Here’s a quick Dreamboat summer update before we announce an exciting new addition to the Dreamboat Records roster later in August:

Robin Allender is as busy as ever playing guitar for Yann Tiersen on their world tour. The Gala Band have just played Glastonbury and will be playing the show at Colston Hall’s grand re-opening night in Bristol as a two piece Saturday 15th September. And finally, The Rollercoaster Project will release his fantastic new album “Revenge” next month with our friends at Absolutely Kosher Records.

Hot on the heels of his star turn in How To Be, The Rollercoaster Project will be performing his music on May 27 in Hay-on-Wye at How The Light Gets In — the UK’s first ever philosophy and music festival. The festival is running from May 22-31 at the same time as the Hay Literary Festival and has a great line up of bands, comedy and speakers, including music from Michael Nyman, Stephen Fretwell and Jeremy Warmsley, debates and speeches with Zygmunt Bauman, AC Grayling, Simon Blackburn, Will Hutton, Phillip Blond and more, and comedy sketches from Ed Aczel and Robin Ince, among others. Visit howthelightgetsin.org to find out more, download the full programme and book tickets.

After we had so much fun doing Dreamboat Christmas 2006 last year, we are pleased to announce the release of Dreamboat Christmas 2007, a free, download-only E.P. of Christmas songs from Dreamboat Records artists and friends.

1. Christmas Eve Part I — The Rollercoaster Project
2. A Christmas Song With No Cheer — Robin Allender
3. Farewell My Friend — Tom Wilson
4. Christmas Eve Part II — The Rollercoaster Project

• All tracks in one zip file.

But that’s not all from Dreamboat Records in 2007. We’ll be finishing up the year with a Christmas live show and party with Dreamboat acts and DJs and The Croft in Bristol. You should totally come!

Dreamboat Records 2008 is the second annual sampler from Dreamboat Records, featuring new material from Dreamboat artists, collaborators and friends. This full-length album is available to buy on CD for £6 from our shop, or as DRM-free MP3s from Bleep.

From our own acts, we have the increasingly wonderful Rollercoaster Project, Robin Allender’s new full band sound, the lovely new Gala Band, and a solo track from Simon Grant (ex-Azalea City Penis Club). We’ve also included Dreamboat collaborations (Yellow6, Kiska) and new stuff we just think is rad (Tom Wilson).

The first three tracks are available as free MP3 downloads here, and you can stream the entire album at Bleep.

Watch out for news of the launch/Christmas party for this record, which will take place on Thursday 20th December and will blow your mind. Details to follow.

We’ve found a handful more copies of our extremely successful Summer 2006 sampler CD so it’s back in the shop at just £1.50, and — while stocks last — we’re also throwing a free copy in with all purchases of Drone 1.

We sell Drone 1 for £4, but we’re now being undercut by five pence by our friends at Norman Records, who have lovely things to say about the record (“injecting soul into the circuits on the title track with staggering results…”). Of course Norman won’t give you a free summer sampler. The choice is yours!

And finally, Venue, Bristol’s Time Out has published a full page interview with Robin Allender. We’ve put a copy on our website for you to read if you’re not in Bristol. Allender (and band) are playing a headline set this Friday at Bristol’s Folk House. See the live page for more details.