LBW // KINDNESS

L B W

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T W E N T Y S I X T E E N

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A LITTLE KINDNESS

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Aloha - Ahoy

I wanted to write something this morning, a little something about kindness. Fear not, it very much relates to music and specifically, LBW.



I worked in the corporate world for several global organizations in multi-billion dollar industries.

The more I got closer to the core, the more I realised that the people at the top were no different to you or I, there was just a lack of kindness, it was like the scent of money, power and success were purer there.

It was every man for himself.

I knew I had entered a place in which I didn't belong.



I found a band of friends who roamed the world, nomads writing music and creating art and spending time with them helped me understand so much about myself.

There was the corporate machine world, feeding on money, success & power.

There was the natural world, a place of beauty, of freedom, of wonder.

 Nature, the planet, the universe are the powerful forces; we merely reside in a corner of her space.

You only have to spend a little time in nature to become very humbled by that realization; In the ocean as you face the oncoming waves, as you climb the mountain rocks, as you wander through valleys of trees and hills.

I find myself in nature, to escape, to recharge, to reconnect with the world.

 Perhaps one day I'll live in the forest, near to the ocean living off forest fruits and existing only in nature.

For now I exist in both. Which meant finding a way to exist in both worlds.

If I was going to make money to live, I was going to do something that made a difference to people, something I was passionate about.

Balancing a passion of music and travel, of seeking knowledge and living for adventures.

Whenever I'm not in the music world, I'll be found out on the dirt tracks of the world, adventuring.

 I get to do great work, spending time with wonderful musicians and meet lots of inspiring people.

Rather than having a career, I tuned into my passions and created a way to exist in the world while dancing to the beat of my own drum.

That band of people by the way, signed to a huge label and never sold out their medicine. They still play spreading their message, helping communities and ensuring they leave the world in a better state than they found it.

I realised that the machine is run by people, you can be at the top and make one hell of a difference to the world, if you value kindness.

If you're the kind of person who will use your power for good.

I will never take the opportunities and adventures I have for granted, I work hard for it, to maintain it.

I didn't and don't want to enjoy it alone, the passion behind writing about music, was to share it with the world.

To create a community space for people to share in their passion of music, to connect music with the world.



 I realised within myself that the reason I always felt as though I was stumbling to keep up with my generation, with achieving the things we were told to acheive, was actually not in my nature, I didn't crave or strive for those things.

These days, I just try to do good and help others where possible as much as I can.

I definitely think karma exists in the world.

That light you create for others often lights your own path too. It should inspire you to be more kind. Imagine how light the world would be if we were kind to every person we interacted with.

What always surprises me, is how taken back people are by kindness. Is humankind in such a state that an act of kindness is rare and something to behold?

Something that surprises us so much?

I'm not here to tell you how to be kind, just simply to say kindness is incredibly important in the world.

Let's be that change we all talk of.

I did promise you this related to music, which probably hasn't been that clear, this space is to share emerging music with people around the world. I hope you all feel welcome to come to revel in great tunes, to connect over the music you love and that you'll pop back and continue to support emerging live music.

Here are three bands that you absolutely have to check out. These are the bands that you will want to keep both eyes on because not only have they found the formula of the magics, they're able to capture it in song form and when they play live, they emit these incredible vibes from the stage.

A L M E I D A

T H E // B I T T E R // T O W N // H O U N D S

K A M I K A Z E // T E S T // P I L OT S 

Catch these guys at The Fiddler's Elbow in London tonight!

Be kind always and you will find that the energy you create, connects you with people that you can share the adventures of life with.

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♥ & ☮

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- Content belongs to it's respective owners -

- L I T T L E B E A R W O L F - KG Ⓒ 2016 -

LBW // GIG GUIDE

L B W

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T W E N T Y S I X T E E N

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Aloha - Ahoy

This weekend I'll be in and around Reading sharing lots of emerging music with you all. Friday night sees southern rockers The Bitter-Town Hounds supporting Reading's rock favourites Kamikaze Test Pilots, there'll also be sweet tunes from local punks Who Killed Nancy Johnson?

This is all happening on 26/08/2016 at Risc & Global Cafe, Reading. A new venue to LBW so we're excited to see what the night holds.

Why not check out the bands and their tunes?

T H E // B I T T E R - T O W N // H O U N D S

W H O // K I L L E D // N A N C Y // J O H N S O N ?

K A M I K A Z E  // T E S T // P I L O T S

On Sunday you can also catch Kamikaze Test Pilots playing in London at The Fiddler's Elbow, Camden. You can checkout a handful of awesome bands for just £5.

As the summer sun sets in the west, fall approaches on the far eastern horizon, bringing cooler climbs, crunchy leaves and more wonderful live shows for anyone with a passion for emerging music.

September brings the anniversary of 25 years since Nirvana's release of 'Nevermind' and Neil at Alternator is hosting one hell of a show...

At The Unicorn in Camden you can also check out ALL the punk rock skate punk your heart desires with Umlaut's excellent lineup, including my all time favourite boys in Captain Trips & Ships Down.

On September 24th you'll have another opportunity to catch Kamikaze Test Pilots when they play The Dublin Castle.

As we continue through fall, there is a festival for any rock lover among you to check out - Day Of Rockening.

As fall brings the celebration of  the harvest festival of Samhain, there are not one but two awesome Halloween shows to get excited about.

Check out this incredible gig happening on 30th October from our favourite lads at Umlaut Records again...

On September 1st look out for the full line-up and gig announcement of LM productions, Trash Arts and LBW for the Halloween Hallapalooza happening back on the south coast on 29th October.

There'll be many more gig announcement's between these and as we travel through the following months and arrive at the winter we are told is coming.

It's hard to remember what those Baltic mornings feel like right now as we are warmed with the suns golden rays but I assure you here at LBW we'll keep you warm all winter long with awesome emerging music, for now back to the iced coffees...

Over & Out

Tune in, rock out and turn up for more emerging music, right here at LBW shortly.

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♥ & ☮

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- Content belongs to it's respective owners -

- L I T T L E B E A R W O L F - KG Ⓒ 2016 -

LBW // FRONTMEN WITH PIZZAZZ

LBW

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T W E N T Y S I X T E E N

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F R O N T M E N // W I T H // P I Z Z A Z Z

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Aloha - Ahoy

There's something incredibly magic in the vibes & energy that is emitted from a band at a gig. When the entire room taps into that energy and becomes a part of that magic, you experience a level of nirvana like no other, it's as though for that moment in time, you are infinite.

 Nothing else outside of the space exists, it's just the music and you in the universe.

The high that is created from that energy is surreal and I don't think unless you've experienced it, you could explain it all that well. I could talk about the science behind the chemical releases in the body but I don't want to take what is an incredible feeling during a gig and break it down into actions of the mind and body. Some things are best left enjoyed as pure magic.

One of the ways that these bands emit a fantastic energy is by having a frontman who embodies that energy, that atmosphere, with charisma that vibrates from the stage and continues to imprint on every person in the room. 

For me, there are lots of incredible frontmen from bands I feel embody this persona; Bruce Dickinson certainly holds the sway over a crowd, Steven Tyler can certainly draw the attention of a room & Jon Bon Jovi, Freddie Mercury, Robert Plant, Jonathan Davis, Mustaine, Hetifeld, Cobain, Grohl and Eddie Vedder all exude (or did) a unique charisma that allows you to feed on that energy from their vocals & the bands sound. 

There is one frontman who really steals the show for me and that's Corey Taylor of Slipknot/Stone Sour. 

Corey Taylor - Slipknot 2015

A vocalist that can tame an audience of thousands, nay, hundreds of thousands, a man who's vocal range is pure magic and who's character really emits to the crowd; there's a high to be experienced from being in the same room as Taylor, that is hard to find anywhere else.

(The phone thing... dude's kinda got a point.)
When a band can formulate that energy and produce it through their sets, you end up with performances like this...

That energy I talk about, I can't explain it, but this is kinda what it looks like...

It's not just on stage...

and even other bands agree...

(can you even imagine being on that stage..it's just almost too much)

and actually while we're on the subject that energy.. this video will get you pretty damn close.

THAT BASS.

So inspired to relive that energy, to feel those vibes, I started scouting emerging music with not just five magics but more, it would be a good idea to share with you the following emerging frontmen who are bringing that magic to stages around the world, the bands that you absolutely have to check out.

J A Z // D E L O R E A N

TANKUS THE HENGE

 I stood in a festival tent, I was tired, it had been a long two days, the sun was beating down and I really wanted to rest, one more band I told myself.

I wandered in and set up my camera, I leant against the rail as the band readied themselves.

The next half hour is a blur of feeling as though I had fallen down the rabbit hole into wonderland, as though I'd wondered into some circus tent in middle victorian London and while I was weary I couldn't help but dance.

Tankus The Henge time felt like it stopped when you played, you spoke directly to my gypsy heart and I was never quite the same.

 R I C H // M A Y O R

CAPTAIN TRIPS

This is sort of a double whammy. Not only is he frontman of wicked skatepunk band Captain Trips, but Rich is also a solo singer-songwriter and this dude can sing.

I was working in a studio late one night, I'd let a band in and I was just setting up to write a couple of features when this sound started up. 

I felt as though I'd instantly been transported back to the skatepunk gigs of my teen years at local haunt The Void.

I told them I'd go to their first gig, I did and I've supported them ever since.

Rich has a release show coming up for his EP so make sure you check his tunes out and pop down to support local, live, emerging music.

T O M  // W E S T 

A L M E I D A

 

If you want to see a guitarist shred faster than I've ever seen anyone shred anything on Earth, then this is the band for you. But for me the magic emanates from the brilliant vocals of Tom West.

I've known this band for years and they're really in their comfort zone, their slaying stages across Europe, their latest record Social Media Circus is a testament to their song writing and I am so excited to share what these boys are doing next with all of you at LBW.

R Y A N // N I E M A N D T

KAMIKAZE TEST PILOTS

 

Ryan Niemandt of Kamikaze Test Pilots. I don't know even if there's words that would do this justice, you really really have to see this band live. The energy is just insane that is emmited from the stage during their sets. Ryan's African heritage is infused with his love of rock and I'm telling you now, frontmen with vocals and energy like this are rare to find.

Kamikaze Test Pilots are doing some awesome cool things currently and have a new record on the horizon, so probably check these boys out stat.

(Not only that he's a total dude and absolutely lovely, double cool points Ryan! To anyone popping to a show go and chat to the band after, maybe buy a cd!)

That's about all for now folks, but more coming in the next few days.

Look out for features from the interns all week next week and I'll be back the week after!

If you're in Reading on Friday, catch Kamikaze Test Pilots with support from Who Killed Nancy Johnson and The Bittertown Hounds for just £5

In London on Sunday at The Fiddler's Elbow catch Kamikaze Test Pilots.

There's not excuse not to check out the best in emerging live music.

Tune in, rock out and pop back soon.

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♥ & ☮

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- Content belongs to it's respective owners -

- L I T T L E B E A R W O L F - KG Ⓒ 2016 -

LBW // MONDAY MUSIC

L B  W

 

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T W E N T Y S I X T E EN

 

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 M O N D A Y  // M U S I C

 

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Aloha - Ahoy

 

Monday brings a double shot of rock to ensure the week get's off to a good start.

At LBW we love new music, we love massive anthems and we love sharing music from the world over.

 

We know that the emerging music market can be a difficult place for musicians and we hope that they'll find safe harbour at LBW blog.

We are excited to bring you a host of artists who surfed in on the morning tides; the bands that you absolutely must check out...

 

Southsea's newest band on the blog bring stoner doom rock to the world, creating a huge sound, that is a little unexpected from the humble lads that stand before you on the stage.

There is a real magic about this band and we can't wait to bring you more on this exciting duo in the coming weeks.

 

B I M B O

KISS OF DEATH

 

 

 

From the coast comes The Bittertown Hounds, a caged agressive sound that entangles punk vibes with hard rock and gritty vocals to create songs that will appeal to rock fans the world over.

 

Relatively fresh to LBW, this Southampton based rock band are hitting stages across the UK and we recommend checking them out while they're harbored on the blog.

 

T H E // B I T T E R T O W N // H O U N D S

RAGE

 

 

 

Hailing from Reading, mesmerizing crowds at venues across the UK, this bands tunes are hitting radio waves across the world and we know you'll love them as much as we do.

Their non-conforming tunes produced from a mesh of influences creates a totally unique character within the bands sound, we guarantee you'll find yourself caught under the spell cast by the anthemic tunes of Kamikaze Test Pilots.

 

K A M I K A Z E // T E S T // P I L O T S

PATRICK

 

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Pop back for more music harbored on the blog shortly and join us for music adventures this weekend in Reading and London.

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♥ & ☮

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- Content belongs to it's respective owners -

- L I T T L E B E A R W O L F - KG Ⓒ 2016 -



BAND 101

L B W

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T W E N T Y S I X T E E N

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Aloha - Ahoy

Emerging music is incredibly important to the music industry; a constant flow of new music and artists surfing in on the music scene tide provides the industry with fresh blood to be shared across the world.

In today's scenes, it's more than likely emerging bands will be called up and booked to play a show (pay will be minimal if any, because of course the exposure is payment in itself), but if you're lucky enough that you've escaped the first rung of the ladder and landed yourself a booking agent you'll be booked to headline some shows and may be getting a few hundred pounds and can make requests on your rider.

(Labradors and specific room temperatures, y'know that sort of thing)

Generally you'll have to do all the chasing yourselves because the truth is for every band there are a thousand more waiting in the wings for their chance in the limelight; this doesn't mean that you should be exploited and treated badly by promoters, agents and anyone else who takes the opportunity.

However this is sadly not the case and it is a minefield out there for emerging artists.

Here's some tips team LBW have put together to help you navigate the stormy seas and avoid the pitfalls of booking krakens and giant money nomming squids.

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*If you're serious about your music, treat it like it, act professionally. I'm not saying you can't be rock & roll but remember that people are more likely to bad-mouth a band who let them down, who are rude, who don't take their art seriously. Treat other people as you wish to be treated.

* It's okay to be friends with the people you work with, but remember that there is a professional perspective on what you do, get contracts, get signatures, if your making payments get receipts, know exactly what you're receiving in turn for working with that person.

*Be kind to everyone you work with, play every show as if it's the best you'll ever do - you never know who is in the audience - who may want to work with you, promote you - not every book is judgable by it's cover and you may lose out on impressing someone who could help you.

*When approaching bloggers, radio, promoters, venues and booking agencies do your research. There's no point wasting their time and your own if your genre or style aren't matched with that of the style they work with.

Make your communications personable and personal to that person or company. Be different, don't tell them your band is the best band ever. It's boring, doesn't show initiative and I can tell you for a fact I get that email at least 100 times a week.

*Accept that there will be rejections, not everyone will love or want to share your music, it doesn't mean no one ever will, but be courteous, don't be rude because you don't like the outcome.

*When approaching studios to record, make sure that the producer is legit, is professional, listen to their portfolio, check out their previous work, speak to artists they've worked with, get to know them because you're going to spend considerable time with them.

*Don't just choose a studio because it's cheap, because of how it looks or because of their previous artists.

*Understand that the producer will have input into the sound you create but that at the end of the day, the final say is down to you, this is your record, your sound. If you're not happy with it, speak up.

Congratulations, you've been booked for a show...now...

*Read the contract, know the terms of your booking, the fee, expenses to be paid, when and how. What's expected of you, to bring with you.

*Promote the event, yes this is the job of the promoter, any good promoters will be promoting their shows daily from both traditional and new media marketing perspectives but this is still an opportunity for you to show you're serious and to take initiative. Bring a group of friends down and you're more likely to be re-booked.

*Be nice to the sound guy, he can and will screw you over if you piss him off.

No it's not professional if he does, but how would you like to be spoken to like a five year old?

*Engage with the crowd, they feed off your energy as much as you feed of theirs. I've been to gigs when there's been great energy on stage but the band don't engage the audience and it's never as good as when the whole room or tent is involved. Let them be part of your sound, find the zone and emit the vibes.

*Be confident, doing shows is jeffing scary, I totally get that but if you act like a soggy potato no one will remember you, even if you're technically brilliant. Find your comfort zone and really go for it.

*Don't be a dick. There's a line between confidence and arrogance. Sadly many bands cross this line and it definitely destroys a bit of the live energy magic.

 Be humble.

*If it seems to good to be true, it probably is. Not in all cases, but if an A&R scout pops up on Twitter and tells you he's going to make you overnight sensations - back away holding your bottle of holy water and garlic ring.

(Though some people are ace at what they do, one guy told a band he wanted to manage them, they weren't sure, he told them he'd get them to Oz and sure enough that weekend they flew to play festivals in Sydney. There are some good people out there who just bloody love music and like to help people.)

*Likes and follows are cool, but if they're all bots it won't make a jot of difference, work with and appeal to real people. Music takes a long time to make a career from. Remember those who helped you on your way up the ladder and be humble in your approach to building your profile.

* You will have to put money into your art, you don't like being told that the exposure is payment enough, well this also goes for the photographers, videographers, PR companies and all the little costs that mean you're running a professional band.

*When paying for a PR campaign/management/recording there is zero guarantee of earned media (studios excluded - you should definitely get your record!) but do your research and pick the right brand, the right studio, the right manager, they should be as excited about your music as you are. You're paying them for services and while there's no guarantee of earned media, they should still want to help you develop your profile. They will need to love your music to do that, if they're sending out generic mails and charging you in excess of £1000 chances are they're chewing bands up and spitting them out without much regard for your music.

The humble thing works both ways.

*Be patient. Yes some bands get signed after their first gig but for most rockers and punks it takes many years of gigging, promoting, writing and eating gruel to get anywhere.

(nah I'm kidding about the gruel...mostly)

Ultimately...

Write music because it's all you can think about, love playing shows and enjoy the tiring load-ins, road trips and squabbles because it's all part of the magic, the journey.

Enjoy every show, every song, every record and support the other artists lost at sea with you.

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♥ & ☮

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- Content belongs to it's respective owners -

- L I T T L E B E A R W O L F - KG Ⓒ 2016 -

LBW // THROWBACK THURSDAY

L B W

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T W E N T Y S I X T E E N

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Aloha - Ahoy

Throwback Thursday today features one of my favourite bands from my teenage years and I love that they're still making music! Their album to be released this fall has been much anticipated and after the release of the single, I can't wait to hear the album.

From Bakersfield, California came one band that would turn music fans worlds upside down across the globe with their nu-metal sound and the unique tunes they brought to the scene.

From their first demo album release in 1993, to today in 2016 this band are still touring, writing and releasing music. A testament that not all bands live and die in their fifteen minutes of fame.

T H R O W B A C K // T H U R S D A Y

It's generally agreed amongst the music community that Korn's debut album established the nu metal genre. Limp Bizkit were inspired by the album and the hip–hop elements of the bands sound. It's believed that Slipknot, Machine Head, and Sepultura were also inspired by Korn's debut album. Though I think you'd need to ask the bands themselves that question! Don't believe everything you read on the internet kids!

The album launched the career of record producer Ross Robinson, who later produced albums such as Three Dollar Bill, Yall by Limp Bizkit, Sepultura's Roots and albums for Slipknot.

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T H E N

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Yes I know it's been played a million billion times since it's release, but there is a reason for that!

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N O W 

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What do you think of Korn's new material compared to their older tunes? 

Tweet us LBW_Blog // Facebook us L B W

Or comment below, we'd love to hear your thoughts.

Tune back in and rock out to more awesome throwbacks brought to you by team LBW.

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♥ & ☮

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- Content belongs to it's respective owners -

- L I T T L E B E A R W O L F - KG Ⓒ 2016 -

LBW // MONDAY MUSIC

L B W

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T W E N T Y S I X T E E N

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M O N D A Y // M U S I C

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New Kids on the blog - Tiny Giant

Aloha - Ahoy

It's been such a beautiful weekend and a beautiful day that it's hard not to feel all the vibes of festival season. If you've never heard of Boardmasters in Cornwall, you definitely need to check it out for 2017. This festival has become the meeting place for people who love the ocean, surfing and music, a grassroots festival for sure and one that stole this free spirit's heart.

Festival season isn't quite over yet but there's plenty of gigs to keep us warm all through fall and well into winter. Look out for Tuesday Tunes tomorrow morning which has information on all the gigs you need to be at in the next two weeks.

It's Monday and that means it's Music Monday, a round-up of the best in new music from across the UK and you can catch these bands harbored at LBW over the coming weeks, so keep a weather eye on that horizon.

D R O P // T H I S

S H I P S // D O W N

C A P T A I N // T R I P S 

K A M I K A Z E //  G I R L S

D E A T H H E A D

T H E // B I T T E R T O W N // H O U N D S

K A M I K A Z E // T E S T // P I L O T S

A L T E R N A T I V E // C A R // P A R K

L A U N C H // C O N T R O L

E A T //  D E F E A T

** N E W // T O // L B W **

Shortly you can see more and hear more of this band on LBW but for tonight I'll simply leave you with this beautiful track by new kids on the blog T I N Y // G I A N T

If that wasn't enough awesome music, pop back tomorrow for more tunes harbored here at LBW.

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♥ & ☮

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- Content belongs to it's respective owners -

- L I T T L E B E A R W O L F - KG Ⓒ 2016 -

LBW // TUESDAY TUNES

L B W

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T W E N T Y S I X T E E N

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T U E S D A Y // T U N E S

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Aloha - Ahoy

LBW is a music community for sharing emerging musicians, artists, tunes and connecting people with music from around the world. We at team LBW love exploring the music ocean and believe that music is the universal language you don't need to speak to understand.

We welcome all of you from the world over, from galaxies far far away & from under the sea to come be part of our tribe, part of our community. Our music movement is for sharing love, peace and tunes, connecting likeminded people and making the world a beautiful place to be one day at a time.

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With that in mind my friends, here is todays tunes to be shared. A small playlist of tunes that I hope will brighten your day, inspire you & provide you with a good dose of rock.

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T U E S D A Y // T U N E S

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N A H K O

& // M E D I C I N E // F O R // T H E // P E O P L E

G H O S T S // E M B O D I E D

This song is absolutely lush, it's almost too good. Food for the soul for definite. Nahko is a beautiful person and MFTP bring healing tunes and good vibes to the music community and world.

You can see them in London this Wednesday 10th August at KOKO London.

B I M B O

K I S S //  O F // D E A T H

This band are so new and shiny but that doesn't stop them from being the most awesome duo you will set eyes upon this year. Their tunes bring the rock; the gritty kind that you can really gnaw on.

This duo are a must see live to truly feed on that energy emanating from the two guys on stage. I've never been so mesmerised and surprised by a band in my life.

A L T E R N A T I V E //  C A R //  P A R K

D A M // B L U E S

A friend played me ACP and I was instantly interested, this band know how to rock. It would appear that Reading is a good breeding ground for wicked bands. This totally underrated band are becoming a firm favourite of team LBW & we plan to bring you more on this lovely bunch very soon.

THAT GUITAR!

K A M I K A Z E // T E S T // P I L O T S

D I N O S A U R

This band are like my favourite sweater at this point. You know it's going to be good everytime you put it on. But unlike my favourite sweater, these guys aren't getting threadbare and worn, they're in the midst of bringing you something so flinging-flanging awesome this winter that you won't know what's hit you.

Just that you need more.

That's all for now folks.

Turn up, tune in and keep a weather eye on that music horizon for more music awesomeness right here at LBW shortly.

Can't wait that long? You are all more than welcome to join us on our social channels for a constant feed of music, bands, gigs and shenanigans of the LBW tribe.

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♥ & ☮

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- Content belongs to it's respective owners -

- L I T T L E B E A R W O L F - KG Ⓒ 2016 -