Basically due to the music industry being in such a shit state at the moment the big companies are not interested in supporting and financing GOOD, NEW and ORIGINAL material. Instead they're looking for quick easy money i.e Pop Idol etc!! As a result of this attitude by the major companies there is alot of talent out there not being brought to the public's attention! Our plea for help is simple. IF THE ALBUM SELLS WELL IN IT'S FIST WEEK OF RELEASE IT WILL MAKE THE ALBUM CHART. IT WILL BRING FRESH NEW BANDS TO THE FOREFRONT OF POPULAR MUSIC AND HOPEFULLY MAKE THE BIG BOYS IN THEIR BIG OFFICES SIT UP AND REALISE THAT THERE IS MORE TO THIS INDUSTRY THAN SHORT SHELF LIFE MANUFACTURED POP. LETS FACE WHO'S GONNA REMEMBER GARATH GATES OR MICHELLE (OR EVEN BUSTED COME TO THAT) IN TEN OR TWENTY YEARS TIME!! THE ROLLING STONES HAVE JUST ANNOUNCED ANOTHER WORLD TOUR! I REST MY CASE!!!!!

If you wish to be a part of the revolution just click on the link at the bottom of this article and pre-order your Best of Matchbox compilation album. Or alternitavely you can order your copy over the phone or in any HMV store. All you need to do is quote the CAT NO: MR0063BO and the album name "Independant-Best of Matchbox". All the material on the album is good and we're so proud to be a part of it! Again. We appreciate all of your support. We couldn't do it without you!! Thanx SBA!!

Devon’s hot new band Sweet Black Angels has just released their incredible debut album "Beneath Shadows." A single from the album "I Know What You're Thinking" was voted best Indie song by listeners of matchboxradio24, an online radio station labeled forerunners in promoting new and original music and artists. Recent runners up in "Devon's Best Band" competition the band are going from strength to strength with a track from their album included in “Declaration of Independence” a compilation CD soon to be available in HMV stores nationwide.

Based in Honiton and Ottery St Mary band members Scott Phillips (vocals, acoustic guitar, harmonica, percussion) Daniel Phillips (rhythm guitar, lead guitar, backing vocals) Andrew Wall (rhythm guitar, lead guitar, backing vocals) Mark Fowler (bass) Andrew Chaplin (drums) face a hectic schedule with gigs at The Con Club in Honiton on 12th February followed by a 6 night tour in Nice, south of France, from the 14th February and then a return to The Jailhouse, Coventry on 26th February. Sweet Black Angels have toured nationwide since 2003 and have played at many venues including Liverpool’s world famous The Cavern Club.

Sweet Black Angels, like The Stereophonics, Cast and The Levellers, write boppy, organic timeless rock with big vocals but stay true to their own form of sweet angelic rock. Theirs is a classic rock sound with melodic vocals and a lyrical overview on social issues, described by songwriter and vocalist Scott Phillips as “melodic hippy, tramp, biker rock.” The band has worked hard to get their retro, classic yet modern, Indie sound, studying arrangements and sounds from the 70s and successful Indie tracks from the 90s and then applying the techniques discovered to their songs. The band’s record company has arranged for the album to be promoted by up to 5000 internet radio stations worldwide. "We are all really excited about releasing our first album" said guitarist Dan Phillips. "Hopefully with this promotion deal we can put British rock back on the map"

Listen to and buy Sweet Black Angels debut album "Beneath Shadows" at http://www.sweetblackangels.com/home.php Written and distributed by Christopher Walton www.prworksnow.biz 7 Lamplighters Silver Street Honiton EX14 1RR Tel/Fax 01404 44345 prworksnow@tiscali.co.uk 07799 870020

The event will be taking place on Tuesday 26th April. There is a bus for supporters traveling to London from the band's home town in Devon. There's also an oppertunity for people to get cheap entry into the gig!! All you need is a Sweet Black Angels Flyer. They are available by request. So, if you would like to come to this unique gig or find out about busses etc please send an e-mail to the address at the bottom of the page!! You're support will be very much appreciated!

The album is due to be released on Monday April 25th.

The event also hosted Birmingham based band "Liner" and Southamton based band "Xavier Floyd Firebird" in a unique gig swapping exercise arranged by the bands managers. "The gig swap arrangement is such a good idea" Says Scott (lead singer SBA). "Most venue promoters around the country put on three or four bands in one night and each band is required to bring over twenty people to the gig. This usually means that you are playing to each others fans in a neutral venue with the promoter profiting from the ticket sales. The gig swap concept is easy. The host band headline a gig in their home town and the visiting bands support them and get to play to a new audience. We are all in the same boat when it comes to promoting original material so we might as well all help each other out."

The event was a huge success and the visiting bands were warmly welcomed by the Honiton crowd!!!

A big thank you to everyone who helped make the night Rock!!!

The award ceremony was a result of an annual listeners poll conducted by matchbox radio24 an online radio station who are labeled as the forerunners in promoting new and original music and artists. "We had an amazing response to the online poll this year. People voted in their thousands. This is really encouraging for bands such as Sweet Black Angels because although they have only been with us for just over a month they have made a really big impression on our listeners beating nine other acts to win best indie song. Well done lads"! Said Dale O from Matchbox.

Having won the runners up prize in last years "Devon's Best Band" competition the band are going from strength to strength."We are so happy to have received this award. It came as a bit of a shock when we found out about it! It's such a relief to know that people are enjoying our music. Hopefully with the new album release and plenty of tour dates set for next year 2005 will be even more of a success". Says frontman Scott.

The band would like to thank everyone for voting for them in this years poll. "Without you're support none of this would be possible. Thank you!!" Sba.

Next years tour dates are soon to be announced so keep a check on the gigs section for details!!

The single is currently being played and promoted on 'matchboxrecordings.co.uk' as part of the record deal that the lads have just signed."I'm really happy with the band's recording of 'I Know What You're Thinking' and i'm confident that we will receive good feedback from it's radio play across the net" says Dale from Matchbox.

The single is available to listen to and download online via the link at the bottom of this news bulletin!!

More details about the album i.e release dates & track listings will be posted here as soon as the news comes through!!!

The news was announced today after the band completed the deal with Matchbox recordings ltd. A record company from Oxfordshire who also run an online promotion and plugging company."I heard the bands "Elevated Descent" EP and instantly recognised loads of radio potential. I particularly like the fresh modern sound combined with the classic rock edge." Says Dale Olivier from Matchbox.

The deal will involve the band releasing their first single which will then be played and advertised on Matchbox radio24. Matchbox recordings own online radio station. The single will also be sent to over 5,000 other internet radio stations reaching millions of listeners worldwide. It will also be sent to hundreds of national, local and student radio stations."This is just the kind of deal we are looking for at the moment." Says lead singer Scott. "We've always had faith in what we do and always get positive feedback from the gigs that we play. The only thing thats been lacking is the amount of people that have heard our music. We have nearly finished the new album so this deal couldn't have come at a better time."

The first single "I Know What You're Thinking" will be released in October to promote the bands long awaited first album "Beneath Shadows" which is due for release in November. The album will then be advertised in much the same way as the single and will be available to buy online via the bands link from the matchbox website. "We are all really excited about releasing our first album." Says Dan the guitarist. "Hopefully with this promotion deal we can put British rock back on the map"

The band will also be starting their promotional tour of the album very soon and as soon as dates are confirmed they will be posted on the GIGS section of the website.

All the information about the bands single and album release will be posted in the NEWS section very soon. There will also be links on the home page where you can visit our section on the matchbox recordings website. You can check out their radio station now by clicking the link below!!!