Gig Preview: Discovery 2 with Alex Blood and the Diggers, Tom Jarvis, Dia and Kiwi

Oct 28, 2014 by Justin Wayne

This month’s Discovery 2 has moved to a new venue, the 02 Academy Islington, so make sure you’re not heading to west London for this one! This month features Midlands, punk, pop reggae scoundrels Alex Blood & The Diggers, upcoming Scandanavian electropop artist DIA, quirky and hauntingly beautiful vocals from Kiwi and singer songwriter Tom Jarvis. Hear us chat with promoters Alex KW and Umong Shah, a track from each band and even a few extra songs from some Discovery Alumni.

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More about the artists

ALEX BLOOD & THE DIGGERS

Midlands punk pop reggae scoundrels Alex Blood & The Diggers back on the road with a cheeky little set of dates in their strongholds. It coincides with the release of their latest collection of material “Combat Flat Cap”

Alex Blood & the Diggers have being steadily building their movement across the UK for last couple of years. Their unique blend of punk, rock, rap and reggae, has forged a sound described as “impossible to pigeonhole”

Lyrical wit reminiscent of the classic punk poets comes mixed with an edge and urgency in the music that commands attention.

They’ve supported Labrinth, Chase & Status, Devlin, Asian Dub Foundation, 2tone legends The Beat, Dreadzone, Jerry Dammers of The Specials, headlining Night & Day in Manchester and The Jam Cafe in Nottingham and receiving rave reviews for their energetic and dance floor filling live and acoustic sets.

Formed by lyricist Alex Blood (whose solo career includes collaborations with international artists Mark Ronson and Amy Winehouse, as well as touring the UK with Jay-Z).
“This isn’t empty lifestyle prattle; Alex Blood is a masterful lyricist with a political edge and a story worth listening to.” – Whats The Ruckus

“The energy as well is crazy, but it’s mesmerising. I missed him going onto the stage and as I made my way up from the green room, you walk past the side of the stage… well I just stood there in complete awe” – Alternative Student Guide MCR

DIA

Dia is an upcoming powerful electro-pop-artist. Her music is an upbeat mix of electro-edge-pop with a Scandinavian coolness and Japanese quirkiness to it. All music is written, produced and performed by the artist herself. DIA is inspired by artists such as MIA, Outkast, Dizzee Rascal, the Knife and Grimes. Her live performance is strong, vigurous and unique.

“It’s great – modern, cool, catchy and original”

– David Balfe; founder of Food record label, former general manager at Sony Music

“It’s inventive, has personality, the song is intriguing and pushes the edges a bit”

– Allen Jacobs; former music publisher at EMI, Peer, Sony/ATV, Stage Three and Fairwood Music

TOM JARVIS

In 2010, after moving to Chester. Cambridge-born Singer/Songwriter Tom Jarvis made the conscious decision that music was going to be the driving force of his life up North.

In 2012 he released his debut EP ‘Make your own luck’ which was an iTunes chart success. He’s performed at Beachbreak Live and The Beatherder Festival in 2013 and more recently completed a two week UK University tour playing 26 colleges. His support sets include John Newman, Example, Scouting for Girls,and Australian Singer/Songwriter Stu Larsen. Summer 2013 Tom’s second EP release ‘Dream life’ gained huge support from BBC Introducing.

KIWI

Her quirky and hauntingly beautiful vocals, reminiscent of Björk, Kate Bush, Saint Saviour, Annie Lennox and Fever Ray, have found their groove in collaboration with multi-instrumentalist producer Maxime Raguideau-Obadia. Having already performed at Shepherds Bush Empire and Bush Hall, the State of Alert EP is Kiwi’s first journey into recorded music.

“Dramatic and emotive.”

– Listen With Monger

“A unique artist where genres meet and are distilled into something new.”

– Steve Cole, Expansion Records