NEW BATCH

New moustashes fresh out of the oven for Messy Sea. They're all set to become taste-tastic necklaces.

CE

NEON BUZZ

This blog has been drifting around, forgotten for far too long. We've had a few ideas brewing since the New Year. It's shameful that it has taken six months to find the momentum to finally put a post up but the hope is it'll encourage at least one new one a day. Where would we be without wishful thinking?

I've been sketching a few new logos, I'll add some more later but the most recent is this one that I scribbled down while I was supposed to be taking minutes last week. I might clean it up and use it for something later.

CE

TOMORROW: See Mystery Jets at Chevrolet Spark Unscheduled Tour

WHEN: 8th April, Vinyl Factory, London

WHAT: The Chevrolet Spark Unscheduled Tour kicks off in London tomorrow night. Touted as a pop-up tour, it gives people the chance to vote where the next gig will be held, often offering the chance to visit interesting, old and unlikely venues. For the first show headliners Mystery Jets will be showcasing tracks from their third album under Kate Moross light installations and WAH nails will be offering free nail makeovers while djs play tracks from an overturned Chevrolet styled into a dj booth. Sounds like a fun way to spend a wet Thursday evening in Soho.

Get tickets by signing up to the mailing list

http://www.sparkunscheduled.co.uk/

Claire Evans

LIVE: Jeffrey Lewis and the Junkyard, Bowery Ballroom, New York. 20th June, 2009

The small but perfectly formed Bowery Ballroom was host to the delicious Jeffrey Lewis, his brother, a friend, and the friend's boyfriend - otherwise known as the Junkyard, Jeffrey's band, at the end of June. Playing tracks from the recent 'Em Are I album as well as songs from his back catalogue, his two hour set not only kept my jetlagged eyes open but had me dancing to "If Life Exists," and "Something Good" like I'd actually had some sleep in the last 20 hours.

With such an intimate vibe Lewis was clearly happy to be playing his home town, and if you erase the almost painful support acts (Diane Cluck & Pepi Ginsberg) from memory this was the perfect introduction to NYC; please do "keep on strumming like you don't know what's coming" Jeffrey Lewis.

Amy Honda

FESTIVAL: Field Day

WHEN: 1st August. Victoria Park, London

WHAT: Now in its third year, Field Day brings a summer fete and this years best line up to Victoria Park tomorrow. Field Day is definitely the music lovers festival; so much so that it's impossible to pick between the tents - Bugged Out! tent is hosting everyone's favourite DJ Erol Alkan, over in the Adventures in the Beetroot Field tent there is The Big Pink and Micachu; Mumford and Sons are a highlight from the Village Mentality stage and headliners Mogwai will be playing their only UK festival set of the year on the Eat Your Own Ears stage.

If you can prize yourself away from the music, there is all the fun of the fayre in the Village Green, where you make up rude words during a game of scrabble, try your luck with the tombola or gorge yourself on homemade cake.

WEAR: Something presentable, you don't want to look a state picking up your egg and spoon race winners prize.

Tickets can be bought online or on the door.

http://www.fielddayfestivals.com/

Claire Evans

FESTIVAL: Hop Farm Festival

WHEN: 4th July - 5th July. The Hop Farm, Paddock Wood, Kent

WHAT: The festival season is fast upon us; after next weekend's Glastonbury follows the Hop Farm Festival. After the success of last year's Neil Young headlining show Hop Farm has extended to two days. The ethos is simple - everyone gets the same treatment - there's no VIPs and branding is shunned in favour of a purist festival experience of music, music and more music.

2ManyDJs are almost worth the entrance fee alone, but head to the smaller stages for White Denim, 65 Days of Static and Rumble Strips.


WEAR: What difference does it make? This is a back to basics affair so t-shirt and jeans will do nicely.

Tickets are still available

http://www.hopfarmfestival.com/

Claire Evans

FESTIVAL: Standon Calling

WHEN: 31st July - 2nd August. Standon, Hertfordshire

WHAT: Our favourite small festival, Standon Calling returns for another weekend on 31st July. Fusing art and design with music (and a swimming pool,) Standon Calling is a tiny 3000 capacity festival with a big pull. Its small setting offers a great chance to see little bands who will soon be big bands, like Golden Silvers, Michachu and this year's headliners Friendly Fires. Other highlights are Son of Dave and Femi Kuti and the, frankly odd addition, of Tony Christie if that's your thing.

As well as the music, there will be literature, theatre and of course art - look out for the large Eidophone, a machine that turns music into paintings.

Standon Calling should be the benchmark for every other festival out there.

WEAR: As the theme is Space, it has to be those Moon Boots I thought I'd never be able to wear

Tickets are still available.

http://www.standon-calling.com/

Claire Evans