PUBLIC SERVICE BROADCASTING

A few weeks back, we had the first play of new Public Service Broadcasting single ‘Progress’.

The band have now shared full details of their new album, upon which the single will sit. ‘Every Valley’ is being released on Play It Again Sam on 7th July, and, as always with the band, comes with a thorough, in-depth theme.

‘Every Valley’ shines a light on the mining industry in Wales, with the band’s J. Willgoose explaining: “I have no personal ties to mining, be it coal or otherwise, and I have no family links to the area, but something about the story drew me in. Perhaps the romanticism of the valleys and their geography attracted me to South Wales in particular. You can’t always explain these things, as I’ve learned. What’s certain in my mind is that this album isn’t just about mining, and isn’t just about Wales. It’s a story reflected in abandoned and neglected communities across the western world, and one which has led to the resurgence of a particularly malignant, cynical and calculating brand of politics”.

THIS SHOW HAS BEEN RESCHEDULED! HERE IS A STATEMENT FROM THE BAND:

“We’re very sorry to have to announce that the first 5 dates of the tour (Edinburgh, Leeds, Liverpool, Nottingham and Norwich) have been postponed until February next year due to personal, family health reasons. The final 3 dates – Cardiff, Southampton and London – will go ahead as planned.

Tickets will still be valid for all rescheduled shows, and if you are unable to make the new show date you can contact your point of purchase for a refund.

We apologise wholeheartedly for any inconvenience caused. In the past 3 years of intensive touring and 350+ shows we haven’t cancelled or postponed a single gig, and doing so this time is not a decision we have taken lightly. For us, though, just as we’re sure for all of you, family comes first, and we don’t feel able to fulfil the first week of dates given our current circumstances. The affected shows will now take place on the following dates:

Sunday 7 February – Leeds, University Refectory
Monday 8 February – Edinburgh, Queen’s Hall
Wednesday 10 February – Liverpool, O2 Academy
Thursday 11 February – Nottingham, Rock City
Friday 12 February – Norwich, OPEN
Francois & The Atlas Mountains will support us for the unaffected shows but sadly can’t make the rescheduled ones; support will be confirmed as soon as possible for those dates. We hope you can join us for the rescheduled shows.”

Combining music, spoken word, and visuals, London-based duo Public Service Broadcasting were formed in 2010 when multi-instrumentalist and songwriter known as J. Willgoose, Esq. recruited equally regally named drummer Wrigglesworth, following a string of eclectic but, ultimately, unfruitful musical outings that had been going on and off since the late ’90s. Inspired by listening to archive material from BBC Radio 4, Willgoose began to delve deeper, searching for both audio clips and film footage from throughout the 20th century that he could possibly complement with indie/electronic music and vice-versa. Public Service Broadcasting’s first release, EP One, appeared in August 2010 and was the perfect introduction to the pair’s concept, featuring “New Dimensions in Sound,” which sampled an infomercial for a record player alongside vibrant indie rock that built into a crescendo of distorted guitar. PSB began to make a name for themselves on the live circuit with an unmistakable set that featured an old walnut-veneered 1960s television which they lovingly described as the band’s “frontman”.

A year after EP One, the duo released the single “Roygbiv” and then The War Room, another EP, this time focusing on World War II and, in particular, The Blitz. Sampling propaganda films, sirens, and a film about the invention of the Spitfire on a track of the same name, the EP created further buzz and radio play for Public Service Broadcasting as they prepared their debut album Inform – Educate – Entertain, which was released in May 2013 on their own label, Test Card. By now the guitar, banjo, and electronics of J. Willgoose, Esq. and intricate drumming from the jazz-trained Wrigglesworth was developing into a well-rounded, well-oiled machine. One of the album’s highlights, “Everest” was based around The Conquest of Everest, a 1953 film documenting Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay’s first successful ascent of the mountain, including the fitting line “two very small men/cutting steps in the roof of the world.” Public Service Broadcasting went on to tour the album and play a host of festivals in the summer of 2013, as well as secure a support slot with the Rolling Stones in London’s Hyde Park.