8 SFTW Friday, July 13, 2012 ONE2HEAR ESSEX boys The Milk are proving their neck of the moods has more to offer than tanning shops and CHRIS celebrity wannabes.

By And that’s some music SWEENEY right out of the top NEW MUSIC drawer. By JIM GELLATLY They’re on fire right now and new single FAMOUSFAMOUS FANFAN ...... Every Time We Fight is NOT many Scots TheTheImagineersImagineers withwith ticked off after they bands have had as made their TInThe more than enough proof CHURCHES Craig FergusonFerguson Park debut last weekend. of that. WHO: (synths/ many column inches Ali said: “We’re all itch- The video also stars programming), Martin recently as unsigned ing to make an album James Buckley, who Doherty (synths/samples), boys The properly. We’d like to do plays Jay in The (vocals) Imagineers. one whole and not have Inbetweeners —he’s even WHERE: Glasgow it in dribs and drabs. getting The Milk to play FOR FANS OF: Gary They were beamed “And we’ve wanted to at his wedding. Numan, Robyn, Passion Pit around the globe on chat play TInThe Park since Check it out at show king Craig Fergu- we were teenagers. thisisthemilk.com JIM SAYS: Despite writing son’s Late Late Show “It was amazing. Afew about ’s finest after the Scot flew them of our faithful showed up emerging acts each week, I out to to per- with their Imagineers tat- don’t think I’ve ever used the form live. toos —they were making term “best new band in Plus First Minister the noise and it spread Scotland”. Churches are. Alex Salmond and movie out through the crowd. Record labels also seem star Mila Kunis appeared to think there’s something in their video. Tour special about the Glasgow Bass player Ali Greig three-piece. My mate admitted: “It feels like “There is ademand counted more than 30 we’re awee snow globe building in America too. By CHRIS SWEENEY people from labels and someone has shaken “If it gets any higher at their first official live gig we’re going to have to go it up —life is abit like do atour —alot of peo- last week at the Art School in that just now. SASSY soul survivor Beverley Glasgow. ple are saying come to “Craig was looking for places like Delaware or ONE2SEE Knight reckons chart-topper It’s along time since this something authentically many labels travelled up to come to Canada.” EmeliSandé is the 2012 Scottish and he sent his explained: “We didn’t airport. When you think rally as possible —Steven, But no matter how hec- MIDNIGHT Beast are see aScottish band. team out to the Captain’s making the jump from versionofher. Bizarrely, Ifirst got atip-off know how it was going of Hollywood stars mim- our singer, has avery dis- tic the past few months Rest in Glasgow. over, the only real gauge ing to your song, it’s tinct Scottish accent, so have been, the boys are screen to stage. She feels they’ve got from aradio producer friend “They saw us playing a we had was when Ameri- mind-blowing. Iwas just wegowith that. ready for more. The comedy band have exactly the same vibe —and in London. As soon as I sweatbox, few-hundred- Ali added: “It never heard the free download cans started getting in upset they couldn’t get “We chose The Imagi- become cult heroes on she even shares the same people-type gig and he touch on the internet. Jack Nicholson.” neers as our name hits you until you’ve done E4 and have also track, Lies, it was soon all liked the vibe of it. “All we really want is But the lads aren’t tak- because of our imagina- it, but afterwards we all taste in wacky HAIR- over my radio shows —a bagged over 40million CUTS as Emeli, right. WATCH “He wanted us to show to get our music out ing their foot off the gas tions. It means we could realised it’s been amaz- views on YouTube. driving electro number with the American audience there and the show was and want to capitalise on try anything we wanted. ing. And our attitude is, Bev, 39, said: “She is stunning female vocals. what Scottish music is Now they’re bringing agreat platform for that. the attention debut EP “Right now we are very ‘Bring on the next thing’. the show and tunes into so good, she writes Influential blogs like Neon all about.” “For an unsigned band See As ISay is getting. much on the surfer music “If this year has taught such agood song —and Gold and NME.com’s Radar And the boys certainly it was abit of acurve- Ali said: “We were thing —Spaghetti West- us anything, it’s that you the live arena. what asense of melody. have lapped it up, and it’s did that —they were plas- ball. We were even think- together for ayear, just ern meets Scotland.” never know what’s They kick off their UK “Emeli is brilliant even found its way on to tered across US network ing when we flew to LA doing pub gigs —but Next up for the band around the corner.” tour at Glasgow’s O2 and I’m thrilled for her. Radio1. That was BEFORE CBS every night for a that we were on acandid then ayear and half ago is laying down aproper Q Get tour dates and Academy on October 2. “She does what she the band played alive show. week with the highlights camera show and they’d we decided to get serious. full-length album. That download the EP at Go to themidnightbeast. does and it’s not driven Initially referred to as a posted online. Ali, 23, send us back home at the We try to play as natu- will be another ambition the-imagineers.com com by awave of hype or mystery new act, their true image or all the other identities certainly surprised ONES 2 marketing things. “About 14 years ago I cut off all my hair and everyone thought Iwas some weirdo. “Then Emeli comes out with this fantastic blonde crop and I was like ‘yeaaaah’. “There is so much in her that reminds me of myself when Iwas that age. Ikeep telling her in my head, ‘Go and get them love’. “I’m willing her the very, very best in her career.”

Strong me. If I’d heard that That’s something Wolverhamp- members of cult Scottish alt. ton girl Bev knows all about. rock bands The Twilight Sad She’s been knocking about the and Aereogramme were charts for 17 years and is still making music together, the going strong. sound of Churches would be But she admits it’s partly down the last thing I’d expect. to being easy on the eye and Lauren, above,told me: ageing gracefully. “There was no evil genius Bev explained: “I’m not being master plan to keep the funny but being awoman, the band under wraps for so older you get your value drops — long. Iain and Martin started unless you make sure you keep working on some songs last everything nice and tidy like September and Ijoined in J-Lo and Jennifer Aniston. Those October so we’ve been chicks are beautiful. writing and recording at “I’ve done what Ican so people Iain’s studio since then. don’t look at me and think ‘age, “We were really lucky that age, age’ —but you can’t escape Lies got such agood it, it’s there. response after Neon Gold “I’m just grateful I’m still in That’s not to say I’m going to alesson in music —that’s where up, as my band will be there. I put it up online. There was this game. Alot people ask me slack off, hell no. I’m coming from.” do have one singer —Iwon’t say no cynical strategy on the go what’s your greatest achievement “By the time we leave, we Right after Belladrum, Bev has who it is but they are apretty to make sure we had a and they think I’m going to say want them to be asking when an even bigger date. She’s tying big name —they’ll be the main sell-out debut show or awards or singing with some of I’m coming back —I’ll give the knot with long-term boyfriend one. But my band keep asking anything.” the superstars Ihave. Belladrum everything I’ve got. James O’Keefe. me what I’ll do. Churches are aband that “But to be perfectly honest “It’s so important to do new And her pals want Bev to sing “I don’t think Ishould be will be embraced by fans of when Ilook back at my career, things like this because otherwise at her own reception —after she doing anything as it’s my music, not just fans of a I’m glad to still be here.” how do you continue to motivate did astar turn at Peter Crouch wedding, Ishould get to dance to particular style. It’s basically Gearing up to release her yourself if it’s the same old, and Abbey Clancy’s bash. everyone else. pop music, just classier. eighth album later this year, Bev same old? You have to look for Bev said: “This summer is the “But they think when the Lauren added: “Our plan is couldn’t be busier. new challenges.” maddest one of my life. music comes on Iwon’t be able just to keep writing and She’s got ajam-packed summer While it will be too early for to resist. Ibet they’re right.” recording to make sure but has made room to hit High- Bev to show off her new songs, Wedding As if that wasn’t enough, Bev we’ve got the best possible land festival Belladrum on she’s got something else lined up. is also going to be carrying the record up our sleeve by the August 4—joining Travis and The soul diva said: “I am going “I am still planning my wed- Olympic torch —but is gutted it’s time we get to put that out. The Wombats on the bill. to do afun tribute to Donna ding —it’s only two months away not on home turf. “No one wants to be ‘that Bev said: “It will be wicked. Summer and Whitney Houston. and there’s so much to do. Bev admitted: “I wish it was band with that one good The only things I’ve done up in They are both big singers and I “I’m writing the new album back in Wolverhampton but it’s single’. I’d die.” the Highlands have been private can’t quite get my head around which is fabulous as it’s de-stress- already been there so it’s in Churches support School shows. This will be the first time the fact we lost both of them. ing from everything else. North London where Ilive. But Of Seven Bells at Stereo in ever for what Iconsider to be a “I thought it would be remiss “The one thing you think at least I’ll get my hands on it. Glasgow on July 22. proper one —I’m so excited. of me if Ididn’t do atribute to would be easy is the wedding “It really is afull-on summer — MORE: facebook.com/ “I’ve also been told by different both women. Idon’t always think singer as I’ve invited lots of but Iwouldn’t have it any other churchestheband radio stations that the further it’s right tributes should be where people and by nature of what I way. Ilove what Ido.” Q Jim will play Churches north you go in Scotland, no one everyone cries their eyes out. do, they can sing. Q For Belladrum info and tickets to on In:Demand Uncut, comes up to play —soI’m expect- “I want to celebrate two “So I’ll have an open-mic Bev’s warm-up gig at the O2 ABC in Sunday 7-10pm on Clyde 1, ing acrowd that’s up for it. women who came and taught us session and Ihope people jump Glasgow, go to beverleyknight.com Forth One, Northsound 1, Radio Borders, Tay FM, West FM &West Sound FM. See indemandscotland.co.uk