Karousel Music presents:

East London New Music Showcase - SESAC X Karousel x MMF

Ralph Pelleymounter + Kelly McGrath + Dark Tropics + Douglas In Fur

Paper Dress Vintage, London, GB

6.50/8
Entry Requirements: Over 18s

Welcome to the July Edition of our monthly industry x fan showcase brought to you by Karousel Music, SESAC and the MMF UK. See below for videos, tracks and bio info on the artists. 100% of ticket proceeds to the acts, as ever!

Line Up

Since the release of Ralph Pelleymounter’s debut solo LP, ‘Dead Debutante’s Ball’, in 2019, he has gone on to charm audiences across the world with songs weaving pathos with humour. Touring with the likes of Badly Drawn Boy and Shawn James, Ralph has also played his own sell out headline shows in London.

Formerly lead singer of alt-indie group To Kill a King, Ralph hit the ground running collecting awards for his single Wild Beast alongside “Best Original Score” for his work on the short film ‘Eugene vs Humanity‘ at the Independent Shorts Awards.

Ralph began writing his follow up LP while finding time to host a regular online gig, with guests such as Eliza Shaddad, Fours and Bastille. In addition to this, he co-wrote the Grammy award-nominated multi-platinum band BASTILLE‘s latest offering “Give Me The Future“.

Kelly McGrath is a Nashville based established songwriter and recording artist with a unique sound and style all her own. In 2016 McGrath signed her first publishing deal with ole’ Publishing and recorded her 4th studio album “Kites”. CMT premiered her first music video for "You and Me Today", with high critical acclaim it was voted #1 by fans on CMT’s Countdown. McGrath's music video for her second single "All That I Want" debuted at #5 on CMT and received a personal congratulatory endorsement for the song via Twitter from rock legend, Mick Jagger.

In 2018, shortly after signing her second publishing deal with Luna Music Group, McGrath successfully conquered multiple Festival Tours in Europe promoting the release of her EP "Kites” and among the dates included performing as support for Eric Clapton, Carlos Santana and Steve Winwood at the the British Summertime Festival in Hyde Park, London.

During a two year hiatus in the wake of the global pandemic, McGrath started a family becoming a new mom to a beautiful babygirl. 2022 has been an explosive year for McGrath’s career so far, with an impressive invitation to perform the National Anthem at MLB March Spring Training games for the Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox and San Diego Padres. In June, McGrath returns to the British Summertime Festival at the iconic Hyde Park, this time as a supporting act for legendary rock band, The Rolling Stones on their Stones Sixty tour. In addition to performing in the UK this summer. McGrath will be writing and recording highly anticipated new music to release at the end of this year.

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Dark Tropics have just released their debut album 'Ink' to widespread critical acclaim. They’ve received radio support from BBC 6 Music’s Steve Lamacq and Tom Robinson as well as being played multiple times by Jo Whiley on BBC Radio 2. They've also had huge support from BBC Radio 1 and BBC Introducing. Absolute Radio, Amazing Radio and Radio X have regularly being playing singles from their debut album and they've been played and featured on KCRW by Anne Litt on Morning Becomes Eclectic and on KEXP as their song of the day in the USA. They’ve just returned from a packed show at The Great Escape and are currently in the studio recording new material.

The formation of Dark Tropics was inevitable. Drawn together by a bond that stretched from Ireland to Morocco, musicians Rio and Gerard found common ground in the form of Radiohead, Aretha Franklin and The Velvet Underground. Reaching from a deep pool of influences (William Somerset Maugham, Paul Auster and John Cooper-Clarke) the pair formed a partnership - one that relies equally on instinct and guile. Timeless, cinematic, pop-noir.

Billboard 'Bold, gorgeous and above all memorable'. Irish Times 5 Stars 'Two words: Hum Dinger. Something you don't hear much of these days. Genuine Individuality.' Hotpress 'It is atmospheric, moody and complex with a maturity that goes beyond the realms of a debut release' The Last Mixed Tape 9/10 'A captivating central performance that beguiles and bewitches.' Clash Magazine 'Organic songwriting with a pop twist, their cinematic musicality has a rich sense of melodrama.'

Douglas In Fur are a five-piece band based in London. In November 2021, the group released their first single ‘Fran Smokes Alone’. A song filled with strong rhythms, whistle-worthy melodies and a storytelling narrative. A first glimpse into the world of Douglas In Fur. Their latest release ‘Stones in Your Pockets’ takes a deeper dive into that world, a smoother approach but with the same amount of bite. It also showcases their first music video, which provides just as many twists and turns as the song itself.

Douglas In Fur have been making their way through the gigging circuit of London, playing such venues as the Sebright Arms, The Hope and Anchor, 229, Biddle Bros and many more.