Laetita Sadier Laetitia first appeared on the scene in the late 80s, doing backing vocals for indie-pop outfit McCarthy. When they broke up in 1990 she and Tim Gane immediately formed Stereolab, with Sadier on lead vocals and main lyricist. Called "one of the most fiercely independent and original groups of the Nineties", Stereolab revived 1970s krautrock, which they winningly combined with lounge, 1960s pop, and experimental pop music. They were noted for their heavy use of vintage electronic keyboards, and their sound often overlays a repetitive "motorik" beat with Laetitia's unmistakeable vocals sung in English or French.
Stereolab went on 'indefinte hiatus' in 2009, by which time Laetitia had pursued a number of side projects, notably the band Monade who released three albums between 2003 and 2008 and collaborations with Blur, Mouse on Mars, Luna and Common. More recently she has appeared on records by Atlas Sound and Tyler the Creator. In 2010 Laetitia released her first solo album, 'The Trip' on the revered US label Drag City, which she called "a very personal homage to life's journey and a grieving process for the separations that are an unavoidable part of life". A second solo album, 'Silencio' appeared in 2012, exploring the individual connection to a deeper self placed in a broader environment, in a similarly fresh kind of way. Laetitia will be performing at the Mad Ferret solo: voice and electric guitar, it is likely to be breathtakingly good!
The Chanteuse and The Crippled Claw The Chanteuse & The Crippled Claw are an Eccentronic Pop Group from Sheffield, in the tradition of Human League, Pulp, ABC and LFO. They are making a welcome return to Preston after their terrific show at The Continental during last year's Vintage Guild Weekend. You may also have seen them performing in the Harris Library in December with Dean Honer and actress Maxine Peake as the E.R.C., whose concept album about The Pendle Witches, 1612 Underture won widespread critical acclaim last year. Chanteuse are Philly, Lucy Hope and Lucy Cunsolo: a multi female fronted, star jumping, ass kicking,analog synth weilding,anti plastic pop,hard drinking,steal your boyfriend & handbag type of bunch,Gold Star party girls. The Crippled Claw is the mastermind behind The C&TCC,the Charlie to The Angels aka Adrian Flanagan has a long history of subverting the music world from his flat in Sheffield under his "Kings Have Long Arms" alias. Fever Dream East London trio Fever Dream play dark, fuzzy, menacing music that blurs the line from noisy new wave to angular post-punk. With an E.P. out on Underused Records and a single in the works for Odd Box, their hypnotic sound takes inspiration from Deerhunter, My Bloody Valentine and Sonic Youth whose footsteps they'll no doubt follow with their brooding, stylish tones. "Imagine Interpol had they been reared on a diet of Creation Records earliest works and the entire back catalogue of Sarah Records and you're somewhere close." Drowned In Sound"
