Lana Palmer was born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, and her earliest musical influences include fretting over the fate of the Nowhere Man, a ‘Graceland’ tape that was stuck in the family car’s cassette player for three years, and far too many viewings of the movie Labrynth. Neil Young, Joni Mitchell and Wilco are on constant playlist rotation, and her songs reflect both her early influences and current infatuations. While she primarily considers herself a lyricist she also plays piano, guitar and harmonica. Now living in Banff, Alberta, Lana is writing and recording new songs.

I am a musician/songwriter with limited means and I am trying to leave something behind and create something that has at least some artistic value, but that is for others to decide...

Plunkett: an English boy and an Italian girl.
Both Ian and Lara had a love for music from a very early age.
After studying music at Rome, writing and recording with the ambient project Ex Machina and alternative electro pop group Otero, Lara became a partner and A&R of the Dune Records, an independent italian label based in Florence.
Ian had always played in bands and after finally finding like minded musicians the electro pop/rock band ‘Pukromo' was born. In late 1999 Pukromo signed to Dune Records recording their debut album ‘Promise Me Kill Me' during 2000.
Life’s funny sometimes and although the label and band folded, Ian and Lara got together.
Frustrated by the mechanisms and ties of the music biz and tired of their ‘electronic’ past, they focused on their emotions, on themselves. Without any thought or the pressure of trying be anything other than that. Themselves.
In 2006 their debut album ’14 Days’ was released. An acoustic orientated, intimate album of alternative contemporary folk rock. The album received an unexpected critic and listener's acclaim through the internet leading them to being featured artists on some of the most important independent music sites throughout the world. Many of the songs have also since been used in two American independent films: Dave's Date (Forbidden Foot) by Natasha Guruleva (Accent Works) and A Hell Shared by Karl Rose (Current Production).
2008 sees the release of Plunkett’s second album ‘Folk Songs’. Contrasting its predecessor, although still remaining alternative contemporary folk rock, the sound and feeling of the album is much more direct with as much emphasis on the lyrics as on the music.

With a desire to only write songs and move people, Plunkett choose to remain independent artists and work outside of the mainstream music business.

Plunkett make Independent music for independent minds.

To know more about Plunkett and their upcoming releases visit their website www.plunkett-music.com.

•  Short and Sweet.
•  Simon and Garfunkle Like
• cool river

Tom Howie is a singer/songwriter from Vancouver, BC. After releasing his debut EP Stepping Stones to great reviews and eager audiences in September 2005, he has gone on to play many of the premier clubs in Vancouver while completing his final year of high school.

Now 18 and graduated, Tom is taking on music full time, including recording a full length album with producer/musician Ashwin Sood (Sarah McLachlan) and engineer Chris Potter (Bryan Adams, Sarah McLachlan). Also on board is Vancouver/San Francisco based composer/producer/musician Jason Nett (composer in residence, Vancouver Island Symphony Orchestra).

After being the lead singer and songwriter in many bands throughout high school, Tom decided to go out on his own and play the music that came most naturally to him. “I want to be able to write a band tune or a little soulful ballad, or whatever else, and just let it be what it is. I'm enjoying the freedom of experimentation."

With that thought in mind, Tom sat down with friend/producer Josh Bluman to record Stepping Stones at the studio of highly acclaimed producer Garth Richardson (Rage Against The Machine, Hedley, Red Hot Chili Peppers). The EP features stripped down versions of four soulful, satisfying songs. YouThink Magazine had this to say: “The ability to spin out four tracks that have yet to be boring, complete with lyrics that are startlingly affecting, isn’t just dumb luck. Howie’s observations about life and its joys and sorrows, combined with his acoustic, mellow sound, build a strong sample of what he has yet to give.”

Looking ahead, Tom is filled with great excitement about recording new material, which he says has lots more to offer; from simple, haunting, poetic songs, to full out rockers. “Things are just starting to work out for me, and there is nothing else I’d rather be doing. I love playing, singing and writing more than anything. Busy? Bring it on!”

Be sure to see Tom Howie live in concert, either with his band or on his own. Visit myspace.com/tomhowie for tour dates and streaming audio.

•  Awesome track
•  Great voice
•  Stop and listen and chllin'

What do you say about a band that says, straight-faced, that it's two principal influences are the Beatles and the Sex Pistols?

Try: "It's about fucking time"?

Let's face it - the Pistols, for all their yobbo nihilism, were a brilliant pop band and Never Mind the Bollocks is less an album than a hit singles collection. The Fabs, as dear dead George called them, were not only the last century's most respected, creative and successful songsmiths, they were god-damned ferocious, paint-peeling noise merchants when the mood struck them; don't believe me? The rehearsal versions of Helter Skelter make the Velvet's Sister Ray sound positively tame.

So the Philharmonic are not only canny enough to recognize these little-uttered facts but adept enough to carry off the not-inconsiderable trick of marrying legit musical chops and frankly brilliant songwriting to savage musicianship and pure-punk stage delivery. Everything the pop-punk hybrid from XTC and the Pixies on down to the least of what the genre aspires to, the Philharmonic are, and more than that, somewhat frighteningly, still well short of their potential.

If these people had been around back in '77 for the first wave of punk the Eagles and their wretched brethren would have been sent packing for good and the world would today be a better place for all of us.

About fucking time? Damn straight, and better now than never.

-- Buck Cherry
Vancouver, summer '05