IT’S ONE of those names that no one is quite sure how to pronounce but one that you’re likely to hear a lot of in the coming months.
Fenech-Soler are an electro-pop quartet from just across the Warwickshire border in Kings Cliffe, Northamptonshire.
They comprise brothers Ben and Ross Duffy (respectively vocals and guitar), Andrew Lindsay (drums/synths) and Daniel Soler (bass/keyboards) and took their title from the latter’s full Maltese surname – Duffy having been bagged by at least two other artists while Lindsay, frankly, is a touch on the bland side.
Having made their mark supporting the likes of White Lies, Groove Armada and Kelis, they picked up some uniformly positive reviews on the festival circuit, showcasing a debut album which got the thumbs-up from most of the critics in the specialist mags and the posh Sunday papers.
They’re on the V Festival bill this weekend and will have a quick breather before setting out on a headline tour that takes in Birmingham’s HMV Institute on Saturday, September 24, and Nottingham’s Rescue Rooms on Saturday, October 1.
And in a field that hasn’t produced too much genuinely original for a while they are well worth a listen – try Demons or The Cult Of Romance and you’ll instantly know if they are your cup of Anglo-Maltese tea.
* The final line-up for this year’s Rock Sound Riot tour has been confirmed with headliners Every Time I Die joined by Trash Talk, Defeater and Spycatcher.
It will be ETID’s only UK appearance before the release of their as yet untitled sixth album and tickets are now available at www.gigsandtours.com or 0844 811 0051 including dates at Birmingham’s O2 Academy2 (844 477 2000) on Saturday, December 3 and Nottingham’s Rescue Rooms (0845 413 4444) on Monday 5.
* Katy Perry, whose world tour stops off at Birmingham’s NIA Arena on October 26, has matched Michael Jackson’s record of hitting the No.1 spot in the Billboard Hot 100 with five singles from the same album.
Last Friday Night (TGIF) followed California Gurls, Teenage Dream, Firework and ET to the top and made it six consecutive No.1s after Waking Up In Vegas from 2009’s One Of The Boys.
In case your memory is failing you, Jacko’s five hits from Bad were I Just Can’t Stop Loving You, Bad, The Way You Make Me Feel, Man In The Mirror and Dirty Diana.
* The Guillemots will release I Don’t Feel Amazing Now, a track from third album Walk the River, as their new single on October 23 before heading out on a tour that takes in Birmingham’s HMV Library on November 9.
* The Drums fly over in November for a tour to promote second album Portamento, kicking off at Birmingham’s HMV Library on November 28. Tickets go on sale today, £13.50 from www.gigsandtours.com / 0844 811 0051, and Portamento is out on September 5 along with new single Money.
* The Stones, a tribute band dedicated to M Jagger and co, play Stoney Stanton Club tomorrow. The show starts at 8.30pm and is open to non-members – tickets £10 from 01455 272492.
* Manchester Orchestra have lined up a headline UK tour to showcase their third album Simple Math and will play Birmingham’s HMV Institute Library on Tuesday October4 (tickets now available from www.gigsandtours.com /0844 2485037.
* Fresh from their UK tour with Journey and Styx, Foreigner release new album Acoustique on September 26. It features unplugged versions of hits like I Want to Know What Love Is, Cold As Ice and Waiting For A Girl Like You and will also be available as a CD/DVD package.
