1860 - For You, Forever

I've been dreaming of going to Iceland Airwaves Music Festival for years. Sadly, instead of booking an Iceland Air flight, I succumb to ravishing the playlists they post to soundcloud. Some day I'll make it, just not this year. The first band on the list, 1860, was an easy one to love with their featured song, "For You, Forever", including all of my favorites: handclaps, a mandolin, a trumpet, and easy sing-a-long lyrics. Their 2011 album, Sagan, is a daydream I'll happily get lost in, letting the unfamiliar icelandic words float away like clouds.






"Rise up, but remember that each sunrise is a sunset somwhere else."

Alone

Help me find the band this song belongs to. I downloaded it from soundcloud and it was only tagged with the title of the song. It's a rather lovely little tune, have a listen. To all the bands out there, please tag your songs properly.

Alone by ?

Jennah Barry - The Coast

Photo Credit: Stephen Cooper

Just when you thought the summer was coming to an end there was a wave of highly listenable summer songs that came crashing into sight. Jennah Barry, a country inspired Canadian, makes pop music that has a twinge of sadness which is often laying beneath her sweet voice. Plus, anyone who can write a song about Canadian Mounties deserves a listen.

connect: bandcamp // facebook

Jennah Barry - The Coast

Highasakite - Indian Summer

Highasakite is a Norwegian band that's off to a great start. They are releasing an EP in the UK called ‘Indian Summer’ which is due out in the UK on 20th August through Riot Factory. Is it perfect summer indie-pop? I'll let you be the judge, but I'll suggest you go ahead and download Indian Summer right away.

Kisses - Funny Heartbeat

Kisses reminds us that just because summer is nearly over, the summer jams don't have to be. There's still time left to get swept up in a summer romance, to go to the beach, and to play with puppies on freshly cut grass. This easy going pop jam will have you bopping along and soaking up the softer summer rays that August brings.

Connect: Bandcamp // Soundcloud // Site

Stirling Strong

Sorry yet again for the absence. Difficult times usually lead me to music, but for the first time in my life it's not doing that magical music thing where the right song just happens to play at the right moment. None of it fits, none of it comforts, and when music plays I'm not even listening anymore. Although I have a feeling I'd like these songs if I could hear them.

Miner - Hey Love

Robert Ellis - Friends Like Those

Bowerbirds - Tuck the Darkness In

I wish I could say it better, but the bottom line is: fuck cancer. I want my friend back. There are a million words I wish I could piece together to pay her tribute, but I'm not there yet. While I wouldn't normally do this here, I love this girl that I've been lucky enough to know for 13 years, so I kindly ask you to read the following:

My friend, Stirling Winder, died this past weekend of cancer at the age of 26. Her fight with osteosarcoma started in her knee eight years ago, over the past two years it quickly progressed to her kidneys, and eventually made its way to her lungs. She was a true inspiration. This coming weekend, she was set to ride in her 4th annual Pan-Mass Challenge, a bike race across Massachusetts that donates 100% of every rider-raised dollar to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute through its Jimmy Fund. In four years, Stirling has raised nearly $40,000. Her goal was to reach $100,000. It would mean so much to her and countless others if she was able to accomplish that. Here is the link to her rider profile – Stirling shares her story on that page, and donations can processed there as well. Also, at her request, a fund for Osteosarcoma research has been created to continue her great work. A link to her fund can be found here.  Any amount to either fund that anyone can give is greatly appreciated. Thank you.