Focus Music Notes. "Out of the Blues". Popular music through the decades

" FIRFELIES " SOARS UP THE CHARTS TO THE NO.1 SPOT! As tickets for his UK tour sell out fast, Owl City's global phenomenon ' Fireflies ' soars up the UK charts to No.1!! Owl City’s single ‘Fireflies’ has already sold nearly 3 million copies in the US, topped the Billboard chart - twice - and the iTunes chart in 6 countries, yet until recently he was still relatively unknown in the UK. However, following its early release due to popular demand here in the UK and with very little promotion, ' Fireflies ' topped the UK charts on Sunday. Adam Young , the talented young man behind Owl City is modestly taking his latest chart topping success in his stride. “ It hasn't quite sunk in yet and I suspect it never really will. It's surreal to think that a song I wrote in a basement in the middle of blustery Minnesota has made it as far as it has. Needless to say, I'm completely thrilled .” Owl City can’t wait to hit the road in the UK and, judging by t...

Michael Franti & Spearhead SINGLE: SAY HEY (I LOVE YOU) : MONDAY 1st FEBRUARY ALBUM: ALL REBEL ROCKERS : MONDAY 8th FEBRUARY Oakland, CA born Michael Franti has occupied a unique position in American music over his two decade career. Cutting against the grain of fashion, he has been an outspoken champion of social justice - whether that's fighting for human rights, veteran's rights, ridding poverty or producing his 50,000 capacity 'Power To The Peaceful' festival each year. His newest album ' All Rebel Rockers ' has struck a loud chord Stateside and become a hit record. Recorded in Jamaica at the Anchor Studio with Island Records legends Sly & Robbie, the album produced the rapturous dancehall-reggae hybrid lead single 'Say Hey (I Love You)'. With Kingston's own Cherine Anderson on guest vocals, the single has sold a million copies (certified platinum) in the US, and the video has been watched close to 4 million times on Youtube. Commerc...

Codeine Velvet Club , the sensational new band featuring chief Fratelli Jon Lawler and Glasgow chanteuse Lou Hickey, have been confirmed as special guests on the forthcoming UK shows by US star John Mayer . The dates are as follows: JANUARY 15     MANCHESTER APOLLO 16    GLASGOW ACADEMY 18    LONDON HAMMERSMITH APOLLO 19    WOLVERHAMPTON CIVIC Codeine Velvet Club is a new musical collaboration that celebrates Jon Lawler and Lou Hickey’s shared love of ’60s girl-boy duets, dramatic orchestral pop, and dark post-war Hollywood romanticism. They have just released their eponymously titled debut album . WHAT THE PAPERS SAY “Here’s a surprising perky pop rock tonic for the new year….joyously jaunty boy/girl harmonies shot through with a Glasgow brogue and swept along with 1960s-styled orchestral arrangements.   The tunes offer a blend of showy romance and rueful humour and the tone is a sweet diversion… they have a dashing panache.” MET...

TWO DOOR CINEMA CLUB ANNOUNCE THE RELEASE OF THEIR DEBUT ALBUM, “TOURIST HISTORY” ON KITSUNE ON MARCH 1ST 2010 . “It’s herky, it’s jerky, it’s mile a minute, it’s everything we love about guitars and boys.” –  NME Two   Door Cinema Club release their fantastic debut album, “ Tourist History ” on March 1st 2010 on French label Kitsune. It will be preceded by the single "Undercover Martyn" on 22nd February 2010 . The trio from Bangor , Northern Ireland have recently received the auspicious nod from the BBC after being named as one of the fifteen acts on the BBC Soundpoll as well as featuring in numerous end of year tips for 2010. This, coupled with their already strong online following, ensures that “ Tourist History ” is set to make a big impact. The album is undeniably pop, but draws on disparate elements including electronica/electro, rock and Afro-beats   whilst remaining resolutely fresh and inventive. Pigeon-holing this band will be impossible. Formed a...

Owl City Single: ‘ Fireflies ’ to be released 22nd February 2010 on  Island Records ‘Most of my inspiration comes from daydreaming, as I haven't really gone anywhere or done anything. I find a lot of inspiration in imagining what the world would be like if things were different -- better.’ It’s hard to imagine how much better things could get for Adam Young right now. When the shy 23-year-old first uploaded a few synth-pop songs on to his MySpace profile in 2007, his Owl City project was just one of thousands of unknown acts in the web’s worldwide hive of musical activity. Two-and-a-half years and one EP, two albums and over 50 million MySpace hits later, Owl City ’s ‘ Fireflies ’ single hit the No. 1 spot on the U.S. Billboard charts in early November 2009. It had already sold nearly two million copies, been No.1 in the U.S. iTunes chart, and been officially declared the fastest-selling electronic/alternative track of all-time. Its parent album, the self-produced ‘Ocean ...

Mumford and Sons release their new single, ‘ Winter Winds ’ through Gentlemen Of The Road / Island Records on the 7th December 2009 . It is taken from the band’s critically acclaimed debut album, ‘ Sigh No More’ . Mumford and Sons are one of the most significant success stories of 2009, with their debut album charting at number 11, and number 1 on iTunes. But like all great stories, we’re not even halfway through the first novel and the best is still to come. This British folk-rock band have quickly became renowned for their euphoric live shows, heart-wrenching songcraft, and for bringing beautiful music back in vogue. Since Mumford and Sons released the first of their limited-edition vinyl EPs through Chess Club Records back in the summer of 2008, the road has become their rolling home. The gospel spread across the globe, and from one sold-out tour to the next. ‘ Sigh No More ’ was made with producer Markus Dravs (Arcade Fire, Bjork) harnessing all the energy and soul of their...

A host of top stars including Robbie Williams , Dizzee Rascal and JLS are set to appear in this year's Top Of The Pops Christmas and New Year Specials. BBC Radio 1's Fearne Cotton and Reggie Yates will present the two special shows which will be shown on BBC One on Christmas Day and New Year's Eve. Top Of The Pops Christmas Day Special (25 December 2009, 2.00-3.00pm) offers up an hour of stellar performances from some of the year's biggest stars including Dizzee Rascal ; Kasabian ; Lily Allen ; JLS ; Alexandra Burke ; La Roux ; Sugababes ; Florence and the Machine ; Diversity ; and Muse . The hour of top music and festive fun culminates in a glistening performance from this year's Christmas number one! Then, on New Year's Eve (31 December, 6.30-7.30pm) , Fearne and Reggie are back on BBC One with the Top Of The Pops New Year Special to review the year in pop, taking in 2009's greatest hits and brightest stars. The show features special performances fro...