At the year’s end do you look back or does your mind’s eye peer into the future?

Today I’m casting my steely glare towards the early months of 2012 in which we see ‘Band of Skulls’ releasing their much anticipated second album ‘Sweet Sour’.

Available on February 20th and eagerly anticipated, it will launch them into the upper echelons of the rock world.

Evidence so far points to the band adding another layer of polish to their impressive studio sound and all I’m waiting for to hear if they’ve retained their knack for songs filled with quality pop hooks.

As a free taster you can sign up to their mailing list at www.bandofskulls.com and get ‘Devil’s Rug’ an alternative version the single ‘The Devil Takes Care of His Own’.

Another free offering to look out for is ‘Nature Regulate’ a track from Birdpen’s second album.

Its a wonderful soundscape and is already in the playlist at Voice FM.

You’ll be able to download it from www.birdpen.com in January and it will be accompanied by a cool, artistic animated video.

Also in January Dlugokecki will be studio bound to add the finishing touches to their next album ‘Putting the Tracks in Front of the Train’.

It should be a cracker of an album, released on 12th March and you can pre-order from www.dlugokecki.net

Add to that the début début album from LST and already 2012 is looking like the year Southampton will be sticking its head above pops parapet and waving a flag of quality.

They say charity begins at home and next weekend sees a whole festival that will benefit local organisations doing good work.

The Weekender is curated by Mintsouth’s Jodie Copeland who you may recall ran Oxjam 2010 last October for Oxfam.

Although many people took part Jodie found some businesses “…did not want to get involved with a national charity. So I thought it would be much better this year to raise money for a variety of local and national charities, but let the venues choose the charities themselves.”

It starts tonight (Friday 23rd Sept) at Blue Keys who are raising money for Wessex Heartbeat, while The Lounge in Bedford Place is collecting for the Society of St James.

The Talking Heads, Lennons, The Cellar, Guava and The Lounge are up for it on Saturday night, while on Sunday The Lounge, The Hobbit and 90 Degrees round off the weekend. All have picked charities close to their hearts.

As there are so many acts playing I asked Jodie for a highlight and for him its “Huw Olesker and Beans on Toast – both playing The Hobbit on the Sunday.” I’d also add Carly Rockett who is also on that bill.

Rather confusingly there is an Oxjam event at Guava Bar on Saturday and it isn’t even October! However Jodie and I agree on one act everyone should catch ‘ LST and The ManDem‘ (19:50)

They played a well respected gig at The Joiners recently and have a great buzz about them.

In the week that writer John Sullivan, creator of Only Fools and Horses died, it seems fitting that the Talking Heads hosted its first Music Instrument sale.

It wasn’t planned and Mark the landlord was quite open about his inspiration: “I had a space in the diary and wanted to see what happened.”

This chance to sell CDs and other music related ephemera easily tempted me to be a Del Boy for the night.

Going under the banner of Showcase UK (Independent Traders) I set my stall out with Eamon Nancarrow’s autobiography Holywood Star, Tom Ashford’s début soundtrack ‘Point to Point‘ and the south coast compilation Showcase Sett.

Also included in this plethora of musical taste and style were the début albums from Coast and LST.

Other tables were festooned with quality guitars, amps and pedals that were quite tempting. There was also Dave (not Rodney), who lives opposite the venue and who normally sells his vinyl online. He thought it would be different to have a go in the real world. Luvely jubbly!

Hamish, the bass player from Coast, came down to fill me in on their current good news which involves supporting Bryan Adams and Bon Jovi in Germany. And I met Southampton’s punk poet Sean McGowan, who is building a great vibe on YouTube. More about them in coming weeks.

Even though first night nerves kept buyers away, the idea is promising and you never know, this time next month, we’ll all be millionaires.

First published by the Southern Daily Echo 29th April 2011

There is a theory that if your attitude as a musician is pleasant, conscientious and hard working, plus you’re creating music with a positive message then it’s unlikely you’ll succeed.

Luckily for us there’s an MC and lyricist in Southampton who is bucking that trend and making a name for himself and his songs.

LST’s rise might seem modest, but it is consistent, and late night listeners on BBC Radio I and IXtra will have recently heard his tracks gracing the airwaves.

Next Thursday he steps up a gear to rub shoulders with the likes of Tinchy Stryde, Kaiser Chiefs and Pete Tong at the illustrious Abbey Road and Maida Vale studios.

The event is a prestigious Masterclass hosted by BBC Introducing, the series of much needed national and local radio programmes that bring new musicians to the public’s attention.

For LST its a massive boost and no doubt he’ll be making every opportunity to meet, greet and place his excellent music into the right hands.

But it doesn’t stop there.

That night he’ll be back in Southampton supporting Jehst at the Soul Cellar.

It will be another opportunity to hear the eclectic group of musicians LST has gathered around him: Luke John Stala on guitar, James Edwards on cajon and Al Mogadham on bass.

They are the essence giving LST a fresh sound on the south’s music scene; while is songs have taken him to next week’s Masterclass.

The event will be streamed live from the BBC’s website on Feb 3rd.

First published in the Southern Daily Echo 28th Jan 2011