The Fierce & The Dead

A SUNDAY IN SEPTEMBER 2024 A SUNDAY IN SEPTEMBER is an annual all-day boutique festival of eclectic, progressive and alternative music, held in a delightful and comfortable (mostly seated) venue in Balham, South London. Headlining this year will be THE FIERCE & THE DEAD. Originating in London 14 years ago, they have gradually evolved into one of the most celebrated cult bands of the past decade. Initially an instrumental group, the addition of bassist Kevin Feazey as lead vocalist in recent years has brought a fresh dimension to their sound. Drawing inspiration from a diverse range of influences, including psychedelic rock, vintage metal records, post-rock, progressive rock, broken analogue synths, and shoegaze, the band has crafted a unique sonic identity. Their latest album and first to feature vocals, "News From The Invisible World," has garnered widespread critical acclaim, earning a prominent spot on Prog Magazine's list of the best albums of 2023 (second only to Steven Wilson). Additionally, it has secured placements on various other year-end lists, including Classic Rock Magazine’s critics list and readers polls. The anticipation for their upcoming UK tour, featuring live mellotron by Tom Hunt, is evident in the sold-out UK dates, booked months in advance. This tour marks their inaugural festival headline appearances. The Fierce & The Dead's musical journey includes the release of 4 albums, 4 EPs, and 3 live albums, released either independently or through their association with Bad Elephant Music. Their breakthrough 3rd instrumental album The Euphoric (2018 BEM) was Classic Rock Magazine's Prog Album Of The Year and 8th in Prog Magazine's critics’ choice. Prog magazine included them in their 100 Prog Icons. Having graced stages at festivals across the UK, USA, Germany, Italy, and The Netherlands, the band currently release through their self-owned label, Spencer Park Music. IAMTHEMORNING is a chamber progressive dark folk/rock project led by singer Marjana Semkina and classical pianist Gleb Kolyadin, originated in Russia and now based in the UK. The band emerged in the early 2010s with a sound that fused classical, rock, jazz, folk and electronic influences. Since debuting in 2012, the duo has won numerous awards and garnered international acclaim.; their third studio album ‘Lighthouse’ won Album of the Year at the 2016 Progressive Music Awards. Iamthemorning have supported many major bands such as Riverside, Árstíðir, and Gazpacho; in 2023 they accompanied Marillion on their European tour, and toured with the Swiss progressive metal band Cellar Darling, including a collaborative project with them under the name MAER. Their live shows are rare, and this performance is the first in the UK since their exclusive sold-out London show in February. Marjana Semkina also performs as a solo artist, and releases her second solo album ‘Sirin’ in May 2024 MESSAGE FROM THE RAVENS: From ancient sea shanties to southern gothic ballads, haunting indie folk to full power 90s feminist sass; Message from the Ravens are the girl band who sing the lost stories that the ravens have witnessed since the dawn of time. Hailing from the wild and mystic town of Hastings, the band was created by Siddy Bennett, the former lead singer of indie-folk band Wildflowers who were playlisted on radio 2 and supported the likes of Robert Plant and George Ezra on tour. Stemming from sisterhood and united by their love of myths and magic, DIY punk ethos and a healthy dose of humility, Message from the Ravens are rapidly catching the attention of those that cherish the sacred to the sinister. Lead vocals are divided equally, each member possessing a unique voice ranging from husky to dulcet, powerful to serene. Together their voices are euphoric, Brighton and Hove News claiming them “an absolute highlight with heart wrenchingly beautiful harmonies, truly ethereal with a modern edge” Drawing influence from the mysticism of Fleetwood Mac and the lyrical dexterity of First Aid Kit, their show is earthy and visceral; with songs possessing “more hooks than a fishing boat” (Eddie- Kid Kapichi). Labelled “an explosion of female empowerment” (Hastings Online Times); and gaining the stamp of approval from original riot girl Ella Guru of the Voodoo Queens; who stated “Message from the Ravens are the next generation of girl power” Onstage; prepare to witness their emotive deliverance, their infectious humour, their love for life and each other and their deep connection to spiritual realms. WRECKLESS ERIC needs little introduction — he wrote and recorded the classic Whole Wide World and had a hit with it back in 1977. Since then it's been a hit for countless other artists including The Monkees, Cage The Elephant and Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day. Eric’s version featured in the 2022 Expedia / Superbowl / Ewan MacGregor travel ad. As Eric Goulden it's a little more complicated - a musician, artist, writer, recording engineer and producer, he didn’t like either the music business, the mechanics of fame or the name he’d been given to hide behind, so he crawled out of the spotlight and disappeared into the underground. He went on to release twenty something albums in forty something years under various names - The Len Bright Combo, Le Beat Group Electrique, The Donovan Of Trash, The Hitsville House Band, and with his wife as one half of Wreckless Eric & Amy Rigby, finally realizing he was stuck with the name Wreckless Eric. His albums encapsulate pop, bubblegum, garage trash and psychedelia. His live performances are a sonic journey through time and space. Eric presents himself alone if not simply with electric and acoustic guitars, and electronics of his own making. In August 2023 he released the critically-acclaimed ‘Leisureland’ – an instant psych classic, about the decline of a fictional English seaside town. Album of the week - Leisureland is one of the most beautiful sounding records Eric has ever made. – Louder than War a scarily powerful and forward-moving musical threat - David Quantick, MOJO MAGAZINE After the set, Reigning Sound’s Greg Cartwright, shaking his head, expressed his utter admiration for Goulden’s craft as both a songwriter and storyteller, and the minimalism with which he enacts it - MEMPHIS FLYER L.O.E (LAST OF EDEN)’s music tries to capture and reflect triumph, heroism, anguish and struggle throughout society. Not as a political stand, but to hold a mirror up to humanity. Weaving speech and video into live performance to create a cinematic experience of popular culture and a reflection of our times. The young Halifax post-rockers released their debut album, The World & Everything In It, in June 2023 to critical acclaim. The album was picked up and praised by Prog Magazine with their music video for Lament being voted number 1 in the “Track Of The Week” feature, as well as making the hallowed print edition pages with a review of the record and a full live review from their sold out album celebration show in Oct 2023. The band have taken to stages across the UK bringing their unique blend of spirited and immensely detailed Post Rock featuring live visual accompaniment supporting genre titans, Hubris. and p.g.lost as well as Alex Henry Foster & The Long Shadows, And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead, Aiming For Enrike, Trupa Trupa and sold out venues across the country with their own headline tours. Picked up by Visions Magazine (DE) the band now set their sights on their second full length album after their debut release made many album of the year lists - most notably number 3 in the WherePostRockDwells audience poll and again making the pages of Prog Magazine with two writers featuring in their top 20 albums of the year lists. “An intricate blend of melodies and emotions” JERRY EWING, PROG MAGAZINE “The future of UK Post Rock is in good hands” PHIL WELLER, PROG MAGAZINE “A unique blend of spirited and immensely detailed Post Rock a subtle tweak on the genres forebears” ROBBIN DOBBIN THOMAS, BOOLIN TUNES “It’s not often a band come out of nowhere and bring you the best album of the year” RONNIE, WHEREPOSTROCKDWELLS "An absolutely epic debut" - TOM ROBINSON, BBC 6 MUSIC “Dripping with emotion. So much feeling” - EMILY PILBEAM, BBC INTRODUCING “The whole EP is fantastic - Public Service Broadcasting meets Mogwai” - XPOSURE, RADIO X