In the past we’ve created several collaborative Willkommen projects for free download over the Christmas period.

This year we asked as many Willkommen related artists as possible to simply contribute thirty seconds of sound. I stitched them together in the order in which they arrived to make a sonic patchwork quilt. The result is incredibly diverse and beautiful despite the random nature of its composition and form.

Thank you to the following people for contributing:

Alessi Laurent-Marke (Alessi’s Ark)
Woodpecker Wooliams
Said Speaks
Landshapes
Marcus Hamblett
Soccer96
Eyes & No Eyes
Hamilton Yarns
Thomas Heather
Danny Green (Laish)
Gravenhurst
John Smith
Fiona Sally Miller
Nick Hemming (The Leisure Society)
This Is The Kit
Rachael Dadd & Ichi
Rozi Plain
Birdengine
Helen Whitaker (The Leisure Society)
Steve Aston Trio
Rowan Coupland
Turbo & Silke (Martha Rose / OCDC)
Jacob Richardson (Sons of Noel and Adrian)
Emma Gatrill
Chimes (Christian Hardy)
Mary Hampton
Alphabets Heaven
François Marry (François & the Atlas Mountains)

Here are a few links to past collaborative projects for free download on last.fm:

• Willkommen Covers The Sleeper – various artists covered each song from The Leisure Society’s debut album. Originally released as a free Rough Trade bonus CD.
• Willkommen Foxswap – various artists covered each other’s songs before the Foxtrot festival
• Willkommen Christmas 2008 – again various Willkommen related bands covering each other’s songs

It’s The Great Escape in Brighton next weekend (10th-12th May). There are many Willkommen related bands playing as part of the Alternative Escape on Friday and Saturday, thanks to our friends at Neighbourhood Music. These events are free to wristband-holders and “normals” alike.

Friday 11th May at the Fishbowl (Facebook event here) features Woodpecker Wooliams, Rozi Plain, Emma Gatrill, Eyes & No Eyes and The Mariner’s Children (solo). Plus many more great but less affiliated people including Hot Feet and Sam Brookes.

Saturday 12th May at the Hydrant (Facebook event here) features Redwood Red and Laish plus Emily & The Woods and more.

Both events start super early at midday so set your alarm for 10am latest so you can get some breakfast.

We are extremely pleased to announce the release of Emma Gatrill‘s stunning debut album, Chapter I, on May 14th through Willkommen.

We’re expecting copies of the album this week and will be putting them up for preorder as soon as we do. The first fifty copies will come with a length of bunting and other surprises, all handmade by Emma. You can see some photos of her making them on her Facebook page.

The release will be marked by two launch shows – one in Brighton’s Church of the Annunciation on Friday 4th May and one in London’s St Barnabas Church, Dalston, on Thursday 10th May. Click the links for information on either show or go here for tickets to both. London support comes from the supreme Rozi Plain and Dear Winesburg and Brighton support comes from the superlative Nick Edward Harris and Steve Aston – all four are unmissable.

Emma is an unstoppable and multi-instrumental collaborator. As well as being a full time musician with the multi-tentacled psych-folk behemoth Sons of Noel and Adrian and getting crowds dancing to the rowdy stamp-along anthems of The Mariner’s Children, she has found time to lend her voice, clarinet or accordion skills to everyone from Laura Marling to Broken Social Scene.

No wonder then that it has taken her so long to get round to concentrate on her own music. Chapter One showcases poignant songs based around her latest acquisition – the harp. Subtly accompanied by various members of Brighton’s Willkommen Collective, her intricate harp playing and powerful vocals soars above her classic songwriting, which owes a debt to Bjork and Joni Mitchell as well as her friends and co-conspirators Rachael Dadd and Alessi’s Ark.

This February and March, Rozi Plain hits the road with This Is The Kit. We really highly recommend both of these bands, so don’t miss them. Rozi’s not doing Manchester or Brixton.

25th Feb: Norwich Arts Centre
26th Feb: Sheffield The Shakespeare
27th Feb: Durham The Fishtank
28th Feb: Manchester Marc Riley session for BBC 6music
28th Feb: Manchester Band on the Wall
29th Feb: Birmingham Kitchen Garden cafe
1st Mar: London Windmill Inn, Brixton
2nd Mar: London Manero’s bar
3rd Mar: Bristol Colston Hall 2
4th Mar: Stroud The Prince Albert Pub

Just a quick note to recommend some great gigs coming up this weekend.

On Friday our friends at Shhh! promotions are putting on a Fence Collective double header at The Hobgoblin in Brighton featuring Withered Hand and Rozi Plain. Further details are all here.

Then on Saturday Rachael Dadd is playing at the annual Apple festival at Middle Farm near Lewes. Rachael plays at midday and then you can tuck in to the cider for a few hours.

As if that were not enough, Mary Hampton is launching her exceptional album Folly in London on Sunday at Cecil Sharp House. The Brighton launch show was phenomenal so don’t miss this – plus you get Rachael Dadd supporting. You can hear the debut single from the album using the embedded YouTube video above.