The newest BIG STIR DIGITAL SINGLE (at www.bigstirrecords.com/big-stir-digital-singles as always) returns us to our roots with one of our original core bands and “Founding Fathers” as BLAKE JONES & THE TRIKE SHOP offer up an ode to “My Soft Rock Girlfriend”, b/w an all-new and exclusive B-side, “Disentangled”! Both sides are out Friday, September 20 and are available for pre-order now.

Fresno, CA legends BLAKE JONES & THE TRIKE SHOP can (but probably wouldn't!) boast of a rich history as the Central Valley's premiere purveyors of “art-infected pop” – always inventive, always melodic, always infused with equal parts Beatles, Zappa, and the unique perspective that comes from pride in their local community and its artists and quirks. The fact that the band is led by Blake himself on vocals, guitar and of course theremin (!), and features the flute and harmonies of Barbara Anderson-Jones give some inkling of the singular sound of the Trike Shop. Backed by the stalwart rhythm section of John Shafer (drums) and Martin Hansen (bass) with Michael Scott on co-lead guitar and harmonies, Blake has taken the band, always a live favorite, to appearances as far-flung as the UK and Germany, and they've anchored every single Big Stir Burbank Anniversary show since the first one.

“My Soft Rock Girlfriend” is a belated and much-requested proper single from the Trike Shop's 2018 LP Make, their first release on Big Stir Records and their fifth (or sixth, depending on whom you ask!) album overall. As an album cut it's been featured on terrestrial and internet radio stations worldwide, including Rodney Bingenheimer's Sirius XM program and it's overdue for an official standalone release – one of Blake's most relatably snarky tunes, evoking early XTC but nodding to the titular yacht rock's tropes at times and bursting (as is the album) with Jones' irrepressible enthusiasm for his local music and arts scene. Its single release comes along with a brand new video for the song, featuring cameos from many of the band's friends from the Big Stir Records roster and beyond, which will debut along the single on Friday, at Big Stir's various online platforms and on YouTube (go to trikeshopfilm starting on the release date)!

The flip side “Disentangled” is fresh off the mixing board at Jones' own Whispermaphone Studios and appears here for the first time ever. Clever as always and steeped in Beach Boys-influenced harmonies, it's a definite keeper and destined to be a highlight of the B-sides section of the forthcoming Big Stir Singles: The Fourth Wave CD.

The release coincides with the debut of Blake Jones' newly concocted solo live reworking of the Make LP into a songs-and-stories performance piece for the Mini-Rogue Festival, an extension of Fresno's celebrated city-wide festival showcasing the art and music of the city and its environs. Check the Trike Shop's online outlets for more details about the Festival and look for the A-side's video on September 20!

Expected release: September 20, 2019

The 42nd BIG STIR DIGITAL SINGLE (at www.bigstirrecords.com/big-stir-digital-singles as always) continues our co-releases with our sister labels. “Love Hate Passion and War” b/w the seasonally-apt “September Skies” comes from Welsh indie icons ARMSTRONG, by way of Canada's excellent THE BEAUTIFUL MUSIC, through which our friend, the wonderful Wally Salem, serves up the best in international pop rock. These tracks come from his recent deluxe issue of Armstrong’s Under Blue Skies album. Much more about the label, the band and the reissue can be found at www.thebeautifulmusic.com once you've enjoyed these two delightful teasers! They are out Friday, September 6 and available for pre-order now. Here's more on ARMSTRONG, courtesy of TBM:

Aztec Camera/Roddy Frame/Pearlfishers fans alert! These two gems of gorgeous songs accompanied by glorious acoustic guitar, keys and strings by one of the best songwriters you've never heard of are taken from the just reissued, lost album "Under Blue Skies". Armstrong is based around singer/songwriter Julian Pitt. Originally a three/four piece band from Newport in South Wales UK, the band (with Pitt as singer/songwriter) appeared in the New Musical Express top ten best unsigned band showcase during the late 90's. They split as a band soon afterwards and it wasn't until 2007 that Julian decided to resume releasing Armstrong songs. Under Blue Skies was recorded and produced by ex-60ft Doll Mike Cole.

"One of the most satisfying and melodic albums in recent memory and presents Pitt as the new unheralded prince of pastoral pop. With a voice that lilts and soars like Roddy Frame or The Pearlfisher's David Scott, he is truly a splendid find." -CaughtInTheCarousel.com

"Worldly, great, dramatic, orchestrated pop songs suffused with the love of The Walker Brothers and The Beach Boys." -Adam Walton/BBC Radio

“I fell hook, line and sinker for songs like “Gratitude”, “Love Hate Passion and War” and “The Things That Pass You By”, which all appear on this essential reissue. I struggled somewhat to make sense of my upended emotions, describing the effect of listening to Armstrong’s textbook orchestral pop as ‘triggering a form of musical photosynthesis in which senses long since dulled or shut down are set in motion again’, but perhaps TBM, in its online mission statement, gets closer to the truth declaring the label’s love for a music that ‘celebrates the melody and the harmony, the magnificent and the eccentric… that soars above the musical landscape in the Jet Stream of pop’. Armstrong do all that and more!” -Kevin McGrath/Kevin on His Soapbox, Wales

Big Stir Records is thrilled to begin a three-week run of Digital Single co-releases with our wonderful “sister labels”, commencing with the beyond-brilliant FUTUREMAN RECORDS who have leant us THE VAPOUR TRAILS, Aberdeen Scotland’s red hot jangle-psych sensations! “Sonic Wave” b/w the exclusive “Drowning As I Fall In” is out now at: www.bigstirrecords.com/big-stir-digital-singles

The Vapour Trails have just released their acclaimed and nearly instantly sold out debut LP SEE YOU IN THE NEXT WORLD. It's a a celebrated jaw-dropper of a first record, showcasing their their love of 60’s stalwarts like The Beatles, The Byrds, Love, Buffalo Springfield, The Who and The Kinks. You’ll also hear a healthy dose of later bands like The La’s, Stone Roses, Rain Parade and The Smiths. “Sonic Wave” is the new single from SYITNW, while the B-side is previously unreleased and exclusive to this single.

The Trails were formed in 2017 by father and son songwriters Kevin and Scott Robertson. Kevin taught young Scott some guitar basics, who quickly surpassed his dad’s meager guitar skills and set into his record collection for inspiration. Before too long the two started writing songs, and The Vapour Trails were born. The VT’s became complete with the addition of the indispensable Nicholas Mackie on guitar and co-vocals, old friend Kenny Munro on drums, and the newest Trail Chuck Milne adding his groovy bass to the mix.