The three touring acts from the US of A playing this one would usually be enough to have muchos pairs of ears twitching in anticipation: Fresh from the Primavera Sound festival in Barcelona, Julian Lynch, Ducktails and Big Troubles play some genuinely interesting music in many, many guises, all courtesy of Brooklyn-based indie label Olde English Spelling Bee (here’s a Guardian piece on them).

Want to read more? Well, whatever you think of hipper-than-thou site Pitchfork and their bizarrely precise ratings system, these reviews of the above are pretty good: Julian Lynch, Ducktails, Big Troubles

So far, so great, but, and a rather exciting but at that, the show also sees what should be a triumphant return from Stonehaven indie-popsters Copy Haho. With their long-awaited, self-titled debut album finally set for release on 20 June, this should be quite the celebration. Check out “Dying Breed“ from the album below, and the cover below that. You’ll be hearing a lot about them over the next few weeks I reckon. All in all, a must-see show…

Dying Breed by copyhaho 

So, why are we featuring this?  Well, the EP was partly recorded in Aberdeen (as well as a Portacabin in Stonehaven, the University of Glasgow, Edinburgh and the streets of Prague we’re reliably informed) and features members of Copy Haho, PVH and local cellist Rachel Lind.  We’re promised some live dates in the summer too.  Should be quite something…

Check out a track from the EP after the pic:

Deathpodal – Squirrel and the Fox

[audio http://thekiosque.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/deathpodal-exu__wow-02-squirrel-and-the-fox.mp3]

‘Exu_Wow’ will be released on 29 March by Electropapknit Records

‘Twas a genuinely eclectic bill, and it worked:  Haho ruled, Moon Unit assaulted and AZI flowed.  Good times.

All photos by Neil Henderson, expect more of his work on the site very soon indeed…

Copy Haho

Copy Haho

Moon Unit

Moon Unit

AZI Cool

If you’ve been paying any attention at all to this site, you’ll know about Stonehaven’s Copy Haho; and you’ll know they’re rather good indeed.  This is likely to be their last Aberdeen show for a wee while, so it’d be rude not to check it out.  Support comes from psychedelic Glasgow types Moon Unit (formerly Nackt Insecten Trio) and excellent local hip-hop MC Kuda.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kz4vAFLfMXU]

Friday 26 February | The Lemon Tree | 8pm | £8.50 Tickets
Errors, Marionettes, Min Diesel
Fantastic Glasgow electronica ‘n’ guitars outfit

Saturday 27 February | The Tunnels | 7pm | £5 Tickets
There Will Be Fireworks, Lions.Chase.Tigers, Farewell Singapore
Superb Scottish post-rock band and really good support – Cancelled (to be rescheduled)

Thursday 4 March | The Tunnels | 7.30pm | £5 Tickets
Copy Haho, Moon Unit, Kuda
First Aberdeen show for a while from the Stonehaven indie-pop dudes

Sunday 7 March | The Tunnels | 8pm | £10 Tickets
Richmond Fontaine, Alana Levandoski
Critically-acclaimed Americana from Portland, Oregon

Wednesday 10 – Sunday 14 March | The Blue Lamp | Various  Tickets
Aberdeen Jazz Festival
The Jazz Festival is back!

Boom!  There is no Giant Kiosque Foam Thumb by the way.  Wish there was.  Local foam thumb-makers are welcome to get in touch however…

OK, OK, brushing off the seasonal cynicism, here’s something to warm the cockles; Joe from ‘Stonehaven’s own’ Copy Haho features on a spankingly catchy Christmas pop tune alongside members of Los Campesinos!, Sky Larkin, Slow Club, The Sound of Arrows, James Yuill and others under the nom de plume ‘Hunks’. Check out the vid below, then seek out and download the song from itunes (it’s available from Monday 14th December). Why?  Well, all proceeds go to the RSPCA in an effort to (in the participants own words) ‘help save the cats, puppies and geese who could be left homeless after the festive period’.  Amen to that. There’s even a blog about it all too. However, some of the jumpers featured in the video are seriously, seriously disturbing . You have been warned…

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNbwxaX_olg]