This week (10th July) Limbo is the launch-pad for the debut single 'Wheels' from up-and-coming new Edinburgh outfit COME ON GANG! who bring a punky pop energy to the party, having been the highlight of the recent Art College Revel. Support for this momentous occasion comes from the equally fresh and exciting HAIGHT ASHBURY, who take us back to that period in the Sixties when the eponymous San Francisco district was the hub of all things psychedelic, lots of people had long hair, wore flowers, bandanas, swirly patterned clothes and said 'man' a lot - not that different to today, in fact! Psychedelia and punk all under the same roof?! Well, that's not all, because the Black Spring DJs are bringing up the rear-guard, with more classic tunes than Glastonbury Festival and a full bag of brand new delights to match.



This band are destined for great things. A guitarist (Mikey) from Galashiels, a bassist (Trev) from Dublin and a singer/drummer (Sarah) from Brighton, Come On Gang! are guaranteed to get everyone jumping to their high-octane, punky, indie-pop. They also just got through the T Break heats, so this gig acts as a warm-up for the weekend as well as a launch party for the debut single, 'Wheels', which is released 7th July and available in all the usual online stores and local record shops too (Avalanche, FOPP, HMV) through Euphonios (euphonios.com) with B-side 'Both Ends Burning'.

If you want to hear them in all their sonic glory, you know Limbo's the place to do it, though! A little bit Belle And Sebastian, a little bit Yeah Yeah Yeahs and a little bit of something else that's quite simply their own thing, if you're not feeling these tunes, you've either had your soul possessed or you need to see a shrink. Melodic, heartfelt and firing on all cylinders, Come On Gang! are a proverbial rocket-ship shooting for the moon.

When the drums and the angular guitar hooks of Coming Home ignites the audience, they hold their own. Singer/drummer Sarah Tanat-Jones has a voice like an angel. The oft-used ¡ones to watch¢ seems entirely apt here.' The Skinny (8th February , 2008)

Come on Gang! were worth waiting for. Their dynamic shouldn¢t really work alongside the raw, noisy garage-punk fire of ¡Wheels¢ and¡Bang¢, but a performance where such dissonant elements fell together nicely snared the attention without mercy. We say: like Beth Orton fronting Television.' The List **** (13th March 2008)

The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, Roxy Music and Franz Ferdinand...to that list, add Come On Gang!' Edinburgh Evening News (26th October, 2007)

myspace.com/comeongangmusic




Also warming up for a weekend in Balado are Haight Ashbury, who captivated the crowd at T Break with their mesmeric take on classic West Coast American sounds, as you might imagine for a group who take their name from the San Francisco district which formed the original hub of the psychedelic revolution in the late Sixties. Think Crosby, Still Nash & Young, the Mamas And Papas, the soundtrack to cult classic movie Easy Rider etc. It sounds unlikely but they really do capture some of that spirit while injecting a certain charm of their own.

With MGMT's hippy/psychedelic indie-dance-pop currently taking the western world by storm, we wouldn't be at all surprised if some major labels start waving cheque books at Haight Ashbury in the not-too-distant. So, yes, it's another chance to catch the next big thing at Limbo before anyone else has even cottoned on to the fact that it is, in fact, the next big thing. We may be well ahead of the curve but the rewards really are great if you join us and next year you can tell all your mates that you saw Come On Gang! and Haight Ashbury when they were both unknown quantities.

...one of the city's most promising and original up-and-coming bands.. use their Sixties' influences to create something new' (Daily Record ****)

...anything which espouses a little extra peace, love and understanding on the fighty old streets of Glasgow can only be welcomed.' (The List)

Evoking the summer of love with excellent close harmonies, they retained nevertheless a darker edge, highlighted perfectly in the epic Don't Let Your Music Die.' (The Herald)

It takes guts for a Scots band to call themselves after America's hippy mecca but boy do this trio deliver. Freelove is the anthem the 60s never had. Fantastic sixties/psychedelic guitar playing. This is poptastic Americana with a twist.' (Daily Record)

myspace.com/haightashburyuk

Well groomed, well spoken and well dressed, Wake The President brought their West Coast indie jangle to the stage, performing a tightly hewn set of politely charming songs. Much more rough and ready round the edges, Little Green Machine then ushered us into a more rocking arena and invited the crowd to surge forward (duly obliged), unleashing a bolt of raw energy to launch their new EP, What You're Looking For. It was the first time we'd seen either band but both pulled some quality entertainment from their respective bags, with Little Green Machine's drummer, Catherine, being the fourth ace lady we've witnessed on the kit at Limbo, after Boyfriend/Girlfriend's Lauren, Come In Tokyo's Anna and Come On Gang!'s singer-drummer Sarah. Why do girls make such good drummers? Is it something to do with multi-tasking, perhaps...? In any case, the triangular dynamic was completed by Jack (lead vox, extra-large bass, stripy trousers, scruffy hair) and Arthur (backing vox, guitar, even scruffier hair) up-front, stage left and right, they were good enough to impress more than just the sizable audience who came out to support them, exhibiting some decent tunes in their arsenal alongside the heavy artillery. They're playing gigs all over the capital in the coming weeks and you can expect to see them back at Limbo too before long.

Wake The President and Little Green Machine pictures by Sarah-Jane Duncan

GRACE EMILYS come and demonstrate why they are one of the most promising new bands in Scotland, PUNCH AND THE APOSTLES show why everyone's currently talking about them and REFORMATION make their live debut at Limbo. That's right it's a rare Limbo triple-bill and you just know it's going to be good with yet more party-starting antics from the Black Spring DJs.

Grace Emilys write songs crackling with energy, charm and wit. Following the self-release of a couple of EPs and then a 7" single through new Scots label Euphonios, this Dundonian indie-pop quartet have got bookings coming out of their ears, playing a string of tour dates across the land, culminating in a show in London in September. Listening to recent single Falling Down The Stairs, it's no surprse either, so infectious are its scattershot drums, catchy melodies and rousing chants. Then you check the rest of their tunes and realise this band are much more than just another fleeting indie-pop assault on the dance floor. They actually know how to write a good song and are just as adept at slow numbers (check Air off The Outlaws & The Tzar EP for proof positive of a future lighters-in the-AIR moment) as twirl-your-partner-around-the-floor, fast-paced numbers. Oh yes, we think they might just go all the way.

Bored to the grave of nu-rave? Tired of anaemic indie-pop? Worry no more, for Grace Emilys have arrived! Boasting of their barbershop influences, it's clear that this Dundonian quartet have more on their minds than the latest trend. Quirky, off-beat pop...the clue is in their song title: Be Bold Be Brave.' (The Fly)

...simply stunning.....pure poetry...' (Jim Gellatly, Xfm)

... a unique brand of skewed pop, reminiscent of The Futureheads when they wrote tunes...' (Is This Music?)

myspace.com/graceemilys




Wacky Glaswegian septet taking that Balkan gypsy thing - brass, fiddles, squeeze-box and all - and ramming it to the gills with all the energy of a pack of wolves on speed but howling in a more harmonious fashion.

How Punch and the Apostles are unsigned is a mystery because this demo EP is absolutely brilliant. Lead singer Paul Napier has already released a fantastic debut solo album 'Stuttering Hand' and formed the band with Rory Hayejahans and Doug Macgregor last year. In the space of 4 songs they manage to cover a variety of styles from blues to punk to funk with some great brass sounds added in for good measure.... probably one of the best new bands in the country....' (5/5, Is This Music?)

myspace.com/punchandtheapostles



Brand new Edinburgh band inspired by Cold War political intrigue and spy, exploring a similar post-punk sound to the likes of Bristol legends Mark Stewart & The Maffia, The Pop Group et al and making their LIVE DEBUT at Limbo.

reformationcity.co.uk

ALSO COMING UP

Also coming up at Limbo: Punch & The Apostles, Grace Emilys, Reformation, Sarah & The Snakes, Black Diamond Express, The King Hats, Night Noise Team plus loads of other buzzing brand new acts.

Check out all our forthcoming bands here

CHEAP DRINKS!

Don't forget you can take advantage of £2 bottles from any of the Voodoo Rooms' three bars by showing your Limbo wrist-band to the bartender.

REHEARSAL SPACE?

The Black Spring Rooms: competitive prices, friendly service, easy access and no fuss for as little as £7 / hour; free parking on site + six bus routes to service it in Leith. More info here

VENUE INFO

Limbo takes place at The Voodoo Rooms, West Register Street, Edinburgh.

Times: 8pm - 1am *
First band 9.15, second band 10.00

Entrance: £5/£4 *

Ph: 0131 556 7060 (venue) / 0131 477 6916 (promoter)

* except where otherwise advertised