Here are all the Christmas tracks we received during the last few months of 2020. See a full tracklist here: freshonthenet.co.uk/xmas2020

Christmas Submissions 2020

Debut album 'On Hold' due 6th April.

Pre-order from www.fennelily.com
Pre-save at http://smarturl.it/FLR009

LYRICS:

i wonder if you saw that i was sorry for the beating of my heart
when it woke you in the car park
and maybe i should tell you that i’ve villainised by body for too long
would it help you find excuses to move on?
like i needed more excuses to be stronger

i’m no mother
but i’ve done a lot
to prove to those i love that they are good enough
i don’t believe in luck so i am giving up

i hope to find a reason for my fear of feelings leaving at the start
it makes my sleeping harder
i don’t know much about you so i’m trying not to doubt you but in time
i know you’ll let me down and that is fine
a feeling i can’t shake, it’s getting stronger

i’m no mother
but i’ve done a lot
to prove to those i love that they are good enough
i don’t believe in luck
i don’t believe in much
leave it all to trust or start to give it up.

TOUR DATES:

6th Apr - Cardiff - Cardiff Clwb Ifor Bach
7th Apr - Southampton - Heartbreakers
9th Apr - Brighton - Hope & Ruin
10th Apr - London - Moth Club
11th Apr - Manchester - Soup Kitchen
12th Apr - Leeds - Brudenell Social Club
13th Apr - Glasgow - Stereo
15th Apr - Dublin - The Sound House
16th Apr - Birmingham - The Cuban Embassy
17th Apr - Bristol - Thekla
19th Apr - Amsterdam - Paradiso
20th April - Rotterdam - Motel Mozaique
21st Apr - Nijmegen - Merleyn
22nd Apr - Utrecht - Tivoli (Club 9)
23rd Apr - Cologne - Studio 672
25th Apr - Hamburg - Nochtspeicher
26th Apr - Mainz - Capitol
27th Apr - Munich - Orangehouse
28th Apr - Magdeburg - Wohnzimmerkonzerte
29th Apr - Berlin - Privat Club
1st May - Gent - Nest
2nd May - Arlon - Les Aralunaires Festival
4th May - Live at Leeds - The Wardrobe
15th Jun - Maifield Derby
21st Jul - Acoustic Lakeside
19th Aug - Greenman Festival
24th Aug - Victorious Festival
7th Sept - Festival No. 6

Car Park

This is a song inspired by a great man in my life. I wrote it a while ago (on the cello) and feel privileged to work with and have so many adventures with him. It's a bit of a cheesy love pop song really but it has a great band to back me up and was recorded with Luke Cawthra. Cheers 
 Here's a link to the video
https://youtu.be/nr1Ya6EqWms
and to my Indiegogo Crowdfunding page
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/new-beth-porter-and-the-availables-album/x/15906657#/

Who We Are

Release date: 22 June 2018 (LAB Records)
Download/streaming options: smarturl.it/popups 
www.marsicans.co.uk 

LYRICS:
I've got a secret, wanna hear it?
I've got a way you can go far
A way for us to never have to quit
So listen up and we can start

After a month you'll sail right through
A clear path, no crowded room
I'll make you money, make your dreams come true
That's just the kind of thing I do

And it'll always be sunny at the weekend
You'll always be funny when you're with your friends
Live happily ever after when the world ends
And it'll always be sunny at the weekend

If you wanna live the high life
No sign of wrinkles on your face
Just sign right up and chase the flashing lights
Be very quick, don't leave a trace

If you wanna buy a speedboat
Then come on down and follow me
I can always find another scapegoat
Someone who follows endlessly

And it'll always be sunny at the weekend
You'll always be funny when you're with your friends
Live happily ever after when the world ends
And it'll always be sunny at the weekend

All around you everything stops
Take the world, use it as a prop
If you feel you can't come unstuck
You should wait for me to pop up
And the gold and all the diamonds will
Turn to coal and oxidise and you'll
Realise you have been towing a line
When recited simply sounds like

I've got a secret, wanna hear it?
I've got a way you can go far
A way for us to never have to quit
So listen up and we can start

And it'll always be sunny at the weekend
You'll always be funny when you're with your friends
Live happily ever after when the world ends
And it'll always be sunny at the weekend

Written and performed by Marsicans

Pop-Ups (Sunny at the Weekend)

Week of Bees

Aeroplanes

you may feel caught in the headlights but they're asleep at the wheel

'Time? Why? Explain' by Sandtimer

Find on most streaming platforms and stores at: https://song.link/gb/i/1417337738
and on Bandcamp at: https://sandtimermusic.bandcamp.com/album/time-why-explain

Title quoted from This American Life 617: Fermi's Paradox (https://www.thisamericanlife.org/617/transcript) with permission from Matt Salyer.

Robert Sword - Vocals, Ukulele, Bass, Percussion 
Simon Thomas - Vocals, Guitar 
Rachel Thomas - Vocals

Written by Robert Sword 
Produced and arranged by Robert Sword and Simon Thomas 
Mixed by Giles Thomas 
Mastered by Terry Waker at Tonalex Mastering
Cover artwork by Simon Thomas
Cover design by William Thomas

Lyrics:

It's that sudden moment when you're swimming out from the beach.
You feel the current turning- it's pulling you out of reach.
You've been splashing around, looking at all the life,
but now you're flailing, borne out on the tide.

And it's a cold, cold day when it happens
but there is one long life leading on from this moment.

There in the photograph the people are all smiling-
were they really such good times or was it just good timing?
Sometimes I wonder where the photos are of me,
a summer's day in the cool shade of a forest full of conifer trees

And it's a cold, cold day when it happens
but there is one long life leading on from this moment.

Stand tall in the moonlight, stagger through the day.
There's no glamour in summertime- the fields are just too far away.
You may feel like you're on borrowed time but all they do is steal.
You may feel caught in the headlights but they're asleep at the wheel.

And it's a cold, cold day when it happens
but there is one long life leading on from this moment.

Time? Why? Explain

Lead vocals, violin, percussion - Zander Sharp
Keys/vocals - Hannah 'Jakes' Jacobs
Drums - Niko O'Brian

Written by Zander Sharp
Mixing, recording and editing by Upcycled Sounds

Artwork: William Blake, Caroline Sharp

Long forgotten languages
 have all found the advantages
of saying 'I miss you'.
Funny phrase you say alone 
when somebody you love is gone
you they miss you too.

And I'd be strong
if I never needed someone,
if I never needed someone,
if I didn't belong to 
those creatures that move in groups.

Living in confusion 
with bad conflict resolution
all because we're not brave.
Do they know the core of you 
or just this poor performance that you use
to save face?


And I'd be strong
if I never needed someone,
if I never needed someone,
if I didn't belong to 
those creatures that move in groups.

Settlements

Grey, Grey

Radio Edit of the single 'Replay' from Becky's latest album 'Golden Rising'.

Replay (Radio Edit)

A simple and honest take on the Nat King Cole classic "The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire)" performed by BBC Scotland's Singer/Songwriter of the Year, Mike McKenzie. 

Originally written by Mel Torpé and Robert Wells in 1945, this brand new arrangement was performed and recorded in Mike's home studio in Edinburgh and is set for release just in time for the Holiday season on the 27th of November.

Lyrics:

Chestnuts roasting on an open fire
Jack Frost nipping at your nose
Yule-tide carols being sung by a choir
And folks dressed up like Eskimos

Everybody knows a turkey and some mistletoe
Help to make the season bright
Tiny tots with their eyes all aglow
Will find it hard to sleep tonight

They know that Santa's on his way
He's loaded lots of toys and goodies on his sleigh
And every mother's child is gonna spy
To see if reindeer really know how to fly

And so I'm offering this simple phrase
To kids from one to ninety-two
Although it's been said many times, many ways
Merry Christmas to you

The Christmas Song - Single

The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire)

Wonderful Christmastime (feat. The Last Dinosaur)

recorded in collaboration with Donald Ross Skinner

Merry Christmas Actually

COVID-XM45

A song featuring twenty musicians from around the world and the mighty voice of Sally Bayly Aka Sally Ballet.

Here Comes a Christmas Song

When It's Starting To Snow (Please Be Mine) - Carla J. Easton & Eugene Kelly

Fresh On The Net is a music blog hosted by Tom Robinson and Team Freshnet, offering independent artists an open door and a level playing field for their music. Our inbox is open at http://freshonthenet.co.uk every Monday to Thursday morning - if you share a track with us there it will be heard by every member of our moderation team.

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For fans of: Maggie Rogers, Tom O'Dell, Ben Howard, Ben Abraham, Athlete.

Mike McKenzie (he/him) is an award winning singer/songwriter based in Edinburgh, Scotland. In 2019 Mike won BBC Radio Scotland’s ‘Singer/Songwriter of the Year’ as judged by Fran Healy (Travis), Horse McDonald, Karine Polwart, Geoff Ellis (DF Concerts) and Dee Bahl with his original song ‘Love Like This’ and, after recording the award winning single at Abbey Road, followed the advice of Fran who told him not to rush into releasing an album too quickly. Mike spent time writing, recording and independently releasing music with huge support from BBC Scotland, independent radio across the UK and Jo Whiley on BBC Radio 2 who describes his songwriting as "Gorgeous".

McKenzie’s laid back, inclusive shows have proved a smash with audiences around the UK and beyond. Touring has seen him perform and headline at iconic venues across the UK including Glasgow's King Tut’s and TRNSMT Festival, Edinburgh's Queens Hall, London's Green Note, The Drawing Room in Chesham and several SoFar Sounds shows including co-curating their Edinburgh PRIDE event and playing to a sold out room in Paris, France. He has also performed live on BBC Radio Scotland multiple times including the iconic new music show ‘The Quay Sessions with Roddy Hart’ and The Afternoon Show as their 'Artist of the Week'.

In 2023, Mike was approached by Metro 13 Studios (formerly Chamber Studio: Snow Patrol, Karine Polwart, Mogwai, Robert Smith) in Edinburgh where, after just one session, they saw the huge potential in his talent and immediately offered him a record deal with their indie label Metro 13 Records. His debut album ‘I’d Wait Again’ is set for release in April 2025.

Contact: mikemckenzieonline@gmail.com
Website: www.mikemckenzieonline.com

The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire)

Mike McKenzie

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