Relive the weekend (aka watch our bands at Reading/Leeds)

If you missed out on the mud you can check everyone out at the below links (sozza, still UK only for now we believe):

elbow - Main stage
White Lies - NME/Radio 1 Stage
The Naked And Famous - NME/Radio 1 Stage
Crystal Castles - NME/Radio 1 Stage
Spector - BBC Introducing Stage

NEW videos from Snow Patrol and The Duke Spirit

We have two video premieres for you  – it’s all going on at fiction towers.

Jack Davenport, Tara Summers, dancers (sometimes just in their underwear, wild) and Gary Lightbody.... if you weren’t curious already you have to be now. Watch it here

No Captain Norrington in this next premiere but it gets better - Liela in a sexy gold number, in a warehouse with some sexy guitars. Go on The Dukes. Watch it here

Crystal Castles tear up Lollapalooza

Crystal Castles tear up Lollapalooza

Check out these awesome photos of the band performing at Lollapalooza – big ups to photographer Roger Kisby

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/photos/lollapalooza-2011-in-pictures-20110801/crystal-castles-0653508

http://www.spin.com/gallery/best-photos-lollapalooza-2011-day-1#main

Matthew P on TV (in a ghostly fashion)

A foreword to this blog: our nans always told us things happened in threes.

So, sitting at home minding our own business and then, hang on a sec, is that Matthew P?! But it’s not, it’s some random bloke with a ukulele, singing Matt’s song? In train station? Ah, the new Match.com ad. You can buy the original (and best) version with Matt singing at iTunes now (click here for 'She Began To Dance' )

Phew, we’d figured it out. Back to watching the soaps, and then WHAM it happens again. Matt singing ‘End Of The World’ acoustically, synched to a trailer for The Watchmen! Check it out on youtube.

That’s enough excitement for one day.

x

Yesterday was too exciting

We had another big day in Fiction. Multiple reasons for celebration. There are headaches in the office today... Some staff still MIA....

Firstly, we finally escaped the paperwork and signed the wonderful The Duke Spirit. Big celebratory dinner followed, plus some drinks. Bloody lovely people. Check out the terrible quality (thanks blackberry) photo of us below before it got too messy.. Their new album Bruiser comes out mid September, keep your eyes peeled for it.

Secondly, elbow were nominated for the Mercury Music Prize 2011 for the masterpiece that is ‘build a rocket boys!’. This is their fifth album, and the third time they have been nominated (previously making the list for 2001’s ’Asleep In The Back’ and 2008’s ‘Seldom Seen Kid’, the latter winning the award in that year).

Just amazing. X

Japanese Voyeurs: Birthing Complete

FREE DOWNLOAD OFFICIAL SITE Yolk has been birthed. Labour was long, pain was mighty but at the end of it all our heavy child came out unscathed. A 12 fingered 12 toed beast of many heads with a heart full of fury and a fist full of riffs. Born yesterday morning and desperate for a home in your heart and your record player. Buy our child from HMV, Play.com, Amazon, or iTunes and we guarantee you a feast for the base senses and a lot of gratitude from the 5 of us. Thanks to everyone who made this weekend's double festival party a great time, thanks in advance to everyone coming down tonight for the album launch party and thanks again to all of you who've spent your hard earned money on our record. Its time heavy came back and you're making it happen. See you in the pit! Romily, Tom, Rikki, Johnny and Steve

Elbow To Launch Their Very Own Beer - 'build a rocket boys!’ beer

Elbow are set to launch their very own beer this autumn: the limited edition 'build a rocket boys!' beer.

Proud supporters of traditional British real ale - the band have teamed up with local business Robinsons Of Stockport, an award winning family brewers, to create this very special cask ale.

The new beer is brewed to Elbow’s own specifications after a series of tastings at the brewery. Band members sampled a range of Robinsons’ ales to shortlist their preferred style of beer, taste and colour before deciding on a golden ale with a rich rounded body, smooth bitterness, subtle tang of malt and fruity aroma. Elbow’s ale will be a golden premium session bitter at 4.0% ABV, available in cask only.

'build a rockets boys!' real ale gets its official launch at this year's Manchester Food & Drink Festival in October and will be available in selected pubs across the 400-strong Robinsons pub estate throughout September and October.

Look out for it during Freshers’ Weeks at universities across the North West area and at selected free trade outlets nationally while stocks last.

The band can't wait for you to try a pint.