It's The Taking Part That Counts - the Opening Ceremony

as you know, last Saturday (28th July) saw the Global Pop Sportsday live in London's Union Chapel, well, those nice Arctic Circle chaps have a PODCAST which includes live tunes from Pete Astor, Hong Kong In The 60's and the Leaf Library (among others)... why not have a listen?

Arctic Circle's Sports Day Broadcast by Arctic Circle Radio on Mixcloud

How Does It Feel's gig of the week

HDIF's Gig Of The Week Sat July 28 - Pete Astor + Leaf Library + Hong Kong In The 60s at Union Chapel A special daytime show in the bar at the Union Chapel to celebrate the release of "It's The Taking Part That Counts", an olympics themed compilation album released by the estimable Where It's At Is Where You Are records (the folks that released the Bruce Springsteen tribute album that inadvertently led to the formation of Allo Darlin' as a band). Headliner Pete Astor once led The Loft and The Weather Prophets, of course, while both The Leaf Library and Hong Kong In The 60s have played HDIF Presents before - all are highly recommended. It's free admission and runs from midday to 2pm, and doesn't feature any announcements by Boris Johnson!

it's the taking part that counts launch party

yup, just 10 days to go now until the opening ceremony, so seems a good time to mention our own opening ceremony, and seven reasons it will be BETTER

1. the wiaiwya global pop sportsday is FREE!
2. it takes place in the Union Chapel - the best live venue in London!
3. it's on a Saturday 28th July!
4. it's presented by those nice people at Arctic Circle!
5. it starts at Midday, and goes on til two, leaving the alfernoon to hang out with CHUMS!
6. it features Pete Astor!, Hong Kong in the 60s! and the Leaf Library!
7. you can get your copy of the album there, so you don't have to listen to Muse constantly throughout August!

Ellis Island Sound: Ergo Squad Box

you know i've been listening to Pete Astor's records for about three quarters of my life... here's a new one, thrilled to bits of course, it's magnificent...

Ellis Island Sound - Ergo Squad Box

Ellis Island Sound is the duo of Pete Astor and David Sheppard; they celebrate their fifteenth birthday this year, having made instrumental records together, at a gentlemanly pace, since 1997. They have recorded albums and EPs for Heavenly, Peacefrog, Static Caravan and Thrill Jockey and in 2008 they took a fifteen-piece, kraut-folk incarnation of EiS around the UK festival circuit, memorably gracing the main stages at Green Man and the Big Chill.

Not entirely strangers to matters sporting, EiS once provided the background music for Channel 4's horse-racing coverage (fact!) and an early single was titled 'Olympic 2020' - a retro-futurist punt at the theme to a distant event. But the call came early and EiS have now provided Wiaiwya with an Olympic rowing theme.

'Ergo Squad Box' celebrates one of the few Olympic sports you can do sitting down.