Riot - Camino

Our LCM featured artist today is Mississippi native Camino. He blends R&B verses with rousing Southern rock choruses, crafting a great hip-hop & country fusion. From playing guitar in the hardcore scene on the Warped Tour at 16 to recording a track with B.o.B., the charismatic 23-year-old singer-songwriter co-signed by T-Pain and Akon, has a melting pot of influences embedded in his signature sound. Camino left Mississippi for Atlanta, where he was homeless, struggling to make it in the music industry. Eventually, he found a mentor in Marcus Rippy and learned from producers DJ Spinz and Polow da Don before he defined his own soulful country roots. His affinity for the past and present finds him deep-diving into Elvis' blues and tapping into Adele's soaring vocals. The rising star released his fiery first single "Riot" in July, which has garnered more than 150,000 Spotify streams. He's currently self-producing his 10-track debut album on Columbia Records.

You Blew It - Amanda St John

For our next LCM showcase artist we head to Belfast, the home of singer-songwriter Amanda St John. Amanda released her very good blues, folk-informed and soul-infused debut album 'Grow' last May. The album includes collaborations with David Lyttle (MOBO nominated Jazz musician/Producer) and USA Grammy nominated producer/writer Jon Tiven (Rolling Stones, BB King, Wilson Pickett). Amanda will be shortly on a UK Tour with her London date on 30th May at The Green Note, Camden. Our LCM #TrackOfTheDay is the very catchy, uptempo and bluesy 'You Blew It', the lead single from the new album.   

Ever since she first set foot on stage at the tender age of 14 it was obvious to anyone that Amanda had a voice that could charm the stars from the sky. After learning her trade performing in cover bands for a number of years, the chanteuse, who has collaborated with some of Northern Ireland's best and brightest talents (such as Duke Special, Gareth Dunlop, Ben Glover, ex-INXS frontman Ciaran Gribbin and Simon McBride), reinvented herself in 2012 as a singer-songwriter and, a year later, released her debut EP of original material 'Where Is The Man' to much critical acclaim. 

Born out of a near death experience which prompted her to re-evaluate her life, the collection of torch songs saw Amanda put her apprenticeship to good use and it captured the hearts of many music lovers. Buoyed by extensive radio play and a sold-out show at the Black Box in Belfast, the singer, who was born and raised in the rural village of Glenariffe, then released the rockabilly and jazz-tinged 'Big Strong Man' on March 2014 and the infectious number firmly established her as a versatile artist with a keen ear for a hook. 

Now a much-loved and sought after regular on the festival circuit, Amanda has performed at Sunflower Festival, the Maiden City Festival, Hilden Beer Festival, the East Belfast Arts Festival, the Lammas Fair, the Atlantic Sessions Festival, Tanglewood Music Festival and Belfast Music Week. Other gig highlights for Amanda have included sharing a stage with US Grammy Nominee Tift Merritt, being invited to sing backing vocals for Duke Special, performing a two night support slot for Brian Kennedy and playing support for Eddi Reader (of Fairground Attraction) and Mary Coughlan. 
 
With many festival slots and an upcoming tour of UK and Ireland, 2017 is set to be the best year yet for Amanda

https://www.amandastjohnmusic.co.uk

Shop now at Amazon for Amanda's debut album 'Grow'

Forgiveness - The Kondoors

As it's Friday we have something special for you. We are big fans of Bob's Harris UTAT session here at LCM HQ and we love a recent one with our next LCM featured artists today The Kondoors. Based in London and Bedfordshire this very talented singer-songwriter duo are Jess Greenfield & Gavin Conder. Their music is a wonderful of fusion of classic pop, rich soul and R'n'B Gospel. We think they are ones to watch this year. Our LCM #TrackOfTheDay is a fantastic super smooth live version of their song 'Forgiveness'. https://youtu.be/WkM1YF0Cnic

Take two great voices – hers, warm, rich and soulful, his, heartfelt and bitter-sweet – mix together and stand well back. Welcome to the Kondoors … one knock-out sound. Jess Greenfield and Gavin Conder became a couple well before they became a duo. They first met twelve years ago, but only stumbled on their unique musical chemistry much later on. Both had already established themselves as must-see live performers by the time they met, supporting a roll call of big names, including Brian Adams, Imelda May, Rod Stewart, Rudimental, Professor Green, Take That and Sam Smith.
Both had also long been writing and recording their own material, drawing on a host of influences from Sam Cooke, Connor Reeves and Marvin Gaye (Gav) to Dusty Springfield and Tina Turner (Jess).

It was only when they decided to record Jess’s song, Forgiveness', singing together for the first time, that they discovered the spine-tingling effect of their voices combined. Producer Steve Brown (Rumer and Laura M’vula) stepped in to take their raw, organic sound to the next level and the breathtaking vocal personality of the Condors was born.
Where next? The duo are making real waves as both performers and songwriters. As well as Steve Brown, they have also worked with several other top talents, including Martin Brammer (James Morrison, the Lighthouse Family), Ben Langmaid (LaRoux), Pete Vetesse (Annie Lennox, Boyzone) and Pete Vale (Lemar, The Eagles).

The Kondoors certainly aced it with Andy Murray. They sang at his wedding in 2015…

http://www.thekondoors.com/

See more at: https://www.laurelcanyonuk.com/lcmsotd2017/

Darling What's Wrong? - The Milk

For our next LCM featured band we have an excellent London based R&B and soul four piece The Milk. They have recently performed a live UTAT session with Bob Harris and his family and our LCM #TrackOfTheDay is the funky and bluesy 'Darling What's Wrong?' taken from their 2015 'Favourite Worry' album (BBC 6 Music album of the year) . They have also released a live album recorded last year at the Union Chapel, which is well worth checking out. https://youtu.be/UtoCw00vDYk

If you are enjoying their music and would like to see them live, their next London date is with the Fun Loving Criminals at Electric Brixton on the 2nd March..

This super tight band has Rick Nunn on lead vocals/guitar/keys, Mitch Ayling on drums/vox/keys, Dan Le Gresley on lead guitar/vox and last but not least Luke Ayling on bass guitar. These four life-long friends who went from forming their first band in an Essex school to playing countless working men's clubs and finally becoming The Milk. It's honest, classic song-writing heavily influenced by 70’s Isley Brothers, Bill Withers and many more.

http://www.thisisthemilk.com/

Don't Give Up - Southern Avenue

We head to Memphis, Tennessee for our next new LCM featured band Southern Avenue. Their music is a wonderful fusion of soulful, funky rock n' roll and gospel built on a solid foundation of the blues. This excellent band are currently signed to Stax (Concord Music Group). They are also releasing their self titled debut album next month and our LCM #TrackOfTheDay 'Don't Give Up' is one of their lead songs. 

Southern Avenue is a Memphis street that runs from the easternmost part of the city limits all the way to Soulsville, the original home of Stax Records. Southern Avenue is also the name of a fiery young Memphis quintet that embodies its home city's soul, blues and gospel traditions, while adding a youthful spirit and dynamic energy all their own. "If Memphis music is a genre, this is it!" proclaims American Blues Scene, and Rock 103FM calls Southern Avenue, "The most-talked-about band in Memphis."

Their self-titled debut album is a breath of fresh air with its own unique blend of gospel- tinged R&B vocals, roots/blues-based guitar work and soul-inspired songwriting. And Southern Avenue’s upcoming release on the fabled Stax label is a testament to the young combo's talent and vision.

Southern Avenue features five young but seasoned musicians who came from diverse musical and personal backgrounds to create music that spans their wide-ranging musical interests, while showcasing the powerful chemistry that the group has honed through stage and studio experience.

Southern Avenue encompasses Memphis-born, church-bred sisters Tierinii and Tikyra Jackson, respectively a soulful, charismatic singer and a subtle, powerful drummer; guitarist Ori Naftaly, an Israeli-born blues disciple who first came to America as an acclaimed solo artist; versatile jazz-inspired bassist Daniel McKee; and the band's newest addition, keyboardist Jeremy Powell, an early alumnus of Stax's legendary music academy.

The band members' diverse skills come together organically on Southern Avenue, scheduled for release on February 24, 2017 via Stax Records, a division of Concord Music Group. Produced by Kevin Houston (North Mississippi Allstars, Lucero, Patty Griffin), the 10-song album features guest appearances from Luther Dickinson of the North Mississippi Allstars and trumpeter Marc Franklin of the Bo-Keys. But it's Southern Avenue's own potent musical chemistry that drives such sublimely soulful originals as "Don't Give Up," "What Did I Do," "It's Gonna Be Alright," "Love Me Right" and "Wildflower." The band also pays tribute to its roots with an incandescent reading of Ann Peebles' Memphis soul classic "Slipped, Tripped and Fell in Love."

The seeds for Southern Avenue's birth were planted when Ori Naftaly, who'd grown up in Israel with a deeply rooted passion for American blues and funk, came to Memphis in 2013 to compete in the prestigious International Blues Challenge. That experience led to Naftaly moving permanently to Memphis and successfully touring the United States with his own band.

http://www.southernavenueband.com/

Forgiveness - The Kondoors

We must start by thanking Mark Ede for the great recommendation. Our next LCM featured artists are a great duo based in London and Bedfordshire. Singer-songwriter duo Jess Greenfield & Gavin Conder are better know as The Kondoors. We think their music is a wonderful of fusion of classic pop, rich soul and R'n'B Gospel. As a taster our LCM #TrackOfTheDay is a live version of their marvellous first song 'Forgiveness'. This is couple who are definitely ones to watch in 2017. https://youtu.be/j2z4jnDzx8s

Take two great voices – hers, warm, rich and soulful, his, heartfelt and bitter-sweet – mix together and stand well back. Welcome to the Kondoors … one knock-out sound. Jess Greenfield and Gavin Conder became a couple well before they became a duo. They first met twelve years ago, but only stumbled on their unique musical chemistry much later on. Both had already established themselves as must-see live performers by the time they met, supporting a roll call of big names, including Brian Adams, Imelda May, Rod Stewart, Rudimental, Professor Green, Take That and Sam Smith.

Both had also long been writing and recording their own material, drawing on a host of influences from Sam Cooke, Connor Reeves and Marvin Gaye (Gav) to Dusty Springfield and Tina Turner (Jess).

It was only when they decided to record Jess’s song, Forgiveness', singing together for the first time, that they discovered the spine-tingling effect of their voices combined. Producer Steve Brown (Rumer and Laura M’vula) stepped in to take their raw, organic sound to the next level and the breathtaking vocal personality of the Condors was born.

Where next? The duo are making real waves as both performers and songwriters. As well as Steve Brown, they have also worked with several other top talents, including Martin Brammer (James Morrison, the Lighthouse Family), Ben Langmaid (LaRoux), Pete Vetesse (Annie Lennox, Boyzone) and Pete Vale (Lemar, The Eagles).

The Kondoors certainly aced it with Andy Murray. They sang at his wedding in 2015…

http://www.thekondoors.com