Jazica love their synths, guitars, drums and best of all they love writing great pop songs. The people love Jazica too and have so far voted them into the final six of the “Road To V”.

If they win they will not only open the V Festival, in front of thousands of music lovers, but they will also be the second Southampton act in a row to win the competition. Last year ‘The Rebs‘ triumphed; will 2009 be Jazica’s year?

This podcast was recorded at The Joiners in Southampton before Jazica headlined a shortly arranged gig at the end of June. You’ll hear from all of the band: (above L2R) Chris on guitar and sythns, Kev on drums, Frankie on vocals and guitar & Nick on bass.

The conversation is interspersed with a smattering of music from their excellent mini-album ‘Illusions’ which veers from tracks that could grace TV commercials to songs that should fill the darkest of clubs.

They were great live. Slick and energetic. A real treat and hopefully the act that wins. If you haven’t voted yet place your ‘X’ here:

http://roadtov.com/artists/jazica/

http://www.myspace.com/jazicamusic

Showcase UK has added it’s name to helping the Saints because Southampton’s football team are in financial trouble and the South’s musicians are rallying around to help keep the team in business.

A musical extravaganza is now taking place at the St Mary’s stadium on Saturday 23rd May.

Saints Aid starts at 2pm and continues right up to 11pm featuring a wide variety of musicians from X-factor hopefuls Afrodisiac, through rock and metal bands like Big Num and Raging Silence to co-headlining songwriters like Dlugokecki and The Rebs.

As a preview to the weekend’s entertainment Showcase UK will be hosting a
Saints Aid preview night at the Soul Cellar in Southampton on Monday 18th May starting at 7pm. The night will feature the bands below and more.

Full details about
Web site: Saints Aid can be found here:

Web site: Saints Aid

Saints Aid on Facebook

Showcase Uk on Facebook

Showcase UK at the Soul Cellar
78 W Marlands Rd
Southampton, SO14 7FW
023 8071 0648
www.soulcellar.com

The Saints Aid line up so far:

The Rebs
Dlugokecki
The Radics
Blackcouch
Jesserit
Big Num
Moral Soul
Tench
The Docks
Catalinas
Hours Till Autumn
The Skore
Coast
Raging Silence
Olympian
Fingermen
Prong horn
Blind Vision
Matt Britton
Rayguns Look Real Enough

We’ve been delighted with the enthusiastic response, the music shops around Southampton, have showed for ‘Showcase UK‘.

They have been happy to place our flyers in prominent positions and started spreading the word about this new night at the Soul Cellar.

Below are the places where the flyers can be found and we recommend a visit to one and all as you never know what musical bargain you might walk out with!

The photos link to the shop’s web site.

[caption id="attachment_550" align="alignnone" width="250" caption="Fret Music"][/caption][caption id="attachment_552" align="alignnone" width="250" caption="Digital Village (Southampton)"][/caption]

‘Showcase UK’ at the Soul Cellar in Southampton is expected to become the place to hear the latest recordings from south coast musicians.

Every Monday night from 11th May Xan Phillips will be playing four hours of albums, singles or demos all from CD and all made by unsigned and independent acts.

If it is made in the south it is made for ‘Showcase UK’.

Many venues have gigs for local music but very few dedicate a whole evening to this kind of music. In fact it could be a UK first.

The evening is hosted by Xan Phillips who currently writes a new music column for the Southern Daily Echo and also presented the Original Showcase on Original 106fm until the station shut down.

During the two years it was broadcasting across the south coast Xan played over 1000 songs from unsigned bands and is hoping to make this evening a place for musicians to not only play their latest recordings but also network with fellow artists.

The Soul Cellar serves food until 9pm and also has the best range of continental lagers (pictured) in Southampton. Another great reason to support this venue and the night itself.

Plus the Soul Cellar also has free Internet access so the audience can give instant reactions on Twitter or Facebook.

The ‘Showcase UK’ evening starts at 7 and finishes at 11pm, with free entry.

Xan is always looking for new music: from beats to folk, indie to jazz, metal to soul – they might be unsigned but they are not unloved. Contact Xan here

Updates and playlist will be available from the Showcase UK section of www.xan.co.uk

Showcase UK at the Soul Cellar
78 W Marlands Rd
Southampton, SO14 7FW
023 8071 0648
www.soulcellar.com

Every Monday night from 7pm (opening night 11th May 2009)