We love festivals here at Amazing Radio – our Summer season started with The Great Escape back in May and now we’re excited all over again for T In The Park 2012. This weekend sees a whole host of massive bands make the trip to Balado, near Kinross, Scotland to play to thousands of fans across the three days.

Alongside headliners such as Kasabian, Snow Patrol and The Stone Roses, you’ll find a plethora of amazing artists on the bill too; including previous session guests Pulled Apart By Horses, The Jezabels, Dry The River, Spring Offensive and Alt-J.

Our ‘Man in the North’ Jim Gellatly, who’s show you can hear Sundays from 2pm (repeated Wednesday at 10pm) was one of the few new music aficionados responsible for deciding the T Break Stage line up this weekend – check out his T In The Park Special from last week for a head start on all of Jim’s favourite finds:

Be sure to tune in next week to hear all about what he got up to this weekend.

Other amazing artists playing T In The Park 2012:

Dog Is Dead, Here We Go Magic, Howler, La Shark, Laki Mera, Admiral Fallow, Skrillex, St Lucia, The Chevin, The Coronas, United Fruit, Vukovi, We Were Promised Jetpacks, Weird Shapes and Zulu Winter

So it’s almost that time again – the third Saturday in April is nigh! This can mean only one thing for the physical format enthusiasts amongst us (read as vinyl geeks) – there’ll soon be a boatload of extra special exclusives via RECORD STORE DAY.

Now, much has been made over the past few years about the relevance of RSD, or the perceived lack of it, by various corners of the music loving world. Mostly along the lines of “Waah waah waah Record Store Day is rubbish! Physical is DEAD, what’s the point?!” Or: “BOOOOOO! How dare you?! You mp3 loving HEATHEN, it’s your fault, you’re ruining EVERYTHING!”

(Granted, that’s a rather concise summation – you can find far more detail on last years internet based noisemaking and it’s plethora of angry responses here)

For all of the impassioned pleas, and despite the more negatively minded naysayers of years gone by – 2012 marks the 5^th year of International RSD and it’s a huge comfort to watch it become even bigger and better than before. With an increased number of participating stores, an ever growing commitment from artists and labels alike, and more over, a palpable excitement from those of us who do celebrate the day – I can’t help but sit back and gleefully plan my shopping list. What’s more is that today, Friday 20^th April, marks the launch of the New Official Record Store Chart – in association with the Official Charts Company – aiming to reflect the resurgence in physical sales that independent retailers have contributed to over the past couple of years.

I’ll not go into too much detail as to why I love hearing, and seeing, my favourite artists on record – as it would stretch far beyond the characters I’m confined to. I will say one thing though; you don’t only love your Mother on Mothering Sunday, or your Dad on Father’s Day. You wouldn’t only be nice to your loved ones on St Valentines either… Yes, Record Store Day does have some novelty value, and yes, big labels can be seen to ‘cash-in’ via back catalogues – but anything that focuses on the importance of supporting your independent retailers, and the artists within, has to be a good thing – whichever way you look at the event itself.

It’s an ethos that we here at amazing are extremely proud to support, and one that many of the artists on amazingtunes.com, and of course those amongst our playlists on Amazing Radio, are heavily involved with. Below are just some of the highlights from those that are new and emerging in this year’s exclusive product list. Happy hunting!

Beach House

Lazuli
7″ Blue/opaque vinyl
Label: Bella Union

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Beth Houghton Jeans & The Hooves Of Destiny

Atlas
7″
Label: Mute

—

Django Django

Storm
7″
Qty 500
Label: Because

—

Field Music

Actually, Nearly
A: Heart
B: Rent
7″ white vinyl
Qty: 500
Label: Memphis Industries

—

NZCA/Lines

NZCA/Lines
LP White Vinyl (+MP3 Insert)
Label: Loaf

—

Oberhofer

Time Capsules II
LP
Qty: 300
Label: Glassnote

—

Slow Club

Paradise
LP
Qty: 500
Label: Moshi Moshi

—

Stay+

Dandelion
10″
Qty: 200
Label: Fourth Wave

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The Heartbreaks

Funtimes
Label: Vinyl Music

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The Jezabels

Rosebud
7″

Label: Play It Again Sam

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Tom Williams & The Boat

Teenage Blood
LP & 7″
Qty: 140
Label: WBR/Moshi Moshi

Every Sunday evening, Charlie Ashcroft counts down the Amazing Chart across the UK’s national DAB network on Amazing Radio. Here he is to reflect on our recently-aired Chart of 2011.

Well that was a great way to round off the year. Before handing the airwaves over to our beatmaster generals Kyle and Mark for New Year’s Eve, we revealed our biggest songs of the year in a three-hour package on Amazing Radio.

It’s been a year where the Amazing Chart has witnessed 25 different Number 1s and had hundreds of incredible tracks pass through its ever-hyperactive Top 20. While many might have foreseen that Kyla La Grange would top our end-of-year rundown with Walk Through Walls (after the song’s 5-week reign at the top back in March and April), few may have been able to predict that she’d land at Numbers 2 and 7 with her other two singles from 2011. It’s been a year of great progress for the Watford-raised singer and we can’t wait to hear her debut album when it comes our way in a few months’ time.

Another notable appearance in the Top 10 of our Chart of 2011 came from Los Angeles band Youngblood Hawke, who ended up at Number 3 their song Rootless after enjoying some chart domination with the song over the UK’s eventful summer. The song that eventually replaced them at the top back in August and stayed on top for a further 3 weeks, Milk by Theme Park, is also high up in our end-of-year jamboree at Number 4.

Number 4 in our end-of-year rundown: Theme Park

Fresh from being crowned as Kyle Wilkinson’s Free Download of the Year earlier in the week, Swedish duo Adam & Alma complete the Top 5, with Santiago Street Machine, Bear Driver, Les Mistons and Daughter just behind in the Top 10.

Further down in the Top 40, we can see some new Australian heroes (The Jezabels, Alpine), some supergroups (Red Kite, Wild Flag), some bands who are sadly no longer with us (Slow Motion Shoes, Jukebox Collective, The Answering Machine) and a Mercury Prize nominee (Ghostpoet) amongst others.

New Australian Heroes: Alpine

All in all, it’s been quite a year. Thanks for supporting the UK’s freshest chart rundown over the past twelve months! Here’s to a great 2012.

Click here to see the Amazing Chart Top 100 in full. Charlie will be back on Amazing Radio on Sunday 8th January from 5pm for a regular edition of the chart show to reveal the first Number 1 of 2012. Happy New Year!

Every Sunday evening, Charlie Ashcroft counts down the Amazing Chart across the UK’s national DAB network on Amazing Radio. Here he is to give us the very latest lowdown on the last week’s movers and shakers from amazingtunes.com…

Hello! Laura Palmer by Bastille remains firmly rooted to the summit of our rundown this week, completing a fortnight on top of the Amazing Chart in the face of stiff competition.

Summer Camp are the nearest contenders in the mix, with Down rising to Number 2 after a mere three weeks inside the Top 10, while former Chart-toppers The Jezabels and Daughter have stayed in contention in the chasing pack.

Slightly further behind, as well as Washington DC’s piano-tinged noisniks Jukebox The Ghost, two of our recently-announced 12×12 picks have made their debuts inside the Top 10. Don’t be surprised if Azealia Banks and Alt-J continue to climb even further as the year draws to a close.

We’ve also been treated to four New Entries in the Top 20 this week, with Australians Cloud Control making a long-overdue arrival into the chart fold at Number 14 with Death Cloud, ahead of newbies from Family Of The Year, Hyde & Beast and Fractures.

Click here to see the Amazing Chart Top 40 in full. Then find out if Bastille can make it three weeks at Number 1 by tuning in to Amazing Radio on Sunday from 5pm!

Every Sunday evening, Charlie Ashcroft counts down the Amazing Chart across the UK’s national DAB network on Amazing Radio. Here he is to give us the very latest lowdown on the last week’s movers and shakers from amazingtunes.com…

Hello! Our first chart show of December has brought us a brand new Number 1 in the form of Laura Palmer by Bastille.

Having rocketed to Number 3 last week, Dan Smith and his band wasted no time in climbing a couple more places and knocking The Jezabels from the Number 1 spot. Laura Palmer is the title track from the band’s latest four-track EP, which you can stream from amazingtunes.com in its entirety right here.

With The Jezabels slipping a place, attention should be drawn to the cluster of new arrivals inside the Top 5, with Summer Camp, Lianne La Havas and Daughter all rising into contention with their latest uploads to our site.

Slightly further down, we have some obvious momentum behind Washington DC’s Jukebox The Ghost and Harlem rappeuse du jour Azealia Banks, with Nullifier, Body Language, WooWoos and Young British Artists all making their Top 20 bows this week too.

Click here to see the Amazing Chart Top 40 in full. Then find out if Bastille can make it two weeks at Number 1 by tuning in to Amazing Radio on Sunday from 5pm!

Every Sunday evening, Charlie Ashcroft counts down the Amazing Chart across the UK’s national DAB network on Amazing Radio. Here he is to give us the very latest lowdown on the last week’s movers and shakers from amazingtunes.com…

Hello! It’s another week at Number 1 in our rundown for Aussie quartet The Jezabels this week, with their song Endless Summer still garnering plenty of attention both on the station and online.

Off the back of this week’s London gig at Heaven, they’ll be returning home for yet more live action before the end of 2011. Catch them if you can!

Their nearest competitors this week are Clock Opera, whose track Lesson No. 7 has risen to Number 2 after a climb of five places. Big props to Bastille this week too, who score a massive New Entry inside the Top 3 with Laura Palmer, while Golden Fable and Sarah Williams White complete the Top 5.

There are some significant new arrivals slightly further down too, with Flashguns hitting the Top 10 for the first time with No Point Hanging Around and Lianne La Havas also making her maiden Amazing Chart appearance with the gorgeous No Room For Doubt at Number 13.

In the lower reaches of the Top 20, we’re equally thrilled to welcome Londoners Zulu Winter, Leeds outfit Alt-J and Sydney band Deep Sea Arcade into the chart fold.

Click here to see the Amazing Chart Top 40 in full. Then find out if The Jezabels can make it three weeks at Number 1 by tuning in to Amazing Radio on Sunday from 5pm!