Reviews: StereoBoard covers Marcus Foster, Vance Foy performances June 18th @ The Emperor in Cambridge

I'll be honest, I don't often listen to Dermot O'Leary's Radio 2 show, but something tells me that fate bought me & Dermot together last week when he had new boy Marcus Foster (pictured, below) on his show performing a couple of tracks. Randomly tuning into Radio 2 and being instantly drawn to the voice, I did a bit of investigating to find out who he was, and exactly a week later I was sat in the most intimate gig I've ever been to, discovering two amazing talents that I'm so glad didn't pass me by.

London boy Marcus Foster is currently on tour supporting Northern Ireland's Foy Vance (pictured, above) and I was lucky to catch the two of them in a small room above a random pub in Cambridge. Having only heard of both artists just one week before, it hadn't taken me long to download Foy's album and Marcus' EP - and I was already addicted. It's not often that an artist can interest me so quickly, and to have two that impressed me enough to be desperate to see them live made me think I was onto something pretty special - and I wasn't remotely wrong!

A darkened room with small candles on tables and a few rows of chairs set a perfect scene for the gig, with a maximum of around 60 people taking their places, some of us lucky enough to be just two feet from the "stage" area. After a fantastic introduction about what a talent he is, Marcus Foster took to the stage armed with nothing but his acoustic guitar and his mic. From the first line of his first song, the crowd were mesmerised. His raw gravely vocal is punctuated with vulnerability as he plays his way through his impressive collection of songs, stopping briefly between to shyly comment on how intimate the gig is.

An awesome version of his current single, 'Rushes & Reeds' is a perfect advert for Marcus' talent and range, but by far, the tracks from EP 'Tumble Down' are the stand out songs, particularly 'Tumble Down' itself. Set closer 'Shadows of the City is Marcus at his best - an almost eerie start kicks into a frenzied up-tempo number, Marcus completely losing himself in the song, ignoring the fact that just a tiny amount of people are watching his every move so closely - literally!

Click here to read the full article!

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Videos: Marcus Foster (@MarcusFoster1) @ June 13th Barfly Show! Special Thanks @katieh101!

Oh, how cool-- just as I was blogging reviews [1, 2] about Marcus' recent shows, I came across this. It was just meant to be, I tell you...

Excuse me a while... I'm just going to check out for a bit and just enjoy this... *sighs* :)

I Don't Mind


I Belong Here


Shadows of The City


Faint Stir of Madness


Nameless Path


Rushes & Reeds


I Don't Need To Lose You To Know


Couldn't Love You More (John Martyn cover)


Tumble Down

*presses repeat button until it gets stuck*

Whoa...what did you guys think? I think he sounds incredible with his band! :)

Thank you so much to @katieh101 for sharing her videos with us! You're awesome & I'm living vicariously through you right now... Just so you know... Just saying... LOL

Source via @katieh101.

Reviews: Bearded Magazine covers Marcus Foster's June 13th Barfly show

"It's as if the Sundance Kid himself rolled into town, strolled onto stage and sang his soul out to the people of the Barfly."

Intimate and acoustic Marcus Foster begins with little introduction but already with signs of thanks as he conducts his band to the start of ‘I Don't Mind’. Sporting an acoustic guitar with his trio and equipping himself with his soulful voice; Marcus draws in the audience's praises and screams them back holding back no sweat or dynamic vocal fear.

The sheer drop between the usual set up for Marcus and his band to acoustic trio may seem a disappointment to some with first thoughts of the gig. However there's very little to nit pick at this evening. The cajon and double bass partnership bodes well with Mr Foster's screeching vocals and electric guitar smashes and stabs in ‘Shadow of the City’. Continuing to promote the crowd's legs to two step their way to a dance through other songs such as newly released single ‘Rushes and Reeds’. The bluesy technicality of the song show no problem for the band or Marcus as they flaunt with ease through the gripping track considering their new set up.

Click here to read the full review!

Source via Marcus Foster HQ!

Video: MySpaceUK shares Marcus Foster's Tour Video

Hahaha.. I love the part where Marcus starts celebrating his victory in the video game and then actually getting to hear him playfully sing and do a happy dance... LOL Oh, man.. ;-P And if that wasn't enough for me.. the silly faces he makes towards the end of video. Awesomeness. That is all.

No wait, there's more. In all seriousness, it was great to see him performing live with his band, now I'm kinds of excited and looking forward to that day when I am able to see him live in that format! The band sounds great with him!

Source via MySpaceUK.

Music Video: Sam Bradley's "Woman You Crazy"

Like Whoa... LOL

What do you with two smartphones? Well, if you're Sam Bradley, you make a music video, that's what!!

Let's enjoy, shall we?

Pretty cool, huh? Thanks for sharing, Sam!


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Reviews: Marcus Foster's June 14th Barfly show

Live Review: Marcus Foster @ Barfly

Earlier this week, Tuesday 14th June, I made my way over to Barfly to see the rather talented Marcus Foster perform for the second night in a row, for the release of his most recent single ‘Rushes & Reeds.’ I saw Foster for the first time a few years back at an open mic night by accident, and after seeing one too many shy, skinny dudes with their guitar there was something refreshing about him and his desire to simply play his tunes to the room, that got me and the few friends I was with interested enough to follow his steady progression from open mic, to taking his act on the road, to now- headlining his own gig and having released a few singles and an EP, ‘Tumble Down’.

...

Click here to read the full review!

Source via Marcus Foster HQ!

Photos: Holly Conlan (@HollybackGirl) & Sam Bradley (@samueltwitt1) w/ The Sam Bradley Band @ Sons of Hermann Hall - 05/30/2011

WHOA... like good whoa! :)

What an amazing show! The Sam Bradley Band was awesome as always and I really enjoyed the opening act, Holly Conlan! She was fantastic-- and super sweet, too!

TwitPics:

Sam & Holly's names listed on the marquee outside of Sons of Hermann Hall in Dallas!

Sam's poster (left side) on display in the front hallway/lobby of the Sons of Hermann Hall!

The show itself was amazing, Sam played some of my favorites like "Whiskey," "Lights" and "No One and Me" and he played my new fave "Woman, You Crazy". When he sang WYC, he actually gave a shout-out to one the girls (see: Amber) and she totally missed it cause she was having too much fun laughing, singing along & dancing! MISSED.IT. Awesomeness. She'd like to know if anyone that night actually captured video of it-- she would love to see it!!! Let me know!

Super special thanks to Sam and the band, and Holly and the guys for sticking around afterwards when they needed to hustle back on the road so soon!


Sam with Fans:

I know, you're probably thinking... "Hey, I think recognize her!" That's because you probably do! That's Amber from ShackofSoul.com! Yup, that's right, I roll with the cool kids...


And last but never least, here's me & Sam! Awww:

To Sam: (Yeah... cause he totally reads this... NOT.) Thank you, Sam, for everything! :) You're awesome and I wish you and your band the best of luck!

Oh, hey you guys: stay tuned for more of Holly's pictures -- cause she deserves her own post! Right?! RIGHT!

Video: Jackson Rathbone playing the piano

Here's an impromptu video from Jackson Rathbone playing a piano while on set:

Not too shabby, Mr. Rathbone! ;)

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Video: Sam Bradley performs "Woman, You Crazy" on San Antonio Living

I love how he uses the comparison of an omelet and broadening his menu options! LOL

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