Author: Paul Tunkin

We’re pleased to announce that we now have 3 new additions to Blow Up Records‘ roster for 2012: Fay Hallam & The Bongolian (a new collaboration), singer-songwriter David Woodcock from Southend-on-Sea and Sicilian duo Daiquiri Fantomas. Plus, ‘Towers‘ the long-awaited follow up to Baltic Fleet‘s self-titled debut will be released this Summer, followed swiftly by the second album for Alfa 9 ‘Gone To Ground‘
head over to the BLOW UP BLOG to read more

FREE DOWNLOADS The first 2 singles for 2012 will be ‘Engage‘ from Baltic Fleet, and ‘Dancing‘ from Fay Hallam & The Bongolian which we’ll be giving away as free downloads for a limited time…
head over to the BLOW UP BLOG to read more

The Bongolian will be playing a rare london show at Blow Up’s Christmas Party, on Friday 2nd December in London (more): in session he long-awaited 4th album from The Bongolian continues the musical journey where 2007’s Outer Bongolia left off, bringing us back down to Earth possibly via France circa 1967 via 2011, in a wildly eclectic rare groove fusion of Funk Soul Hammond Beat Jazz and a Sci-Fi Boogaloo.

BLOW UP CHRISTMAS PARTY – FRIDAY 2nd DECEMBER 8PM – 3AM
THE BONGOLIAN + THEE FACTION +PETE KOSANOVICH + BLOW UP DJs
GINGLIK Shepherd’s Bush Green, London W12

The 2nd of Blow Up’s new monthly West London residency at Ginglik in Shepherd’s Bush, and just in time for Christmas! read more…

THE BONGOLIAN will be in session on the Craig Charles Funk & Soul Show this Saturday 26th November on BBC Radio 6music! Along with some banter, he’ll be performing tracks form his new album ‘Bongos For Beatniks‘. Tune in / listen online from 7pm GMT: bbc.co.uk

Blow Up feat. DC Fontana + Electric Stars + David-Woodcock Blow Up’s monthly West London residency at Ginglik in Shepherd’s Bush with live guests this month DC Fontana and The Electric Stars. Plus Blow Up DJs Paul Tunkin & Ian Jackson spinning their trademark mix of Pop Stylism, 60’s Soul, Beat, Garage, Funk, Ska, Soundtracks, Electronica, Library Music colliding with British Pop, Glam, Indie-Pop and New-Wave. More info: blowupclub.com • Facebook Event • Map Tickets £6 adv. from: Stargreen.com • We Got Tickets • Gigantic • SeeTickets • Ticketweb Connect: Facebook • Twitter • mySpace DC Fontana live at Blow Up Turned-on music to shake your hips & pluck your heartstrings… DC Fontana are on a mission.The 2012 edition of the band is fronted by Louise Turner while founding member Mark Mortimer plays bass & is one of the two main song-writers along with Scott Riley who used to play with Spectrum, the psychedelic off-shoot of the Spacemen 3.With producer Donald Ross Skinner (Julian Cope, Prolapse, Salad, Cud etc) at the helm the DCs delivered the kitchen-sink drama Six Against Eight after camping inside the famous Parr Street Studios in Liverpool where they had been invited to record by legendary Echo & The Bunnymen guitarist Will Sergeant, a fan of the band. Electric Stars at Blow Up THE ELECTRIC STARS Infectious melodies, lyrics that become part of your life & songs that you NEED to own! If there was a modern mash up of Stones/Who/Kinks/Beatles…This is what it would sound like! David Woodcock live at Blow Up DAVID WOODCOCK New Blow Up Records’ signing David Woodcock returns to Blow Up as part of his monthly residency. Expect great songs delivered in Dave’s own inimitable Essex style. Best described as the closest thing to a knees-up with Chas’N’Dave and The Kinks’ Ray Davies!

Blow Up presents the album launch for Fay Hallam & The Bongolian ‘s new album ‘Lost In Sound ‘ (Blow Up Records) with a rare live London show by the Mod Queen herself, with a brand new band line-up, and featuring special guest appearances by ex-Prisoners/ Prime Movers/ Phaze/ Solar Flares, bass-legend, Allan Crockford . Blow Up’s monthly West London residency at Ginglik in Shepherd’s Bush with Blow Up DJs Paul Tunkin & Ian Jackson spinning their trademark mix of Pop Stylism, 60′s Soul, Beat, Garage, Funk, Ska, Soundtracks, Electronica, Library Music colliding with British Pop, Glam, Indie-Pop and New-Wave. The Blow Up playlist includes classic tracks from both its past and present, from its Brit Pop era favourites, (the scene of which the club helped kick-start way back in 1993 in Camden Town) to the current new things tickling our fancy – the new Pop stylists putting the art back into pop alongside essential New Wave, Glam and indie classic cuts. All this alongside Blow Up’s trademark mix of 60’s killer dance floor tracks in the following genre’s – 60’s Swinging Soundtracks, TV Themes, 60s Exotica & Electronica, 60s Club Soul, Northern Soul, Beat, Mod Jazz, French Pop, Library Music and Ska. Bloody marvellous! More info: blowupclub.com • Facebook Event • Map Tickets £6 adv. from: Stargreen.com • We Got Tickets • Gigantic • SeeTickets • Ticketweb Connect: Facebook • Twitter • mySpace

We’re in the Olympic mood here at Blow Up HQ, and have compiled a 4 track EP of appropriately titled tracks.

…Yes its the ‘Triumphs Of The Olympians EP‘ featuring The Bongolian, Big Boss Man (who have already dedicated title track to Wiggo), Neon Plastix and SILVERY. AND it’s free for a very limited time from http://blowup.co/Th3EkK

Baltic Fleet will be live in session on BBC Radio 6 Music on September 6th 2012 with Marc Riley tomorrow night from 7pm performing tracks the new album ‘Towers‘.

If you’re not in the UK you can listen online here.

BLOW UP IS BACK IN THE USA for APRIL/MAY 2012! Friday 27th April – Los Angeles – Underground @ Grand Star Jazz – Info / Facebook Saturday 28th April – Sacramento – Townhouse Lounge – Info / Facebook Tuesday 1st May – San Francisco – Monarch – Info / Facebook (Friday 4th May – London – Ginglik – Info / Facebook ) Blow Up in association with Record Club / Club Underground / Shake Appeal is excited to announce another return for Blow Up to California in 2012: On Friday 27th Blow Up teams up with the Club Underground again in LA in their new home at the Grand Star Jazz with Blow Up DJ/Founder Paul Tunkin and Club Underground DJs Larry G (aka Supercrass), Diana M. (Sweater Girls), Liz O. ( Bang!), Bip Jeffington (Bang!, Beat It). Running since 2001, Club Underground has been the premiere Britpop, Indie, Eletro Pop, Twee, Post-Punk, Soul, Sixties and New Wave party in Los Angeles…      …Followed the next day on Saturday 28th at The Townhouse Lounge in Sacramento, with DJ Paul Tunkin, Record Club’s Roger Carpio, a live set from San Francisco’s Cellar Doors plus a light show by George Holden (lightshow artist since 1966 and one of the pioneers in the field. He first worked with Abecrombe Lights featured by Bill Graham at the original Fillmore West and Winterland shows in San Francisco) and an art show by the talented Galine Tumasova who collaborated with Blow Up’s Claudia Arnold for the ace series of club posters this year…    …Followed by San Francisco on Tuesday 1st May at The Monarch with DJs Paul Tunkin and a great line-up of DJs from the SF scene  Carlos Perez (Tailor Made), Major Sean (Tailor Made, Club Leisure), Liam Caton (Shake Appeal) & Galine Tumasova (Shake Appeal)! Sponsored by Ben Sherman (thanks Mikey Tashjian!)   …followed by Blow Up back in London on Friday 4th May at Ginglik with a special anniversary show for B-Movie… phew! blowupclub.com • facebook:  blowup •  blowupusa •  recordclubsacto • clubunderground

BLOW UP returns to Sacramento!  With Cellar Doors (San Francisco) live, DJs Paul Tunkin (Blow Up founder) & Roger Carpio spinning Pop Stylism, 60′s Soul, Beat, Garage, Funk, Ska, Soundtracks, Electronica, Library Music colliding with British Pop, Glam, Indie-Pop and New-Wave. Plus a light show by George Holden (a lightshow artist since 1966 and one of the pioneers in the field. He first worked with Abecrombe Lights featured by Bill Graham at the original Fillmore West and Winterland shows in San Francisco). Art by Galine Tumasova! Event Info • Facebook Event Facebook: Blow Up • Blow Up USA • Record Club • Townhouse Lounge

We’re pleased to announce that we now have 3 new additions to Blow Up Records ‘ roster for 2012: Fay Hallam & The Bongolian (a new collaboration), singer-songwriter David Woodcock from Southend-on-Sea and Sicilian duo Daiquiri Fantomas . Plus, ‘ Towers ‘ the long-awaited follow up to Baltic Fleet ‘s self-titled debut will be released this Summer, followed swiftly by the second album for Alfa 9 ‘ Gone To Ground ‘. FREE DOWNLOADS: The first 2 singles for 2012 will be ‘ Engage ‘ from Baltic Fleet , and ‘ Dancing ‘ from Fay Hallam & The Bongolian which we’ll be giving away as free downloads for a limited time , links below…   FAY HALLAM & THE BONGOLIAN ‘ Dancing ‘ will be the first track to be taken from ‘ Lost In Sound ‘ the very first collaboration between Fay Hallam ( Makin’ Time, The Prime Movers, Phaze ) and Blow Up Records’ The Bongolian . Both share a serious passion for 60’s Hammond Beat and Soul. Due for release very shortly, the album covers a variety of styles: Bossa Nova, heavier 70’s grooves and a strong Northern Soul influence. Get ready to get Lost In Sound… Head over to FayHallamAndTheBongolian.com to get your free download .       BALTIC FLEET ‘ Engage ‘ is the first track to be taken from ‘ TOWERS ‘ the 2nd album from BALTIC FLEET , released this Summer and which follows his 2008 self-titled debut which was an Album of the Year (No 29) for Rough Trade Shops . Baltic Fleet is the moniker of multi-instrumentalist and DIY producer Paul Fleming. The second record signifies a departure from the travelling and diarising of life on the road (whilst touring as keyboard player for Echo & The Bunnymen ), and arrives home to the industrial backdrop of North West England. The album was written and recorded in a room overlooking the industrial landscape a stone’s throw from Spike Island, the scene of another Northern band’s finest hour. Head over to BalticFleetMusic.com to get your  free download .