So, yes it has been a while. Too much going on to be writing news stories! The reason we have not updated ournews page for 3 months is because the office has been shut whilst we were in LA at the Billboard Film and TV conference at The  Beverly Hilton, we were also meeting with prominent indie labels and even had a chance to check out the surf dudes in Malibu!

Then it was off to hook up with the fine people of NYC. We partied courtesy of Masters Of Work and West End Records at Cielo, then it was off to Germany - looking at potential partners for licensing the Big Strides albums. Hold tight for developments with this, as part of 2007 Big Strides will be hitting it hard in Germany.

So, we have also been locking down releases for next year.

We are proud to announce another JD73 single is to be released by that soon to be very well known Wax On Records owned by Super Producer George Evelyn aka DJ EASE -  of Nightmares On Wax. We will then look forward to JD73's debut album 'Zeros And Ones' dropping shortly afterwards, you better brace yourself, it is hot! Watch out for JD73's 5 issue Masterclass in Future Music magazine. As he takes you through making a tune from scratch, he will show you his writing, producing and instrumetal skills. On the final issue there will be a DVD of the whole process and him working it in the studio. This will start in the March/April issues, keep your eyes out.

We are equally pleased to announce that the Brotherly album 'One Sweet Life' will be released in mid-April 2007. There will also be a digital download single released at that time.

Big Strides 2nd album that was made available in September 2006, but the big launch is on March 12th 2007 preceeded by the single 'Always Together' with the video, you can get a sneak preview here:-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5Z7GysY03s

They are currently working on some new tracks in the studio, the next show will be a big one to celebrate the single and album release and will be their own headline show on Thursday 1st March at The Electric Ballroom. Onward and upwards!

Lana will be starting wok on her debut album in the first half of 2007. Meanwhile she is playing a couple of shows in LA in January, then back to the UK. In between her heavy recording schedule there will be a string of live dates around the country. Remember her Blue EP is available from the Monumental shop and iTunes.

So, of course you know now that we are proud to have signed the fierce and exciting rock band the Furies! They have just been in the studio recording their fresh new EP that will be available on iTunes and from the Monumental shop by March. In the meantime, they continue to Rock the Barfly, Metro, Old Blue Last and all those great London venues. We will be speaking with various record labels in the New Year to enable them to record the album and get it in the shops as soon as possible.

So all great news to end the year on, as I quote MC GQ from the AWOL night at The Ministry Of Sound back in 1995 - "We're Bubblin' like soup in a pot, hot hot hot!"

Wishing everybody a Merry Christmas time and Happy New Year,

We said last month was a big month and actually we were kidding! This month we have the much anticipated releases of 'Smiling' the Big Strides single comes out on 11th September. Followed swiftly by JD73's exceptionally funky and dirty offering 'ElectroBoogie' - a massive tune, let's hope the sun stays out! Both of these singles have received support from the right places with Smiling having already been played by Steve Lamacq, and a whole bunch of dj's down at BBC 6 Music. ElectroBoogie has received some love from One World on BBC Radio 1 and the B-Side Swing Til It Hurts was playlisted on Patrick Forge's Kiss 100 show for weeks on end!

So, this is the month that those Big Strides hit the road again this time in the UK. For all the latest tour listings please refer to our home page or hit their website from the artists page link. We're all off to Popkomm towards the end of the month to cook it up Europe style. Then we get back and we're moving! Yes, we are leaving the area of West 1 and relocating to Brixton! Where, as well as our office space, we will be setting up a Studio with those fine folk from Amabala and Black Mango Music

So, here it is the big month of August. Well, what a month. We are very proud to announce the signing of a licensing deal with Toshiba-EMI in Japan for Big Strides 2 albums. As they return from an extremely successful visit to the territory we owe many thanks to Creativeman for an incredibly well organised Summer Sonic festival in both Osaka and Tokyo. The 2nd album will be released there in October. In the meantime the guys will be on tour in the UK ahead of the release of 'Smiling' the single on 11th September.

In other exceptionally exciting news we have the new JD73 single out next week, with an exclusive download that will be given away with the digital version of the single on itunes and other download stores. Look out for the big track ElectroBoogie out on September 18th.
No doubt the live show not to be missed this month is Lana on the main stage at the Secret Garden Party on Sunday at 2pm. Over the course of the weekend the stage will be graced by the likes of Prince Buster, The Automatic, Graham Coxon and Lily Allen.

As Big Strides finish a string of gigs amongst their mainstage performance at the Wickerman Festival. They look forward to travelling to Japan for their shows at the Osaka and Tokyo based Summer Sonic Festival.
At this time we look forward to attending the BPI, UKTI and British Underground organised trade mission in order to introduce our acts into the Japanses market.

Lewis Kirk the skin hitter from Big Strides tells all in this months Drummer Magazine.

Monumental Joined the AIM and UKTI trade mission to NYC. We extend a massive thank you to all involved in organising an amazing event, from which we will benefit in the not too distant future. Watch theis space!

What a show! JD73 absolutely rinsed it proper with a fantastic live show that got everyone on the dance floor and electrified The Wardrobe! The Morcheeba keyboard player and his band funked up the place in true style and the crowd were smiling and grooving all the way....If you have the opportunity to catch him, it comes highly recommended.
In other news, a new Brotherly single will be out towards the end of the summer with an album to follow not long afterwards...Very exciting times!

Meanwhile, Big Strides are set to release their new album at the end of September, oh my goody gosh!
There will be a JD73 treat coming to you around this time as well, we are very much looking forward to this eciting new release!

So, it seems that the Monumentalists have just confirmed their place on an AIM Trade mission to New York City in June preceeded by attendance at The Great Escape in Brighton. This will help continue the work already started during the past 6 months and should bring exciting happenings to the crew....

This last month we have been cooking up some very exciting projects that we can't say anything about yet!  In the meantime Lana played an amazing show on Friday night in the room full of good vibes - Small Worlds, The Synergy Project @ SEOne  club. The night a storming success, and the quality of the other acts was marvellous.

Look out for some top gigs in May from Lana and an exclusive chance to say JD73 and his new bands debut show. As mentioned, this will probably be your last chance to see him at an intimate venue for that price!

Brotherly had a great night down at The Jazz Cafe on Saturday night. A big thank you to everyone that was rockin' with us. A special thanks going out to Seiji from Bugz In The Attic and The Uprock Crew for their fine DJ skills. As well as an extra big up to Adam and Top Rock's mic technique!

In other news Big Strides had a busy schedule last week fitting in 3 radio sessions around their already hectic tour schedule...We will announce as soon as we know when the BBC 6Music sessions are being aired...

Remember that those Big Strides are still on the road, ahead of the release of the single 'Let's Get Nice'. They will be on BBC Radio Leeds Tonight between 7-9pm. If you're not lucky enough to inhabit the City of Leeds then you can get on the interweb and check out the Sally Fairfax show for yourselves at the following address:-

 http://www.bbc.co.uk/england/radioleeds

Meanwhile, Monumental are currently representing in New York City for the next couple of weeks. Cooking up some opportunities that you'll hear more about in the coming months. All we can say at the moment is, it's very exciting!

If you haven't purchased your tickets for the Brotherly show at The Jazz Cafe, on Saturday 1st April you better get in quick!

Those Big Strides kick off the 1st leg of their UK tour with a cracking gig at Moles in Bath. Check out the full listings on the home page. Monumental highly recommends that if you haven't got a ticket already and you live in London, you should get yourself down to the 100 Club for their mid-way homecoming! The night has an amazing bill and what better place to hold a Rock gig! It's set to be an unbelievable night. Get yourself on that interweb immediately and book you and your friends some tickets, do you hear me?!

The new JD73 single 'Happy People' will be released on Monday 20th February by Wax On Records the new label from legendary Producer E.A.S.E aka Nightmares On Wax....It is already a hit with the likes of Producers DJ's Ashley Beadle and Ralph Lawson...

He will also be on BBC Radio Leeds on Monday at 8pm to see on their wonderful web cam and hear  the first exclusive sounds from the new album Zero's and One's, not released until the summer, then go to the following link:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/england/radioleeds

Brotherly  Live Session played on BBC RADIO 1 Last night for Gilles Peterson's Worldwide Show...listen to it all this week!

Great show, great response.....

As we finally leave the mince pies in the distant past where they belong......Lots of really exciting things being worked on at the moment on behalf of all Monumental acts, watch this space!

Those Big Strides rocked The Barfly once again last night! Sending a packed out crowd Rockin' all the way to the kebab shop (after the show of course!). Thanks to anyone that came down to step and skank to their funky lo-fi  sounds.

Then it's off today to begin the video shoot for  the single 'Let's Get Nice'. Have fun!

A big thanks and good vibes going out to all involved with Co-Op. The fortnightly Broken Beat and Future Jazz night down at Plastic People is in its 5th year, helping push the boundaries in dance music. Next Sunday (18th) sees them moving to Cargo for a 5th Birthday party that will also feature a live spectacle. If you haven'y had a chance to check this night, we suggest you get down there on Sunday. You won't be disappointed!

What a storming success! Lana and the Kingpins Rock 'n' Rolled the Bloomsbury Bowling Alley last night with live full band set of original swinging, thumping Rhythm 'n' Blues and old fashioned dance music. The audience was twisting, cha cha cha-ing and dancing in the bowling lanes. watch out for more gigs here

Big Strides are on a few gigs in the north this week, if you haven't checked them in a while you should get down and get funked. They're still working on the album with super producer Dan Swift who's fitting it in nicely between having finished the last Snow Patrol album and starting on the new Aqualung album!

Brotherly, funked up the place down at the BBC Maida Vale Studios, doing their thing for Gilles Peterson's Worldwide session that will be aired on Radio 1 at some point soon......Watch this space!

Big Strides rocked The Barfly yesterday! Thanks to everyone that had a good old dance. Those who missed it, don't worry they rocked so hard there'll be another date there soon!

Lana had a great gig at Troy Bar, if you haven't experienced her singer/songstress skills you really should go check her asap! She's the most interesting thing compared with all those two-a-penny guitarist singer songwriters.

JD73 aka Dan Goldman joins the Monumental roster! The Morcheeba keyboard player has signed up with Monumental ahead of the release of his incredibly funky album that's to be put out at the beginning half of next year. In the meantime there is a promo single being released in the coming weeks on the new label 'Wax On' set up by George Evelyn (aka EASE, Nightmares On Wax).

Brotherly Rocked The Royal Festival Hall, Sunday 13th. Thanks to all who supported the gig. The place was full and the atmosphere was steaming! The 12" 'Put It Out' is available to buy now on Bitasweet Records (http://www.bugzintheattic.net).

Also Brotherly will be appearing Live in Session on Gilles Peterson's Radio 1 One World show, in the coming weeks. We'll let you know the details as soon as.........

Lana is back from India and doing several live acoustic performances between now and Christmas, check her gigs page.

Big Strides putting the finishing touches to their eagerly awaited 2nd Album this week, release date tbc.