12 February 2009 New album Better Than Heavy - details revealed

Mongrel.  A coalition of the willing.  A force of nature based on musical artists who want to say something about the world they live in and be free of the merry go round of make record release make record release.   Attached to the old fashioned notion that its cool to care about the world you live in made popular by the punks and the 60's counter culturalists before them we got together and made a record from our own pockets to make a stand and put our sword in the dirt.  Bringing together people from different parts in the world of different musical styles, Mongrel merges the UK indie music scene with a hip hop community ignored for the large part by the wider media.  Tackling themes shied away from by mainstream musicians, Mongrel was mixed and dubbed by Adrian Sherwood of ON-U-SOUND.  Made in the backdrop of London at a time when the BNP were on the increase and a man who calls Black People "picaninnies" is the mayor,  Mongrel is a celebration of everything that is good about Britain at the same time as pointing out its flaws.  A coming together of different cultures to form a common cause.

 

Mongrel release their debut album ‘Better Than Heavy’ on 9^th March 2009 on Wall of Sound, and single ‘Hit From the Morning Sun’ on 16^th  February     The band, who consist of vocalist Lowkey, Andy Nicholson (ex. Arctic Monkey bassist), Drew McConnell (Babyshambles guitarist) and vocalist Jon McClure and keyboard and horns man Joe Moskow (both from Reverend and the Makers) are joined by some of the finest names in the UK hip hop scene on various tracks – including 16 rappers joining Jon and Lowkey on one track alone!

 

MONGREL – BETTER THAN HEAVY – Released 9^th March 2009

 

Mongrel … on tour 2009   

 

  1 February           NORWICH, Waterfront                                 

  2 February           OXFORD, Academy                          

  3 February           BRISTOL, Fleece                               

  5 February           STOKE, Sugarmill                             

  6 February           GLASGOW, King Tuts                                  

  7 February           MIDDLESBOROUGH, The Arena    

  8 February           NOTTINGHAM, Brownes                 

10 February           YORK, Duchess                                

11 February           MANCHESTER, Club Academy       

13 February           BRIGHTON, Coalition                                  

14 February           SHEFFIELD, Plug                              

18 February           LONDON, Scala                                

 

All tickets on sale now priced £8 except London £10.   Door at 7.30pm for all shows.