Hanami is a duo born from the necessity to keep their gypsy souls alive whilst celebrating street music as a protest against an unsatisfying and wasteful society. Their love of nature and music combines in the title of their debut studio album ‘Philomelos” due to be released in November through Smugglers Records.  "Philomelos" comes from the ancient Greek tongue and means song loving, by way of a songbird.

As part of the album’s release in November and December, Hanami will journey the length of England to perform in their favorite venues and along with a few new places thrown into the mix to keep them on their toes. In the spring of 2014 Hanami will also return to mainland Europe in search of new street corners and music lovers.

Their strange and enchanting combination of psychedelic folk, acoustic guitar and marching drum, along with male/ female harmonies has kept audiences hooked in cities across Europe for the past three years. Living the life of the busker has given obvious strength to their vocals and helped them to build a captivated audience. Chanted protests, jingle jangle crooners and eerie folk tales of the road come together in a colourful explosion on this rare debut and are sure to stand the test of time.

They have spent the last 5 years traveling and performing as Hanami and psychedelic folk progsters Uncle Meat and The Highway Children throughout Europe. 
They have supported for the acclaimed Grande Mothers of Invention (featuring original members of Frank Zappa's band), Misty’s Big Adventure, The Patti Smith Band, Israel's Boom Pam and Syd Artur 
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SESP5xFIOVg

“Great Voices” – Patti Smith

“A fire ball of energy” – Don Preston

Follow the tour @ www.hanamimusic.co.uk
For more details contact: fastnbulbus@gmail.com  or will@smugglersrecords.com

Hanami - Hearts Of Yarn

Hanami - Go Tell Someone Who Gives a  Fuck

'Kent Coast Folk with an African Twist' The Independent NEW ALBUM GOLD OR DUST http://www.smugglersrecords.com/2013/07/17/cocos-lovers-gold-or-dust
Biography
Formed in early 2008, Cocos Lovers (pronounced Co-Koss), are a 6-8 piece band from Deal on the Kent coast. A close-knit band made of family members and friends who all contribute to the writing and arrangements of the bands songs.

The band comprises of Will Greenham (vocals/guitar/mandolin), Natasha Greenham (vocals/violin), Nicola Vella (vocals/flute/percussion), David Hatton (lead guitar), Billy Glinn (vocals/bass guitar), Phil Self (vocals/mandolin/guitar/banjo), Stewart Hughes (drums/percussion) and James Gow (trumpet/percussion).

Since forming they have become a favourite on the UK festival scene and gained a reputation for fantastic multi-instrumental performances combined with choir like harmonies and glorious widescreen melodies. The music is heartfelt and pure combing traditional folk, African and Eastern rhythms and strains of the Deep South.

They released their debut album ‘Johannes’ in spring 2010 too much critical acclaim. ‘Johannes’ was described by critics as ‘an album full of joyous curveballs that keeps you guessing, as banjos, violins, percussion, skin drums all work together beautifully against the group harmonies’. Their second album ‘Elephant Lands’ was recorded in January and February of this year at Muskie studios (converted caravans on a working farm in the heart of the Kent countryside) with Paul Clifford (Be-Good Tanya’s/Groanbox) and mixed by psychedelic space goats producer Matt Tweed. The album has been picking up great reviews over the summer.

Cocos Lovers have toured both the UK and Europe. They have appeared at a number of festivals this year, which included three slots at Glastonbury 2011. Last years roster included, amongst others Cambridge Folk Festival, Green Man Festival, Broadstairs Folk Week, Sidmouth Folk Week, Lounge on the Farm and Secret Garden Party. 2011 sees them make a welcome return too many of these festivals, as well as appearances at Kendall Calling, Sunrise, Cloud Cuckoo Land and more.

Cocos Lovers -The Spirit That Swallowed You Whole

First single from Will Varley's debut album 'Advert Soundtracks' coming on release 17th June 2011. Send us a message if you'd like to remix the track.

Buy 'Advert Soundtracks' here, http://goo.gl/CdPOC

In 2001 Will Varley invented music as we know it today. After a short stint playing the acoustic clubs of London, he was signed up to EMI records with a half a million pound contract. The following year his first single got to number 497 in the Afghan charts. Around the same time, due to the pressure of this success and a rigorous touring schedule, Varley started experimenting with hardcore drugs. By 2005 he was having drugs for breakfast, lunch and dinner. One time he even mistook a small child for a drug and tried to inhale him. Eventually, one December night, he was found with shit coming out of his nipples because there was so many drugs in his body and was rushed to the nearest hospital in a taxi. Shortly after this incident he went to rehab and when he came out he married his childhood sweetheart David Jason. They now live in Virginia Water with their two children "Apple" and "Twat". After a long break from music, Varley has finally revealed he is working on a new record which will be made up entirely of Wham! covers. In a statement last week Varley said "They were always a big influence on me, right from the start, so I wanted to give something back to them". The album "Whamalo Varley Wham" will be released on Smugglers records June 2014...




Will Varley - The Sound of the Markets Crashing

Will Varley - A Monkey On A Rock

Check out the new video from Will Varley.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMxwqZVL9L4

Will Varley - King For a King

From the forthcoming album 'Elephant Lands'. Anchor to the Moon is one of 14 tracks set to transport you. Album release July 15th. 

Cocos Lovers - Anchor to the Moon

Emily (Live @ St Marys Art Centre)

The Spirit That Swallowed You Whole (Live @ St Marys Arts Centre)

Under The Hawthorn Tree( Live @ St Marys)

'Emily ' taken from the critically acclaimed 3rd Album by Cocos Lovers

'Absolutely delightful'  - Bob Harris, Radio 2
'North African Kent Vibes. Great Track'  - Huey Morgan, Radio 2
‘Kent Coast Folk with an African Twist’  - The Independent
‘A fascinating conglomerate of influences…The world is indeed their oyster’  - Froots

Emily - Single - Edit

The brand new single from Hot Feet, taken from the forthcoming EP Mist is Dust

"Truly nothing short of fabulous... really wonderful" - Marc Riley, 6Music

"I predict great things for Hot Feet"  - Guy Garvey, 6Music


THREE BLACK CROSSES

Harvest Moon taken from the Magic Lanterns new album 'Love of too much Living'

"A classic album, I love it!"
- Bob Harris, BBC Radio 2

"Outstanding acoustic songwriting"
- Tom Robinson, BBC Radio 6 Music

Harvest Moon

The new single from Cocos Lovers. Released Monday the 25th May.
Come to the release shows.
 23 rd May Astor Theatre 
Tickets http://theastor.org/index.php?main_page=product_event_info&products_id=488

28th May The Borderline London
http://theborderlinelondon.com/new/listings/upcoming-events/24161/coco-lovers-special-guests/

Cocos Lovers -Listening Ear

Once a month Smugglers Records Shop records, produces and releases a record live. You arrive around 730 have a few local ales watch a great concert and go home with a record slightly sozzled! 

This month we had Billy and Phil, the dynamic acoustic duo from Cocos Lovers and The Hellfire Orchestra.

The Shop Sessions #1 Billy and Phil ; Tell Old Bill

Shop Sessions number 2 ! Recorderd at Smugglers Records shop 9 King Street Deal l , and released on the same night! This time with Benjamin Folke Thomas the legendary swedish blues / fingerpicking genius.

Gettysburg

Usually the best music is heard when you least expect it. That was the case with Jodie, she played an open spot at a comedy cabaret club called The Private Widdle Social Club. Just one song, but that was enough, we were bewitched. She had a presence, poetry and wisdom well beyond her years. That was just under a year ago.
After sending Paul Clifford (The Be Good Tanyas, Groanbox, Cocos Lovers) a song recorded on her phone, he became convinced that she was in fact 378 and not 16. Together, with the help of a few of the Cocos Lovers, Paul and Jodie recorded her debut EP The Day The Moon Left, in Paul's straw lined caravan; Muskie Studios. It's a beautiful bittersweet record inspired by great writers such as Italo Calvino and scientific tragedies like the moon leaving us at 4cm per year. 

Jodie Goffe - Searching To Be Lost

Smuggler’s Records are delighted to announce exclusive UK dates for Senegalese Superstar Nuru Kane.
Originally from Dakar, Senegal, Nuru Kane moved to Paris in the 1990’s and is now internationally famous on the world music scene in France, North Africa and Japan. In Paris, his vocal and multi-instrumental abilities found him in demand both fronting his own band and guesting with others. Yet Kane did not truly find his musical direction until a trip to Morocco left him captivated by the rhythms of Gnawa.

While his music is loosely described as Afrobeat, Nuru’s influences take in blues, jazz, reggae and funk. All his music is laced with a persuasive dance rhythm and Nuru’s infectious sense of humour. A Nuru Kane gig takes the audience on a journey from mellow Desert Blues to a foot-stomping dance party

Towering well over six feet tall in trademark headgear and 24 hour sunglasses and playing his three stringed Moroccan bass – guimbri - he is, in style and music, the missing link between Youssou N’Dour and Bootsy Collins.

In 2004, Nuru Kane and his band Bayefall Gnawa invited to perform at Mali’s legendary Festival In The Desert 

Their impressive performance at Festival In The Desert lead to an invitation from the UK’s Riverboat Records to record an album and he was nominated for a BBC World Music Award in 2007.

Nuru Kane Poulo

We are an independent record label and artist collective based in Deal, Kent [UK].

MANIFESTO:-

Smugglers Records was founded in the midst of the UK’s worst recession since the second world war. As the fat cats scattered and buckled under the weight of their own greed, and the music industry seemed to die a quick and solitary death. At the back of a small pub by the sea, as the rolling winds argued ferociously outside and someone fumbled around on a violin, Smugglers was borne to the clink of ale glasses and the promise of a new way of doing things.

Smugglers Records is not a business, nor does it want to get rich. We are free from the trappings of profit margins and this gives us the power to take risks with the music we release. Sustainability for smugglers records is about ecology, not economics.

We have no executives, or managers. We have no self congratulating Audits or reviews. We do not release music in an attempt to accumulate profits. We attempt to release music that is honest and powerful, that attempts even for a moment, to make us all feel a little less alone on this planet. We release music for the same reason that we have sung, banged on drums and tuned tortoise guts since first people climbed down from the trees.

We run various nights and parties across the UK. We release music and distribute it digitally and physically across the country. We work together, as a collective, to get things done and to keep the ball rolling and we are always looking for people to join us on our journey. Capitalism is dying, you can read it in the free newspapers while you make your way to work. You can watch it on the televisions and you can see it for yourself in the borded up shop fronts on the highstreet. If we are going to survive, we must devise new ways of moving forward. The music industry is in it’s final hours, but music itself will never die, in fact it’s only just getting started.

Smugglers Records

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