City Friend is the hot new single from Ian Whitty And The Exchange. Taken fresh off ‘The Lucky Caller No.9′ the hugely acclaimed debut studio album, and following the celebrated songs ‘Not On Your Side’ and ‘Houndstooth Shirt’ this is another great offering from this Rising Irish Band. This is musical hot scones and butter on a Saturday morning, with that prevalent feel good factor stemming from an unmistakably upbeat vocal delivery and indie-folk sound. With strong acoustic-pop arrangements, combining lush strings and brass, the song writing and storytelling is all at once, urgent and energetic while remaining soothing, rooted and folksy.
The group can also proudly boast some well-known names on this record with production by top Irish producer Ken McHugh (Dave Kitt, Autamata) and mastered by Dave Collins in Los Angeles (Bruce Springsteen, Janes Addiction). They were also amongst the first acts to be selected by Alison Curtis of Today FM in her Ireland Rocks section to record a live version of the Bruce Springsteen classic ‘Atlantic City’ for ‘The Last Splash’ and also won the Hotpress/Tisch video competition for “Not on your side”. (www.hotpress.com). In the most recent Hot Press readers poll ‘The Lucky Caller No.9’ was voted Top Ten Irish Debut albums of 2008 alongside the likes of Fight Like Apes and Lisa Hannigan. City Friend was also selected by Hotpress for their most recent compilation.
More info: www.ianwhitty.net / www.myspace.com/ianwhitty
‘The Lucky Caller No 9” is available from all good record stores and available to download from iTunes and amazon.com.
Some worthwhile tour dates:
31st July: Le Cheile Festival Oldcastle Co Meath.
1st Aug: Cork X South West with FRED, Waterboys, Lisa Hannigan West Cork, Cork
2nd Aug: Indiependence Festival 2009, Mitchelstown, Cork
14 Aug: The Chestnut Birr. Birr Vintage week Festival
