September 1, 2013 by thefinelineproject

Where’s Strutter? @ The Fine Line Project, Southampton Cellar

Every so often you come across a band that’s so great live that you’re left utterly speechless – such is Where’s Strutter? It’s almost three months since they performed for The Fine Line Project at The Cellar in Southampton and we’re still in recovery, still searching for the right words to describe the sheer utter awesomness of their performance.

The band travelled from Manchester on the day, had a puncture on the way, thus missing their studio session with multi-media magazine St Pauls Lifestyle (which will come later – meanwhile check out previous sessions on their LISTED ARTIST page) yet arrived perfectly chilled and went on to deliver with complete ease the most blistering, hottest set ever. The stage and the venue vanished altogether into the music and the moment.

From Bones which starts off with a laid back ballady blues vibe, building into an enveloping anthem, peppered by perfect drumming, the signature sound of echoing guitars and utterly confident pitch perfect vocals, and onto other brilliant tracks from their current CD, Where’s Strutter? sure know how to hold their audience’s attention.

Their music seamlessly crosses genres from hard edged rock into clever little strands of pop, atmospheric passages which transport you altogether elsewhere (was that bit of morse code? check the EP…) and stunning blues, blending unusual sounds into beautiful melodies that are at once new and yet strangely familiar. These guys have it just right – catchy guitar riffs, anthemic choruses, perfect timing, neat lyrics and a fantastic stage presence. If the sign of great artists is the apparent ease with which they demonstrate their talent, Where’s Strutter? have it in arena-loads.

We’ve been enjoying their EP, Apollo’s Bloom, ever since we got our hands on a copy at the gig. Here’s the track listing:

Bones
Binded By The Sun
Questions (check out the video here)
Back To The End
See You Around

Get yourself a copy of this little gem while it’s still available – a bargain at £3.99 – and what’s more get down to their next gig and catch them live in a smaller venue before they become massive. In a few days time they’ll be on stage with another epic band, fronted by the great Pete Doherty. Where’s Strutter? are supporting Babyshambles at Manchester Academy on 7th September – so wish we were in town for that one!

Where’s Strutter? features Patrick Neville, Lee Broadbent, Dan Green and Josh Leach. With the biggest thanks for their appearance at The Fine Line Project’s Rethink Benefit. Thanks also to Steve Maynard for all the great photos, St Pauls Lifestyle for their amazing ongoing support – take a look at our LISTED ARTIST pages on their site – and The Cellar Southampton, such a great venue.

July 22, 2013 by thefinelineproject

Charlotte Campbell @ The Fine Line Project, Southampton Cellar

Charlotte Campbell delivered a finely tuned and utterly engaging set for our Rethink Mental Illness Benefit last month. Catchy songs, finely played, interspersed with a perfectly pitched dialogue – the entire audience was enchanted.

Since the gig we’ve been enjoying her album Blue Eyed Soul – thoughtful and thought-provoking lyrics, fresh melodies, crystalline voice with a honeyed warmth.

Along with her signature tracks Blue Eyes, Green Eyes, Quiet Nights and Feathers and Wax (more of which below), check Jump, Charlotte’s reflections on the music industry, and On the Southbank dedicated to the famous London riverside where you may yet catch her busking, before she becomes too famous.

We also love Feathers & Wax, with thanks to Charlotte for sharing the lyrics – here’s a little snippet:

We look around for something inviting
For unholy ground, safe from the lightening that singed our wings.
Why are we here, raising our voices?
It seems so unclear, but we all made our choices to sing.
And that’s the main thing.

I’ve found that the meaning of life
Is to do what you love and try to survive
And hope that you don’t fall apart
When you’re finally opening your heart.
And find that the clothes on your back
Are nothing but feathers and wax.

Here’s a link to the full track on Charlotte’s site:

Read some more about this bright young artiste and listen to a couple of completely different tracks on St Pauls Lifestyle’s brilliant multi-media site. Most of all catch her next gigs – Charlotte’s singing in Llanbedrog, Aylesbury and Cambridge so far in August.

Big thanks again to Charlotte, Steve Maynard for some more great photographs, the St Pauls Lifestyle team and The Cellar Southampton for hosting the event.

July 11, 2013 by thefinelineproject

Mog Stanley @ The Fine Line Project, Southampton Cellar

First up and first on stage for our Rethink benefit last month, one man band, blues guitarist and singer Mog Stanley.

Mog drove a heroic number of miles to join us, stopping off on the way to record one of his feature tracks ‘Hands’ at St Pauls Lifestyle’s studio.

We loved Mog’s signature twangy guitar blues sounds, from laid back through to foot stomping, all to the accompaniment of his unique percussion ensemble – a whole box of self-assembled tricks, complete with shaking shoes.

Since the Fine Line Project gig Mog’s been working on some new material and new sounds, including this melodic ballad Moving On:

Mog Stanley Moving On

Keep an eye on his site for more new tracks and news of his forthcoming album.

Big thanks to Steve Maynard who took all The Fine Line Project photos at The Cellar, Southampton including those shown here.

Read more about Mog Stanley and his St Pauls Lifestyle session on their dedicated Fine Line Project pages.

Big thanks again to Mog, the whole team at St Pauls Lifestyle and The Cellar Southampton for hosting the event.

June 15, 2013 by thefinelineproject

Yet Another Grand Night for The Fine Line Project

We’ve had some amazing donations in since the Southampton Cellar gig and third time lucky (with a lot of hard work in between!) we’ve managed to raise another grand total of £1000 for charity. This one’s for Rethink Mental Illness whose front line services and ceaseless campaigning benefit those with mental health issues and their families and carers all over the UK.

We have a lot of people to thank!

First up our fantastic line up of artists who together created an evening of entertainment which will go down in history, as anyone who was there will confirm.

Soul star and outstanding singer, performer and songwriter Noah Francis showcased his new album in the headline slot with an amazingly talented band, Pandit Dinesh, John Robertson, Paddy Milner, Peter Hope-Evans and Nihan Redford; Where’s Strutter?‘s Patrick Neville, Lee Broadbent, Dan Green and Josh Leach were utterly awesome and delivered powerful songs and the kind of blistering set which is bound to hurtle them into the biggest musical arenas before long; local singer songwriter Charlotte Campbell charmed everyone with her crystal voice, intelligent songs and engaging manner; and in the opening slot Mog Stanley warmed up the show with his unique blend of blues powered by dynamic guitar playing and one-man band percussion.

Next up big thanks to our fantastic venue The Cellar in Southampton and their team including manager Joe who also DJ’d later on, soundman Pete, Glynn on lights and a great security guy, whose name is to follow.

Huge thanks to Rethink’s Fiona Magor for taking the trip with us down South and Maria in the press office for sterling support.

We were incredibly lucky to have the services of local Prince’s Trust supported photographer Steve Maynard on the night and will be publishing more of his pictures over the coming days.

Thanks to our own always brilliant team of volunteers and faithful supporters including Patrick, Craig, Grace, James and Sue as well as Liam, Angelica, Alex, Stephanie, Sarah and Adam behind the scenes and long term supporters Gerry, Darren and Joe not forgetting the Armadillo Central team.

Special thanks to the equally brilliant team at St Pauls Lifestyle who worked alongside us on the build up as well as on the day and continue to support The Fine Line Project on their site, where we now have LISTED ARTIST status: Rose, Dominique, Angus, Ben, Jessie, Georgia and Jacques. Check their site for special sessions filmed and recorded just before the gig featuring 3 tracks by Noah Francis and his band and also Mog Stanley. To follow, further recordings with Where’s Strutter? and Charlotte Campbell, all in the name of The Fine Line Project and supporting further awareness for mental health charities.

More thanks to Noah Francis’ team including Poorang, Spider and Paddy and Noah himself for generously donating to the funds raised as well as performing for us.

We’re also incredibly grateful for the support of online music blog Ralph’s Life, local press The Daily Echo and Hampshire Chronicle/7 Days, Solent Mind and The Studio Romsey in particular for amazing last minute help with flyer printing. Many local businesses and organisations, too numerous to mention also helped with publicity, Twitter support, poster display and flyers – we hope to get to know you better on the next one. Southampton is one big friendly city and the sun shone all day! We hope to be back before long…

Check back soon for more photos and some reviews and thank you for your support!

June 7, 2013 by thefinelineproject

Rethink Benefit 8th June Southampton

BUY TICKETS FROM THE CELLAR SITE OR £10 ON THE DOOR.

THANKS FOR SPREADING THE WORD – SEE YOU THERE FOR AN EPIC NIGHT OF AWESOME MUSIC

WITH NOAH FRANCIS, WHERE’S STRUTTER?, CHARLOTTE CAMPBELL, MOG STANLEY AND ST PAULS LIFESTYLE IN AID OF RETHINK MENTAL ILLNESS.

See previous posts for more details.

May 29, 2013 by thefinelineproject

June 8th Rethink Benefit at The Cellar Southampton: Press Release

Press Information:

The Fine Line Project’s Latest Music for Mental Health Benefit – an evening of outstanding sounds in aid of Rethink featuring Noah Francis, Where’s Strutter?, Charlotte Campbell and Mog Stanley

Following a couple of sell out gigs at The Troubadour Club in London, The Fine Line Project are heading South with their music for mental health project and have organised a gig at The Cellar in Southampton in association with cult music site St Paul’s Lifestyle.

The gig which takes place on Saturday 8^th June features acclaimed Welsh soul singer Noah Francis, hugely popular Mancunian band Where’s Strutter?, talented up-coming local chanteuse Charlotte Campbell and one-man bluesband Mog Stanley.

Tickets are selling at £8 in advance and £10 on the door. All proceeds from ticket sales and donations will go to Rethink Mental Illness.

The Fine Line Project is a creative arts initiative supporting awareness and fundraising for mental health charities. The project focuses on great artists and great sounds, all for a great cause. Mental illness affects an astounding one in four with many affected more seriously by the stigma linked to being diagnosed than the actual condition.

Rethink directly supports almost 60,000 people every year across England to get through crises, to live independently and to realise they are not alone. The charity’s website and helplines give information and advice to 500,000 more and changes policy and attitudes for millions. Rethink’s services, support groups, and members cover every county in England, giving them local insight and helping to spread innovations nationally. All their work is governed by people who have lived through mental illness.

Contact The Fine Line Project for further info.

http://www.rethink.org/

http://www.stpaulslifestyle.com/

http://www.southamptoncellar.com/

BUY TICKETS HERE

May 22, 2013 by thefinelineproject

June 8th The Cellar Southampton Fine Line Project for Rethink

Here’s the line up in its full glory – another great flyer from Patrick – and a supremely brilliant gig, coming up soon! How can you resist? Get buying tickets now. They’re only £8 up front and every penny is going to a great cause: Rethink Mental Illness.

Thanks for spreading the word!

FEATURING:

Noah Francis, Where’s Strutter?, Charlotte Campbell, Mog Stanley & The Cellar’s resident DJ.

With thanks to The Cellar Southampton and St Paul’s Lifestyle for their support. Here’s the TICKET LINK – ADVANCE TICKETS

May 21, 2013 by thefinelineproject

Fine Line Project June 8th: Charlotte Campbell / Mog Stanley

Completing our line up for the Rethink Benefit at The Cellar Southampton on June 8th we have 2 more artists.

Upcoming local talent, Charlotte Campbell, one of the area’s biggest rising stars, is a singer songwriter with a voice exuding warmth and crystal clarity, beautiful melodies and a quirky folk/pop vibe which is already short-circuiting her to success. Charlotte is a graduate of the BRIT school and current scholarship student at the Institute of Contemporary Music Performance, having won her place through Mayor of London’s Gigs Live competition (Summer 2012). She has just released her new album Blue Eyed Soul featuring this catchy original tune – Quiet Nights:

We’re looking forward to opening the show with the powerhouse that is Mog Stanley’s one-man band, featuring some exceptionally brilliant blues guitar sounds along with his custom designed ‘percussion toe tapping shoe box thingy’. Mog will be releasing new recordings this Summer. We’re also hoping he’ll have a clutch of his recent EPs to bring to the gig including this awesome little track, Tricky Mouth Blues:

The 8th also features Noah Francis in the headline slot and Where’s Strutter?

May 20, 2013 by thefinelineproject

The Fine Line Project June 8th: Where’s Strutter? Live

It’s so refreshing to hear a genuinely original band – from the opening bars the echoing sound of Where’s Strutter?’s Long Way Down wraps you in, swirling forth through subtle twists, cascading guitars and an epic solo, all held together by some great drumming and Paddy’s melodic tones. This track sweeps you up, building in and out of massive crescendos in several loops – it’s all there in one song and delivered with palpable pleasure from St Pauls Lifestyle’s studio. This band from Manchester sure are going places; catch them while you can in a smaller venue. Hear them first at Southampton’s Cellar on the 8^th with The Fine Line Project. We can’t wait!

Paddy on guitar/vocals, Danny on lead guitar, Broady on drums and Leach on bass, listen up:

May 5, 2013 by thefinelineproject

Noah Francis to Headline Fine Line Project Southampton

We’re unbelievably excited about our next headline act, the incredibly talented Noah Francis.

We first saw Noah perform last year and were totally blown away by his voice, his songs, his band and his sheer presence on stage. Here’s an artist who certainly knows how to capture and hold his audience’s attention from the subtlest melodic tone to the sheer power of the chorus, all tightly controlled yet delivered with utter ease – electricity unleashed. More about this great singer, his band and new album later.

Meantime a word about our hosts, the fabulous Cellar in central Southampton – we’re looking forward to heading South on June 8th to work with this legendary music venue and their great team. We’ll be promoting the gig, which is in aid of Rethink, in collaboration with another brilliant Southern outfit, St Pauls Lifestyle, the cult music site known for their unstinted support of indie music everywhere. These people have soul! We’re also looking forward to some online support from the one and only Ralph, rock dog par excellence.

Watch this space for the rest of the line up. Meanwhile you can join us on Facebook and Twitter or email to be added to our mailing list.

We did say heading South in June – here’s a suitably sunny shot of Noah and Jamboree, one of his acoustic tracks. Back soon with more news.