BlackBud get signed!

The band that eFestivals has been tipping for the big time since we first saw them in March (when we gave them their first national publicity) – BlackBud – have just signed a major recording deal, with the label that helped Travis to success, Independiente.

They chose this label as the culture of the band better matched an independent label, and they’ll be working directly with Andy MacDonald who has broken great songwriting talent such as Portishead, Travis, Beautiful South, The La's, Billy Bragg, Gabrielle, The Housemartins and Paul Weller's solo career. We look forward to hearing their first major releases with great interest, and wish them all the success they truly deserve.

Their rise has been nothing short of meteoric. Firstly they won two slots at Glastonbury this year, one from a bands competition last summer (for a slot on the Avalon Stage), and then as winners of a competition with entries from 2,500 bands for a slot in the New Tent. Winning that competition gave them a quarter page piece in NME under the extremely unimaginative headline of "Is this the new Oasis?" (if they are, I guess I’ve been listening to a different band called Oasis to the writer of that piece – they’re nothing like Oasis, and in eFestivals opinion, much better).

The 6,000 or so who saw them at Glastonbury (or anywhere else) will already know that BlackBud will go places. They even managed to sell out of all their self-produced CDs at Glastonbury after their shows there, with some so impressed they were happy to queue for half an hour to get their hands on one.


BlackBud rock Glastonbury's New Tent
This coming weekend they’re busy, with three festival shows. You can see them at Larmer Tree on Friday and at Ashton Court Festival on Sunday.

And on Saturday, they play at Guilfest, where of course eFestivals sponsor the Cosmic Comedy Tent. We mentioned to Guilfest that they should book BlackBud back in early April. Following their own listen to BlackBud’s demos, Guilfest agreed, and they were booked, initially for a slot on the LiveClub Stage (which is for unsigned bands). Following recommendations to Guilfest from two respected industry figures, they were then elevated onto a slot towards the bottom of the Uncut Stage (the second stage).

And now after their great showing at Glastonbury, and the major interest many record companies have shown in signing them, they’re playing second to last (from 9pm) on the Uncut Stage. This is after stage headliners The Levellers (acoustic), who have asked to play earlier in the night due to travel commitments, and before Ian McNabb. On the Main Stage at the same time there’s Katie Melua, so if you’re not a fan of female singer-songwriters, we suggest you head to the Uncut Stage for a real treat. We’ll see you there!

Tickets for Guilfest can still be purchased by telephone: call 01483 454159. Tickets are priced at £32 for each day, £70 for all three days, and £80 with camping.

To see the full Guilfest line-up, click here.

Guilfest takes place at Stoke Park, Guildford, Surrey from Friday 16th July until Sunday 18th July. The campsite opens at 10am on the Friday, and the festival gates open at midday. The first entertainment is to be had in the Cosmic Comedy Tent from 2pm, and all the music stages start at 5pm.

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