The Barnaby Ray Quartet
The only instrumental band to have won the Unsigned Award, Penzance based Barnaby Ray Quartet has a drum n' bass, funk and jazz sound, partly due to the fact that all four members are studying for or already have a BMus in Jazz studies. Already a huge hit in their hometown, the foursome has played a number of sell out gigs despite only having been formed under a year ago. The band has recently teamed up with Norwegian singer Inga who will be recording with the band this year.
With the help of friend DJ Fadadoo, who teams up regularly with Ex-world scratch champion DJ Prime Cuts at the Thekla club in Bristol, the band has been taking their jazzed up mix of funk and hip hop covers combined with Jazz and Latin to audiences throughout the South West.
Click here to hear a clip of The Barnaby Ray Quartet
Psychic Spies
Funk rock outfit, Psychic Spies (formerly White Noise) have 34 years of experience in the music industry between its four members and is based in Mid Glamorgan, Wales. Formed in the summer of 2000, the band are regulars on the Welsh gigging circuit and all four members have been involved with a variety of musical genres including traditional jazz, fusion funk, rock n' roll and punk folk with many more in between.
It's easy to see from this wealth of experience where the band's incredibly original sound comes from.
Following being selected for the Unsigned Awards, the band have played to a crowd of over 20,000 live on Cardiff's Red Dragon FM, featured on the BBC Radio Rock Show and have even had air play in the US on Gogangle FM!
Psychic Spies are a fantastic live band and front man Matthew Evans is particularly well known for his dancing style which has been likened to a hybrid of Ozzy Osbourne and Bez from the Happy Mondays!
Click here to hear a clip of Psychic Spies.
K- Diff Syndicate
Made up of over 22 artists from throughout Wales, the K Diff Syndicate's music spans many different genres of 'Urban Street' music from R'n'B, Garage and Hip-Hop to Soul and Dance. The band is a collective of singers, MCs, rappers and musicians and as one entity the K Diff Syndicate is a mass of ideas and talent that has no barriers.
Their 12 track demo, Cityzenship has been hailed by BBC Radio 1's Session in Wales as a “new landmark on South Wales' urban music map”. Following their Unsigned Award, the band has been in negations with Community Music Wales' label Complete Control Music to record a 10-track album in March so watch this space!
Click here to hear a clip of K-Diff Syndicate.
The Room Orchestra
This experimental pop quartet hails from Cardiff and is made up of Paul and Richard Jones, Spencer McGarry and Avvon Chambers. The music has a dark, stripped down approach which leans towards Krautrock, Minimalism and also features elements of Jazz.
The Room Orchestra have recently released Breakdown as a track on Cardiff based label Slow Graffiti's debut long player, Little Planets in the Wires.
Breakdown has already earned the band much praise in the music press with BBC Radio 1's Session in Wales proclaiming that the track was the highlight of Little Planets in the Wires. Time Out also loved the track, describing it as “great stuff” with “subtle electronic noises” which create “a satisfying experience”.
Since winning the 2004 Unsigned Awards, Room Orchestra have been extremely busy appearing on BBC Radio Wales, the Welsh Evening Session and GTFM. Band members Paul Jones and Richard Jones even managed to find time to debut on Goldie Lookin' Chain's new album, Greatest Hits.
Click here to hear a clip of the Room Orchestra
Tanya Walker
Cardiff based singer/songwriter Tanya Walker began writing songs at the age of 17, and soon after released her first record. Inspired by the music of Joni Mitchell, Carole King and later by Nick Drake and Jeff Buckley, Tanya performs regularly on the Cardiff music scene, presents a show on GTFM and has also hosted The People's Choice Welsh Dance Music Awards.
After being selected for the Unsigned Award, Tanya represented the UK on behalf of the PRS Foundation for new music working with pop idols and song writers in Beijing. GTFM radio has become firm fans of Tanya's as have Spiller records who are selling Tanya's EP along with FOPP.
With two new members to her band, Tanya is planning a 20 date tour this spring across the UK.
Click here to hear a clip of Tanya Walker.
Angel, Iles & Morris
Midsomer based band, Angel, Iles and Morris (formerly The Stitches) is made up of 19 year old Ben Angel and 21 year olds Matt Morris and Martin Iles. With influences such as The Velvet Underground, The Ramones, Supergrass and Super Furry Animals, the band has a retro punk sound and has already written over 50 songs.
A love for playing live gigs has ensured that Angel Iles and Morris fans are always treated to an energetic, fun packed performance from the boys.
Click here to hear a clip of Angel, Iles and Morris.
For further information / interviews please contact:
Jennifer Dempsie
Burt Greener Communications Ltd
T: 0141 248 6007
E: jennifer@burtgreener.co.uk