Wednesday 6 February 2013

Anna Lena & The Orchids EP Launch w/ Hella Better Dancer + Sarah Johns Music Party @ The Sebright Arms, Bethnal Green




Folie à Deux and Pull Up the Roots are very proud to present Anna Lena and The Orchids brand new EP Launch at The Sebright Arms this 8th March with support from Hella Better Dancer. 

TICKETS are £5 adv or £6 on the door.
Sebright Arms
 31-35 Coate Street, E2 9AG
7.30pm


'I'm very excited about the new EP. I already have a favourite song.' - Tom Ravenscroft, 6 Music, 2012

'Bouncing between the silken quality of a high order pianist and a woman influenced into a murderous rage' - DrunkenWerewolf, 2012

'Anna Lena and her Orchids have managed to craft their very own brand of dark, atmospheric indie-pop, which is somewhere between The National and St. Vincent. ‘View of My Sanity’ perfectly exemplifies the fragility and beauty of frontwoman Anna Lena and the power of a simple heartfelt pop song.' - The 405, 2012

'She’s someone I’ve had my beady eye on for a while… I’m kind of in love with this… its gorgeous.' - Ruth Barnes, The Other Woman, Amazing Radio, 2012

Anna Lena’s haunting vocals have been described by UK press as ‘beautifully unique’ and ‘ethereal’ with her lyrics showing experience beyond her years. After touring the UK, Anna Lena and The Orchids have just finished a highly successful tour in Norway. 

The band draws influences from St.Vincent, Grizzly Bear, Radiohead, PJ Harvey, Bjork and Ane Brun. Whilst similarities can be observed between The Orchids and the above acts, the bands mixture of Scandinavian folk, alternative rock and ambient musical styles, create a uniquely dark and beautiful sound.

Their new EP features ‘View Of My Sanity’, the single that turned the heads of fans and critics alike in October 2012, exciting the likes of Tom Ravenscroft (BBC 6 Music), The 405, Amazing Radio, P3 (Norway’s biggest music station) and many more. 

The music industry are excited by this EP release and so they should be.



'This Camden quartet is rapidly establishing themselves as a force to be reckoned with.' - The Roundhouse

'..the HBD kids are getting ready to take London, Great Britain and the Universe by storm {..} with some serene and affecting melodies entwined with crisp riffs & beats and all taking place in a sparse, echo filled expanse..' - Matt Simmonds, SGTMT

'A real breath of fresh air with an easy, mid-tempo jangle pop sound augmented by some nice guitar work. Hella Better Dancer is a band you'll want to root for' – Mike Tylor, The Big Beat

Hella Better Dancer are a female fronted London/Brighton based 4 piece who play spacey indie rock with ambient melodies and gnarly distorted guitars.

Following their debut EP Please Stay Here, Hella Better Dancer has returned with fiery guitars, concrete dance-drums and nu-folk sensibility on  Swimming. Described by Lauren Laverne as a "young PJ Harvey," HBD’s intelligent, brooding and emphatic songs are attracting an ever-growing fanbase. HBD were accepted to BBC Introducing’s Musicians Masterclass which supports unsigned, undiscovered music headed by key industry people (Zane Lowe and Huw Stephens).

They've released two EPs through independent record label Roundhouse Records and received both national and American radio play, most notably on BBC Radio 6 and KEXP.

They've played at venues such as Rough Trade East, The Roundhouse, Birthdays, and The Lock Tavern and at events such as The Big Chill, Leefest, Underage Festival, Turning Point Festival and most recently at the London Paralympic Games.







'Calm yet theatrical, unusual and beautiful, lyrical yet melody-driven folk; with a Billie Holiday-esque twist to the use of her very flexible vocals. Unique.’Rich Mix


Sarah Johns Music Party is fronted by singer, songwriter, percussionist and guitarist Sarah Johns. With an entrancing voice and an honest and avant-garde approach to song writing, she carves her own unique path between the worlds of anti-folk and blues music.

Compared to the likes of Tune-Yards, Lykke Li and Camille for her raw and experimental approach to sound, unusual vocal arrangements and theatrical performances, Sarah’s voice is soulful, sweet, yet enigmatic. She is accompanied by ritualistic drums and utilises a loop pedal to layer her wide-ranging vocals and creative percussion.

Whilst inspired by blues and soul, Sarah’s sound is stripped back, pure and tribal – utilising the minimum of sounds and making the most of space to create the effect she wants – ‘a hypnotic and all-encompassing’ experience for the audience.

In the last year Sarah Johns has supported the likes of Mariee Sioux, Kate Tempest, Melodica, Melody and Me, Maia, Wolf Alice and Liam Bailey. This year she will be releasing her debut EP 'Blossom Tree' (Psychic Healing Network Records.)