled for release on Easy Action Records later this year. With the breadth of their song composing and the confidence of their live performance increasing, there's already interest outside of the UK, as well as growing at home.
The Velvet Hands are not just talented, but personable, and a part of our story (ha ha, it all went off bonkers like when they graced our music social last April).
Things are mushrooming around TheZineUK, with so many of the names involved taking off like planes from a creative air port. Stay tuned for updates. In the mean time, strap in, 2017 is in for a bumpy ride.