THE XCERTS’ story began around the turn of the century when then 13-year-olds Murray MacLeod (vocals, guitar) and Jordan Smith (bass, vocals) met in the headmaster’s office of their school in Aberdeen. In 2006 they relocated to Brighton and met drummer and Exeter exile Tom Heron, where the line-up of THE XCERTS was finalised. After a barrage of dates with Future of the left, Bat for Lashes, Biffy Clyro, Make Model, Cage the Elephant, Brakes, Get Cape.Wear Cape. Fly and Fighting with Wire and recent supports with Enter Shikari and Feeder, THE XCERTS are gearing up for recording their debut full length album late summer with producer Dave Eringa (Manic Street Preachers / Idlewild) . They’re a double edged sword of ferocious guitar and dainty, poetic words - a distorted pop band who fuse the influences of fellow countrymen Idlewild and Biffy Clyro with the thoughtful approach to songwriting of old school ‘emo’ bands like Jimmy Eat World and Bright Eyes. With support from Radio 1, XFM, MTV2, Rock Sound and !Kerrang, and a work ethic of epic proportions with a live show to match, these are exciting times for the Aberdeen / Exeter and Brighton based trio. “Nothing short of astonishing” - !Kerrang “Ludicrously Punchy” – Steve Lamacq “’The Xcerts are going to be making big strides in 2008” - Drowned in Sound Following the release of their critically acclaimed debut album ‘In The Cold Wind We Smile’ The Xcerts can now reveal plans for their next single. ‘Just Go Home’ will be released on 8th June through Xtra Mile Recordings as a download on iTunes and all major DSPs. Fans who purchase ‘Just Go Home’ in the week of release are eligible for an additional free live track recorded at the band’s recent sold out Glasgow show and mixed by Dave Eringa (Idlewild, Manic Street Preachers,) who also produced the band’s debut album. For more information please see www.xtramilerecordings.com No strangers to the road, The Xcerts who spent a lot of last year touring with the likes of Get Cape, Wear Cape. Fly, Twin Atlantic, Feeder and Fight Like Apes will soon embark on a national tour supporting My Vitriol while stopping off at every festival along the way!

Dates below:

MAY
15th - Great Escape Festival
17th - Aberdeen Tunnels - Supporting My Vitriol
18th - Liverpool Barfly - Supporting My Vitriol
20th - Cardiff Barfly - Supporting My Vitriol
21st - Exeter The Hub - Supporting My Vitriol
22nd - Southampton Joiners - Supporting My Vitriol
23rd - Audio, Brighton
JUNE
5th - Herts Uni Summer Ball
6th - Hull Uni Summer Ball
20th - Lexapalooza Festival, London
24th - Southend Arts Festival
25th - Warwick Uni
JULY
3rd - Electric Bay, Perth
4th - Electric Bay, Perth
5th - Perth Music Festival, Perth
24th - Wickerman Festival (Solus Festival), Scotland
25th - Truck Festival
26th - Truck Festival
AUGUST
1st - Leopallooza Festival, Cornwall
30th - Beachdown Festival Brighton

Levi’s® OnesToWatch® returns to Brighton’s Great Escape Festival this May with a massive party packed full of essential ingredients; an earful of top class acts, a fistful of quality DJ sets and a surprise show thrown in for good measure. Taking over popular venue Audio for the full three days of the festival, Levi’s® will host a series of afternoon BBQs with DJ sets from previous OnestoWatch® acts FrankMusik and Mystery Jets, who’ll be taking to the decks and revealing their record collections and choice of party soundtrack. Special wristbands for these sessions will be available exclusively at The Levi’s® Store in Brighton’s Churchill Square every day from 8th - 16th May. The evenings will be packed to the rafters as a hand picked selection of top-notch musical talent storms the main stage. Thursday will be headlined by the self-proclaimed ‘dirty psychedelic flower punks’, Black Lips, followed on Friday by Scottish lads The Twilight Sad who will be fresh back from a European tour supporting Mogwai. The much-hyped Hockey lead the way on Saturday, a four-piece Portland band who are set to release their debut album ‘Mind Chaos’ in June. Following the live gigs, Audio will play host to three late night bashes, in the shape of the Levi’s® OnesToWatch® After Parties, featuring Black Lips, Metronomy and Heartbreak supplying the party soundtrack.

The Levi’s® OnesToWatch® @ The Great Escape Festival 2009 confirmed line-up:

Thursday 14th May
Levi’s® BBQ & Frank Musik DJ Set* – Above Audio, 5.01pm-7pm
Levi’s® OnesToWatch® Show: Black Lips + Dananananakroyd + Mika Miko + Video Nasties -7.30pm-11pm
Levi’s® OnesToWatch® After Party: Featuring Black Lips DJ set-11pm-3am

Friday 15th May
Levi’s® BBQ and Mystery Jets DJ Set* – Above Audio, 5.01-7pm:
Levi’s® OnesToWatch® Show: The Twilight Sad + Dinosaur Pileup + Chew Lips + To The Bones - 7.30pm-11pm
Levi’s® OnesToWatch® After Party*: Featuring Metronomy DJ set + Special Guests - 11pm-3am:

Saturday 16th May
Levi’s® OnesToWatch® Show - Hockey + The Soft Pack + Fight Like Apes + Rogues
Levi’s® OnesToWatch® After Party*: Featuring Heartbreak DJ set -11pm-3am

Audio, Brighton, 10 Marine Parade, Brighton, BN2 1TL
*Open to non Great Escape Ticket Holders

www.levi.co.uk/lotw
www.escapegreat.com

Glaswegian alt-rockers Twin Atlantic who are currently recording with John Travis (The Answer, Kid Rock, Sugar Ray) in Los Angeles, have been confirmed for this years T In The Park Festival. The band who played a much talked about set at last years event, on the T Break stage - a platform for unsigned Scottish acts, have made the impressive progression to the Futures stage at this years event. Singer/Guitarist Sam McTrusty says, “We’re all over the moon to be playing T In The Park this year. It’s a dream come true, you always aspire to play your home festival and to be invited back again is a real honour for us.” The quartet perform on Saturday 11th July. Other acts already confirmed for the Futures stage include Crystal Castles, Fight Like Apes, Little Boots and The Virgins. For more on Twin Atlantic, please see: http://www.myspace.com/twinatlantic.

The Courteeners, Regina Spektor, Edwyn Collins, Twin Atlantic, Frank Turner, Crystal Castles, Little Boots, The Virgins, Fight Like Apes, The Hours and Daniel Merriweather get set to wow at T in the Park this summer!

Kicking off a King Tut’s Wah Wah Tent catalogue of top acts, The Courteeners will return to Balado a year after a triumphant set on the Radio 1/NME Stage, which the band themselves said was one of their favourite shows of 2008. We are also ecstatic to announce that the unique & wonderful talent that is New York’s Regina Spektor will perform at T in the Park this year, to follow the release of her fifth album, FAR’. Almost 30 years since we first heard the post punk sound of Edwyn Collins’ then band Orange Juice, he’s gone on to be recognised as a key foundation of indie music, revered by many other Scottish bands as a true trailblazer. He’ll play the King Tut’s Wah Wah Tent on Friday 10th. Obviously we’re chuffed to bits at his long overdue debut, and so’s he apparently: “It’s exciting to be playing at T in the Park. I’ve never been there before, but my son and nephews and niece are there every year. They reckon it’s about time I got there”. We agree!

Fresh from making an almighty impact on the SXSW Texas crowds, Glasgow goodies Twin Atlantic will keep riding high as they step onto the Futures Stage on Saturday and continuing his meteoric rise to superstardom is Frank Turner, who has just released details of his biggest headline tour later in the year, making T in the Park his first pit stop as he scores a set on the Radio 1/NME Stage.

The Futures Stage is shaping up to be a real highlight for 2009, much like the careers of many names that have been added. Canada’s finest electronic duo Crystal Castles lead the way on Friday. In addition to that, lady of the moment and BBC Sound of 2009 winner Little Boots is set to shine in front of crowds on Sunday. New York natives The Virgins will follow their UK tour in April with a T in the Park slot on Saturday along with Dublin dynamites Fight Like Apes who will follow their cracking 2008 show. Members of The Hours have been part of some of the most influential bands of the past 20 years including Pulp, Elastica and UNKLE and they’re sure to be catching up with a few friendly faces when they hit the Futures Stage on Saturday.

The stunning and emotive sounds of Daniel Merriweather will be best known and heard for most on his producer Mark Ronson’s chart smashing Smith’s cover ‘Stop Me’, but the heavenly voice of this Australian melody maker can be heard in King Tut’s Wah Wah Tent on Sunday this year to follow the release of his long awaited debut album ‘Love and War’ due out in May.

With a line-up already crammed full of fans’ favourites OXEGEN 2009 is shaping up to be the music event of the summer. The great and good of Rock ‘n’ Roll are coming from all over the world to play for you this July. Today, we are delighted to announce the latest star players to be added to the musical team sheet. Turntable-maestros 2 Many DJs have been added to Friday’s line-up. Renowned for pioneering the mash-up scene, the Belgian duo have recently been busy working with the likes of Daft Punk and Gorillaz.

Fans can also look forward to the soulful and bluesy vocals of James Morrison. Still only 24, he’s already been compared to the likes of the mighty Otis Redding and Van Morrison. Scottish post-rock pioneers Mogwai bring their own wall of sound to Friday. This critically acclaimed 5 piece always deliver an outstanding, often deafening live show. Regina Spektor is a unique singer songwriter that cannot be pigeonholed. Her undoubted talent embraces influences as diverse as folk, punk, rock, hip-hop and jazz. Check out a virtuoso at work on Saturday. With 18 top 20 singles including classics such as ‘The Day We Caught The Train’ and ‘The Riverboat Song’, Ocean Colour Scene will need no introduction to the OXEGEN masses on Friday. It’s a big welcome back to Maximo Park who last rocked out in 2007. Their eagerly anticipated third album ‘Quicken the Heart’ is due out on May 11th and OXEGEN is the place to experience it live on Saturday. The Hours have an enviable music pedigree, with members Antony and Martin having worked with Pulp, Elastica, Black Grape and UNKLE. Now they have teamed up with their pal artist Damien Hirst on his new label,check out their cracking new single,’Big Black Hole’, due out today. A big, fresh sound for Friday night. Fresh from starring at SXSW and riding their ever-growing wave of buzz, You Me At Six will bring their provocative punk metal sound to the up for it OXEGEN crowd on Sunday. Since forming in the summer of 2004, Crystal Castles, the Toronto-based duo of Ethan Fawn and Alice Glass have amassed a cult following through their uncompromising and intense delivery, a slew of limited edition singles, and shows packed solely from word of mouth. Catch them on Saturday. Having supported Kings of Leon and The Killers on tour M83 come highly recommended. Jump into their dream pop sound on Friday. Described by The Guardian as an ‘Irish Outkast’, the Republic of Loose define themselves without any reference to anyone else other than a respectful nod to James Brown and The Rolling Stones. Nominated for 2 Meteor Awards this year, they add their funk-filled sound to Friday’s line up. BBC Sound of 2009 hot tip La Roux will go ‘In For The Kill’ on Sunday this year. Following their current support slot on Lily Allen’s UK tour and the forthcoming headline gig on NME’s 2009 Radar Tour, the annual new talent showcase will lead them nicely into their summer slot at OXEGEN.

OXEGEN artists announced so far:

FRI 10TH JULY
Blur, Snow Patrol, The Script, Keane, Lily Allen, James, Pendulum, Eagles of Death Metal, Ladyhawke, Fight Like Apes, Swedish House Mafia, Crookers, Dreadzone, God is an Astronaut, Tom Middleton, Aeroplane, 2 Many DJs, Mogwai, Ocean Colour Scene, The Hours, M83, Republic Of Loose

SAT 11TH JULY
Kings of Leon, Pet Shop Boys, Bloc Party, Elbow, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Doves, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, TV on the Radio, Pete Doherty, The Mars Volta, The Game, The Saturdays, Squeeze, Hockey, Tiga, Digitalism, Gary Go, James Morrison, Regina Spektor, Maximo Park, Crystal Castles, La Roux

SUN 12TH JULY
The Killers, Razorlight, Nine Inch Nails, The Specials, Lady Gaga, The Ting Tings, Jane’s Addiction, Katy Perry, Manic Street Preachers, Paolo Nutini, Glasvegas, Florence and the Machine White Lies, Jason Mraz, Foals, Friendly Fires, of Montreal, Miss Kittin and The Hacker (Live), Hudson Mohawke, Wallis Bird, You Me At 6

Tickets for this year’s festival are on sale NOW and are priced at a 2008 price freeze of 224.50 Euro (incl. booking fee) for 3 day including camping ticket. For an extra 20 Euro fans can purchase a 4 day including camping ticket which will include Thursday campsite stay also.

After a barrage of dates with Future of the left, Bat for Lashes, Biff Clyro, Make Model, Cage the Elephant, Brakes, Get Cape.Wear Cape. Fly and Fighting with Wire and recent supports with Enter Shikari and Feeder, THE XCERTS are gearing up for recording their debut full length album late summer with producer Dave Eringa (Manic Street Preachers / Idlewild) .

They’re a double edged sword of ferocious guitar and dainty, poetic words - a distorted pop band who fuse the influences of fellow countrymen Idlewild and Biffy Clyro with the thoughtful approach to songwriting of old school ‘emo’ bands like Jimmy Eat World and Bright Eyes.

With support from Radio 1, XFM, MTV2, Rock Sound and !Kerrang, and a work ethic of epic proportions with a live show to match, these are exciting times for the Aberdeen / Exeter and Brighton based trio.

“Nothing short of astonishing” - !Kerrang
“Ludicrously Punchy” – Steve Lamacq
“’The Xcerts are going to be making big strides in 2008” - Drowned in Sound

Hot on the heels of the release of their mighty, anthemic single ‘Crisis in the Slow Lane’ The Xcerts can now confirm that they will be embarking on an in-store tour the week that their album ‘In The Cold Wind We Smile’ is released (30th March).

Each show will be FREE, feature a live performance from the band and allow fans to get their copy of the band’s debut album signed.

The dates of the band ‘In The Cold Wind We Smile’ in-store tour are as follows:

MONDAY 30TH MARCH 4.00PM – 1UP, ABERDEEN
TUESDAY 31ST MARCH 5.00PM – FOPP, UNION STREET, GLASGOW
WEDNESDAY 1st APRIL 5.00PM – RISE, CHELTENHAM
THURSDAY 2ND APRIL 6.30PM – PURE GROOVE, LONDON
FRIDAY 3RD APRIL 6.00PM – BANQUET, KINGSTON

No strangers to the road, The Xcerts spent a lot of last year touring with the likes of Get Cape, Wear Cape. Fly, Twin Atlantic, Feeder and Fight Like Apes. In addition to the band’s in-store tour The Xcerts will also continue their tireless touring schedule with additional dates (below), playing a very special intimate show on a boat on Loch Ness! Let’s hope Nessie knows a good Rock song when she hears one!

Dates are:

14th March - Shinkiba Studio Coast, British Anthems Festival, Tokyo (with The Fratellis)
29th March – A Boat, Loch Ness – Order tickets here: www.ironworksvenue.com / www.seetickets.com/?c=384559&filler2=384559
30th March – The Tunnels, Aberdeen
1st April - Frog and Fiddle, Cheltenham
4th April - Glasgow Academy, Glasgow
7th April - Cargo (Club Attitude), London
15th April - Camden Barfly, London
April 30th/May 1st - Hinterland Festival, Glasgow
20th June - Lexapalooza Festival, The Gaff, London

With radio support from tastemaker DJs and press across the board The Xcerts are on the cusp of something big. Catch them in a venue near you now before they are filling arenas!

www.myspace.com/thexcerts
www.xtramilerecordings.com
www.myspace.com/xtramilerecordings

Razorlight, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Pete Doherty, Elbow, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, The Ting Tings, White Lies, Fight Like Apes, Pendulum and Jason Mraz have all been announced for OXEGEN 09.

ALREADY ANNOUNCED,Kings of Leon, Blur, Snow Patrol, Bloc Party, The Script, Katy Perry.

Europe’s Favourite Rock & Roll Weekend will be home to the very best in both new and seminal music this summer, taking place at Punchestown Racecourse, Naas, Co Kildare from 10th-12th July 2009.

Fans who are registered at oxegen.ie will have exclusive priority access to an OXEGEN ticket pre-sale from Wednesday 25th February from 8am until Thursday 5th March at 6pm. Tickets will go on general release on Friday 6th March 2009 at 8am nationwide.

To be the first to hear about further exciting line-up announcements, and for info on car parking, camping and age restrictions, register at oxegen.ie.