John Napier is pick of the (Brummy) pops!

Matt Beck of respected and pioneering Birmingham promoters This Is Tomorrow has put together a top 10 list of the best Birmingham bands of the noughties for the Blue Whale studios blog.

The list, which includes some fantastic Brummy bands such as Untitled Musical Project, Sunset Cinema Club and Copter, also includes Padre Records artist John Napier. Matt describes John's songs as 'bloody amazing' and if you'd like to hear more his debut album 'Here I Am' is available to download now at the Padre Records website.

You can also vote for John as your favourite Brum musician by emailing andrew-roberts@hotmail.co.uk and the results will be revealed in the new year.

The debut EP from Padre Records artist Vincent Gould is now available online at www.padre-records.com. It includes the song 'Immigration' (which is also available on Padre Records Compilation no. 1) and here it is below:

Immigration by vincentgould

Now go out and buy the rest of the EP you skinflints!

Chicks Dig Waler Live!

Its official, chicks love us... 'Chicks Dig Jerks' that is, and anyone else who came to see us play one of our best ever sets at the Queen Of Hoxton in East London last Friday.

The night, hosted by Birmingham-based promoters, Chicks Dig Jerks (Chicks Dig Jerks facbook group), was a massive success. Thanks to all who came to see us, especially those who travelled all the way down from Birmingham.

No Excuses by waler

The Fly, August 2009 issue.

This review of Waler appeared in this month's issue of The Fly music magazine, and very flattering it is too! You can judge for yourself whether or not they got it right:

BAND TO DIG WALER Intelli-hop duo Waler got the funk. Seamlessly moulding Flaming Lips artistry with Talking Heads groove, this two-piece found on fledgling indie, Padre Records, drip sweet soul out of every pore. 'Muzzle Mouth' oozes sunshine behind lyrics of; "I testify with an open mind/If you open yours then I'll open mine," - kinda like King's Heath's answer to De La Soul.

Muzzle Mouth by waler

Padre Records is 1

Photo: Kimberley Trusty, The Flapper & Firkin, Birmingham, Sat Aug 1st 2009.

It was on August 1st 2008 that the EP "Floggin' You a Dead Horse" by Waler was released on the Padre Records label. So to celebrate a year since the label began, on Saturday August 1st 2009 we released a compilation CD of some of the best music we've produced so far. Here's a little taster:

One Horse Town by waler

You can download the entire 9-track album here.