VAN DER NEER are on a mission. Like Marlow in The Heart Of Darkness, this intrepid York-based quartet are savaging their way through the digital wasteland, assailing jungles of memes and chattering sound bites, to bring you, good traveller, salvation for your soul. They search out the uninitiated, deliver the ex-communicated and bathe all and sundry in the mighty soul-soaked rock of their ministry.

The groove-laden bass exhortations of Stuart Fletcher (The Seahorses, Happy Mondays, St. Etienne) demand attention. The haunting tribal rhythms of Dave Hartley (Hijak Oscar) are a clarion call to action. Carl Hetherington’s architectural ivory musings lure unsuspecting web natives into trance-like reveries and the winding, deep elllum melodies of singer/guitarist Simon Snaize call the faithful to prayer.

Have no fear of false idols and digital demi-gods - 
Van Der Neer’s debut single ‘Everybody Knows’ from the album Quicksilver offers benediction. The single is due out January 17th followed by the album in April. Follow them here www.vanderneer.co.uk, and save yourself from the fiery depths.

A unique gypsy jazz quartet made up from four of Ayrshire's top musicians, The Cafeorchestra are an acoustically electrifying band playing traditional gypsy and folk music with some originals and jazz standards in their own unique style. John Duffy leads the band and is a brilliant bouzouki player and singer. Ian Newlands on guitar is heavily influenced by Django Reinhardt, his solos are brilliant. Karen Henderson on fiddle is recognised as one of the finest fiddlers in the country with her husband Martin an excellent musician in his own right completing the quartet on bass guitar.

Simon Snaize is following