UK Electro-Acoustic Group Auburn Reunites To Record New CD 'Indian Summer'

London, UK – To much anticipation, UK electro-acoustic ensemble Auburn featuring singer/songwriter Liz Lenten has reunited after an almost 10-year hiatus! The critically acclaimed group has recorded a new CD titled 'Indian Summer' that is slated for release on May 7, 2012 on Scarlet Records, distributed through Gonzo MultiMedia. Described as a band that delivers “songs from the heart” by the London Evening Standard, and “Dreamy, moody and atmospheric” by Classic Rock Society, Auburn will embark on a UK tour in support of their new CD release. 'Indian Summer' is a mix of up-beat and slower tempo electro-acoustic pop music, but borrowing much from the roots, country and blues genres, with a slightly retro sound but still very 2012.

Fronted by female vocalist Liz Lenten, who's voice has been described as “so sweet it'll make your hair curl” and “husky, with an emotional frailty”, isn't afraid to show her full range of vocal tones or emotions. “I don't have a specific style” says Liz. “I love lots of different vibes, so I take bits of all of them and just write songs around the feel that I think works with the lyrics. It is a bit country, a bit bluesy, a bit rootsy – all those things – but I just think of it all as music.” With varied influences from Bonnie Raitt, Billie Holiday, Ricki Lee Jones, Amy Winehouse, Kate Bush and Janis Joplin to name a few, Liz's songs grab you melodically, but also tell a story of love and life. “ 'Indian Summer' is all about the fact that I am older, and maybe a little wiser,” Liz explains, “certainly more chilled out, but not ready to hang up my mic just yet. I feel happy and content with where I am in life right now.”

The Auburn band is a mixed sound of lush acoustic guitars, rich cello lines and groovy percussion, underpinned by hypnotic bass lines. “Auburn manages to pull off the trickiest of tricks. Which is? Well, to make slow moving mood music that never fails to engage. What's more, Auburn makes it seem easy,” touts Impressions magazine. Along with Liz Lenten, Auburn features co-writer and producer Max Gilkes on guitars and piano (Lily Allen, Prince Fatty, Manu Chau), Jevon Beaumont on bass (BootLed Zeppelin, Laura Vane), Pat Garvey on percussion (BIMM, Nin Drums), Rob Lewis on cello (Two Spot Gobi). Along with the band members special guests Eliza Carthy on violin and background vocals, and Laura Vane on background vocals are featured on 'Indian Summer'.

Liz Lenten formed Auburn in the summer of 1999. Their first gig was at the jam-packed launch party of Scarlet Records held at the salubrious and smoky Madame JoJo's in Soho to a completely packed and enthusiastic house. Auburn's first EP 'Sweet Sebastian' received extensive airplay, and sold out of its limited pressing within 2 weeks. The band then teamed up with producer Tim Pettit (Travis, Sun House and Carlene Carter) and recorded “For Life”, which also garnered great radio support, and they toured the UK and played many live radio sessions. The debut album 'Dreams' was released in 2003 and Auburn toured with Sophie Ellis Bextor in the UK and Europe, playing to 40,000 people. In 2005 “Cry” reached number #5 in the UK indie video charts, after which the band took a break. Now, along with the excitement surrounding the reformation of Auburn comes the question, where have they been for almost a decade? “My son started school and I just didn't want to be away from him touring,” Liz explains. “In fact, I hated being away from him for even a night. So, I concentrated on other musical work, teaching singing, conducting and composing for choirs, artist management and running my small label. Now that he's older I feel I can carry on where I left off, and continue to follow this side of my music.”

Auburn UK tour dates: May 4 – South Holland AC – Spalding May 5 – Terry O'Toole Theatre – Lincoln May 6 – The King Albert – Brighton May 7 – The Slaughtered Lamb – London July 29 – Exhibition Road Festival, London

In closing Liz had this to impart to her fans and listeners, “Thank you for caring and remembering. I really hope you enjoy the new album – I think I have grown up a bit since 'Dreams' (at last!) and I hope that people enjoy the new material.”

Auburn – 'Indian Summer' UK release date: Monday 7th May 2012 Label: Scarlet Records / Distribution: Gonzo/Proper

To purchase Auburn – 'Indian Summer': http://www.amazon.co.uk/Indian-Summer-Auburn/dp/B007KE1IC8

For more information: www.auburn.org.uk www.facebook.com/auburnindainsummer

TV and Radio: Amanda Beel – All About Promotions: 020 7328 4836

Press Inquiries: Glass Onyon PR, PH: 828-350-8158, glassonyonpr@cs.com

Review: Nelson Rudiak – Winnipegosis

Artist: Nelson Rudiak
Title: Winnipegosis
Genre: Jazz Funk
Label: Independent
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Nelson Rudiak has been rocking it out in upstate New York and the Northeast for over thirty years. This artist plays everything from the saxophone, guitar, bass, keyboards, synth and even rhythmic programming. Rudiak has it all down pat. The only thing he doesn’t do is the drum sequences. Winnipegosis is Rudiak’s sophomore album and it is a lively one...READ MORE...

San Francisco Bay Area's Ian Franklin Readies Debut Full-Length CD 'Breaking Grounds'

May 2, 2012 – San Francisco, CA - Singer/songwriter Ian Franklin is proud to announce the release of his debut album, 'Breaking Grounds'. This new full length album is being released on the heels of his successful 'Step By Step EP' which was released in May of 2011. This release, for the Santa Rosa native, comes as a career high at the end of a near-decade of non-stop, whirlwind and frenetic coast-to-coast musical endeavors and evolution that have both educated and matured the young artist into a multi-faceted musical road warriorepreneur.

The epic journey, from graduating the Berklee College of Music with Bachelor Degrees in both Music Therapy and Songwriting; forming, recording and performing with the lauded Boston-based jazz-funk/groove-rock band Infinite Frequency; touring the United States and California several times over and then establishing his San Francisco-based Music Therapy practice, 'Breaking Grounds' is truly Ian’s masterpiece. 'Breaking Grounds' features a cast of talented San Francisco musicians, and in true Bay Area spirit, there is no shying away from letting loose and jamming. The album takes the listener on a trip through psychedelic wailing guitar solos, horns pops (Adam Theis and Mike Olmos of Jazz Mafia, and Mark Growden), keyboard odysseys (Eric Levy of Garaj Mahal and Night Ranger), and more. The highly melodic and tight rhythmic interplay on this recording will harken the listener back to a time when musicianship, not just style, played an essential role in rock & roll. This album was produced by Ian Franklin and Ben Bernstein, who has produced many well-known projects, and played in a few different well known bands including New Monsoon.

The diversity of 'Breaking Grounds' carries over from Ian’s previous project, winners of the Boston Regional Global Battle Of The Bands; Infinite Frequency. Infinite Frequency, who went on to compete in the national Global Battle of the Bands Finals at the Key Club in Los Angeles, was described by WhisperinandHollerin.com s “fusing modern rock with jazz, funk, and '70s soul” while displaying “melodicism and top-notch playing… (that) will have people having flashbacks when musicianship, not just style, played an essential ingredient in rock & roll.” And regarding lead singer Ian Franklin himself, he “owns a solid voice of his own, high and filled with life.”

The Santa Barbara News-Press recently described Ian as, “… a rare petal — his group songs rock, led by guitar riffs that show the influence of both the Police and Tool. And his high voice can be reminiscent of Glenn Tilbrook of Squeeze.”

High praise indeed and with 'Breaking Grounds', Ian hopes to generate much more of the same enthusiasm. Franklin’s songs pull from his creative imagination, are often fueled by personal experiences and promote awareness about issues that he believes deserve attention or they simply provide joy and help relieve the stress of daily life. Promising diversely-inspired tunes influenced by a fusion of roots-rock, funk, jazz, blues and folk into a new genre he refers to as “Eclectic Pop-Rock,” 'Breaking Grounds' is the clear and defining next chapter in the musical growth and maturity of this exceptionally gifted singer/songwriter.

'Breaking Grounds' was recorded by Ben Bernstein at Spliggityfidge Studios, Emeryville, and Petting Zoo Studio, Oakland with final mixing being completed at Petting Zoo Studio in early 2012. Petting Zoo Records out of Oakland, CA will release Franklin's new album June of 2012.
Throughout the 90’s, Ian performed with many award-winning Sonoma County-based bands, honing his skills in the fusion rock-funk/hip-hop; Gollum, the Zappa-meets-Faith No More-infused; Cory's Slug, and the instrumental ambient/tribal-rock outfit; Wish. His first-ever recorded solo project was in 2001 when Ian teamed up Frank ‘Side-Burns’ Sanders to record his live acoustic EP, Finley Swims.

Constantly performing and creating, Ian, being the son of a Reichian therapist, and coming from a family of healers, is a private practice Board-Certified Music Therapist and Music Teacher who specializes in Geriatrics, Special Needs, Mental Health and Pediatrics. He maintains offices in Santa Rosa, San Francisco, the East Bay, and he works with clients throughout the Bay Area, as far south as San Jose.

About his passion for being a Music Therapist, Ian stated in the Santa Barbara News-Press, "It takes music to a whole new level… it's selfless. Usually music is all about your art, but in music therapy, it's all to do with the client. All my expectations go out the window."

Ian Franklin 'Breaking Grounds' CD/Digital release - June 5, 2012

For Digital Distribution enquiries, please contact Jerome Forney at IDCDigital via email at Jerome@independentdistro.com

For radio enquiries please contact Ian Franklin at telephone: 707-480-7658 or via email at info@ianfranklinmusic.com - For more information visit Ian Franklin at www.ianfranklinmusic.com Ben Bernstein Music http://benbernsteinmusic.com Petting Zoo Records http://pettingzoorecords.com

For US distribution enquiries, please contact Steffen Franz or Ben Lang at Independent Distribution Collective, telephone: 415-292-7007 or via e-mail at sales@independentdistro.com

For more info, please contact: Billy James – Glass Onyon PR Tel: 828-350-8158 Email: glassonyonpr@cs.com

Review: Sons of the Radio – Heartstrings & Heresies

Artist: Sons of the Radio
Title: Heartstrings & Heresies
Genre: Rock-Alternative Rock-Modern Rock
Label: Independent
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With all the controversy that is associated with Craigslist (murders, robberies and prostitution) it’s nice to see something positive come of it. In January of 2009 the three remaining members of power pop band Savage Mill put an ad in Craigslist looking for a vocalist. Matt Gomez responded. Later that year they replaced their guitarist with Mike Sullivan, the planets all aligned and the rock gods bear offspring, Sons of the Radio...READ MORE...