Beth Jeans Houghton Signs To Mute + MP3

Mute Records has announced the signing of Beth Jeans Houghton. Houghton will release her debut album this fall. She attracted media attention in the UK in 2009 with her EP Hot Toast and kind of disappeared. Now she's back and we have for you a preview of her upcoming album. See the handy widget at the bottom of the post to download the track "Dodecahedron."

The new track “Dodecahedron” showcases Beth’s extraordinary voice and off-kilter lyrics, exploding in cascades of colours and little drummer boy beats.

“The night before I wrote it I had a dream that consisted of me running up to strangers in the street and asking them what a dodecahedron was, but no one knew,” says Beth. “I later found out that the ancient Greeks believed the Dodecahedron is a symbol of the universe and represents an idealized form of divine thought. Take from that what you will.”

(click the arrow on the right to download)
Beth Jeans Houghton - Dodecahedron by Mute UK

For more quirky ramblings, drop by Quirky NY Chick.

Dave Stewart To Release The Blackbird Diaries In June

Dave Stewart (producer/artist/director/Eurythmics co-founder) will release his new album, The Blackbird Diaries via Weapons of Mass Entertainment/Surfdog Records/Razor & Tie, on Tuesday, June 28. The Blackbird Diaries contains all new material, duets with Stevie Nicks (whom he'll perform with as Special Guest at Webster Hall on May 4), Martina McBride, Colbie Caillat and feaures The Secret Sisters as well as a song co-written with Bob Dylan. Check out "Magic In The Blues" at the bottom of the post in our MP3 Grab.

"This was my favorite time ever in the studio, I wrote most of the songs on the spot and recorded all of them in one incredible session lasting 5 days and nights!," explains Dave Stewart. I made an unusual film of the process that not only features all the musicians and performers but also gives away some of my writing secrets which involves both a well known fortune teller and hypnotist who allowed themselves to be filmed in session with me."

Dave Stewart's The Blackbird Diaries is unlike anything he has embarked on during his illustrious 30 year music career both with Eurythmics and as a solo artist. With an American flare and rooted in rock, country, and blues, the album is in the vein of recent releases by Bob Dylan and Neil Young - masterful recordings mixed with rich and detailed lyrics. The Blackbird Diaries showcases a very different type of songwriting for Stewart with more story-driven autobiographical lyrics, which is a departure from the pop/rock sounds which have made him one of the most successful and revered songwriters/collaborators of all time. Tales of loves conquered and loves lost, Dave gets intimate, personal with words while he allows his music to rock free on an album that might just prove to be this artist's second, and perhaps finest, act.

Track List

• So Long Ago
• Beast Called Fame
• Magic In The Blues
• All Messed Up (featuring Martina McBride)
• Stevie Baby
• Cheaper Than Free (featuring Stevie Nicks)
• The Gypsy Girl and Me
• One Way Ticket To The Moon (featuring The Secret Sisters)
• Bulletproof Vest (featuring Colbie Caillat)
• Worth The Waiting For
• The Well
• Country Wine (featuring The Secret Sisters)

MP3 Grab: "Magic In The Blues" (right click, save)

For more quirky ramblings, drop by Quirky NY Chick.

Ian Hunter To Headline Hoboken Arts & Music Festival

Legendary rocker Ian Hunter will be headlining the Hoboken Arts & Music Festival in Hoboken, NJ on Sunday, May 1. Hunter & The Rant Band will take the stage at 4:30PM on the Observer Hwy Stage (btw. Newark & Observer Hwy). The Festival runs from 11AM to 6PM and takes place on Washington St. between Observer Highway to 7th St. It's FREE and will happen rain or shine!

With 3 stages of live music, over 300 artists, arts, crafts, food and more, there's sure to be something for everyone to enjoy. For more information, click HERE.

For more quirky ramblings, drop by Quirky NY Chick.

DUMBO IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT & BIG APPLE BRITS TO HOST A ROYAL WEDDING VIEWING PARTY UNDER THE ARCHWAY

http://www.royalweddingnyc.com

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 15, 2010
Contact: Jane Kojima
Director of Communications & Marketing
718-237-8700
jane@dumbonyc.org

 

DUMBO IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT TO HOST A ROYAL WEDDING VIEWING PARTY UNDER THE ARCHWAY FREE and Open to the Public with Media Partner BBC America

BROOKLYN, NY — On Friday, April 29, 2011, the Dumbo Improvement District, with media partner BBC America, will celebrate the wedding of HRH Prince William of Wales and Miss Catherine Middleton with a live viewing and British-style street party under The Archway in DUMBO. The event will be FREE and open to the public.

 

BBC America’s commercial free coverage of the wedding will be shown from 5:30AM EST and festivities will continue throughout the day including contests and prizes for the best fancy hat and costumes for both children and adults. Dress as your favorite royal (real or imagined), don a fancy hat and commemorate it all with a snapshot from the photobooth on site. For late-risers, BBC America’s coverage will be replayed in its entirety immediately following the live coverage.

 

“The Archway, with its soaring barrel vaulted ceiling has a cathedral-like feeling and will be the perfect place to watch this historic event with friends, families and neighbors – and have some cheeky fun,” said Alexandria Sica, Executive Director of the Dumbo Improvement District. “Brooklyn is home to thousands of Brits, and we want to help them celebrate in style. We know that New York City has Royal Wedding fever and look forward to seeing all of our local princes and princesses, young and old, dressed up or just stopping by to check out the spectacle.”

 

For more up to the minute information about the Royal Wedding Viewing, visit the Dumbo Improvement District’s Facebook page – www.facebook.com/dumbo.bid.>

 

The free public viewing is made possible by BBC America, with support from the local DUMBO business community – Bubby’s, the DUMBO Loft, Ito En, Water Street Restaurant & Lounge and The White Gown, and in partnership with Big Apple Brits and We Love Photobooths.

 

About the DUMBO IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT & THE ARCHWAY

 

The Dumbo Improvement District is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing and promoting DUMBO, Brooklyn. The Improvement District showcases DUMBO as a world class destination, advocating on behalf of DUMBO’s businesses, property owners and residents. The organization provides supplemental sanitation services, marketing, economic development, neighborhood programming and long-term planning.

 

The Archway is a magnificent and unique public space in DUMBO, Brooklyn- a 7,000 square foot space under the Manhattan Bridge, paved with historic Belgian block roadbed and a soaring barrel vaulted ceiling. Previously a scrap metal storage area for the New York City Department of Transportation (DOT), The Archway was returned to the public in 2009. The Dumbo Improvement

District manages the space as a pedestrian thoroughfare and venue for community and cultural events.

 

In 2010, the Dumbo Improvement District hosted free, public viewings of the World Cup – which drew thousands of fans from Brooklyn and beyond and attracted international media attention.

 

Directions to THE ARCHWAY – DUMBO

F-train to York Street; exit station and turn right onto Jay Street, left of Front Street, right on Pearl Street/Anchorage Place, walk one block. A/C – trains to High Street/Brooklyn Bridge; exit at Cadman Plaza West stairwell, cross Cadman Plaza Park, pathway curves to the left. Walk downhill on Washington Street, turn right on Water Street. 2/3 – trains to Clark Street; exit the station and turn left onto Henry Street. Pass Cranberry Street and make a right on the footpath; you will see A/C train station. Cross Cadman Plaza Park, pathway curves to the left. Walk downhill on Washington Street, turn right on Water Street.

 

###

-

Jane Kojima

Director of Communications & Marketing

Dumbo Improvement District

www.dumbonyc.org

www.facebook.com/dumbo.bid

p: 718.237.8700

f: 718.237.7797

 

http://www.royalweddingnyc.com

Posted via email from Big Apple Brits - British Expats, Anglophiles and Brit Culture Lovers New York City

What was under Kiefer's Kilt at the Dressed to Kilt Gala?

Just in case you weren't aware, we are in the midst of Tartan Week (March 29th-April 10th), and as part of the celebrations the Annual Dressed to Kilt Gala was held last night at the Hammerstein Ballroom right here in New York.

If you're wondering what's so interesting about a bit of plaid, maybe if I mentioned Kiefer Sutherland in a kilt along with Sex and The City star Chris Noth showing the crowd exactly what was under their sporran, well that might get your attention.

The event is the brainchild of Friends of Sotland with the awesome Sir Sean Connery as the Honorary Chair, resulting in big named celebrity attendance each year. This year however Sir Sean pulled out of hosting the event at the last minute leaving the organisers in a fix and worrying about his health. Apparently he is fine and on the golf course...

The idea of the big night is that you wear something tartan, or you in fact are slightly Scottish - as my buddy who attended can atest to by means of her accent and (if pushed) a Glaswegian kiss...

There's a fashion show where established designers, textile houses and aspiring designers get to show their tartan-tastic skills and of course there's a lot of scotch to be drunk.

This year Stacey Kibler took to the runway, Marcus Schenkenberg was shamefully over dressed, whilst the aforementioned Sutherland/Noth duo along with Jason Patric and a few other cast members from their current Broadway revival 'That Championship Season', certainly left their mark on the occasion.

For more info on Dressed to Kilt click here

As for me, I'm happy to say that my (this seasons) red Obi belt travelled to the occasion on the slim waist of my authentic Scottish buddy - which must make it the most well partied belt of the week considering it was only the night before that it attended the NYAA TriBeCa Ball.

Should there be any offers for personal appearances from said Obi belt for the remainder of the week please contact it's agent here...

For more Notes from a Stylist click here...

Notes from a Stylist at the TriBeCa Ball 2011

You've gotta love a TriBeCa Ball, run by the New York Academy of Art, it's a chance for the great and the good of New York - i.e. those with money, to take a peek at the emerging artists from NYAA - i.e. those who are skint.

The evening tends to pass buy in a jocular manner as socialites and celebs teeter around the tiny stalls that the artists inhabit by day - which have been lovingly spruced up for the big occasion. Whilst the poor artists are thrown in at the deep end with their first forray into serious sales i.e. they want to flog their work to you.

For celeb spotting there was Eileen Guggenheim, Liev Schreiber and Naomi Watts, Baz Luhrmann and Alexandra Richards. I did see Robert DeNiro's name on the check in list but I guess he had other parts of TriBeCa to manage that night. There were a plethora of designers - Rachel Roy, Cynthia Rowley and Kate and Andy Spade. Even Serena Shvo in the tiniest gold Herve Leger dress I've ever witnessed.

So what about the actual art...

We saw oil on canvas, prints, installations - including a bizarre brillo pad sculpture that could surely have recycling value should you run short of cleaning materials once you are bored of the picture. There were magicians and a rather annoying dancing girl who was sweating proffusely and roaming the 5 storey building being trailed by an accompanist on an accordian - I'm not sure if that was art in motion or just the entertainment.

And then there was my favorite - the people watching ....

For my bit I kept the UK support group going by purchasing a cute print from the lovely Imogen Slater - a Brit striving to make her mark in New York, who had very cute shoes on...

Notes from a Stylist is currently craving Bande Des Quatres Jewelry...

Not that I'm obsessed with statement rings or anything this season, but I was just penning an article for www.runningwithheels.com about the jewelry line Bande Des Quatres based in New York, and found that there were so many rings I immediately started covetting, I couldn't keep this new label for just the RWH crew.

The brainchild of designer Erin Wahed, who comes up with the concepts and then collaborates with uber chic jeweler Janis Kerman to create the brand, these babies are set to become a 'must-have' on any style savvy fashionista's fingers.

I think I'm also a little bit smitten with the photographer Hugo Arturi who took these images. Anyone who can make these stunning rings even more funky, with the art direction help of Erin and creative direction from Loris Pignoletti, has got to be worth his weight in gold.... or at least the 18Kt yellow and palladium white gold that the pieces are crafted out of.

Prices start from around $425 and are available at www.bandedesquatres.com