Biography
Whalebone’s distinctive sound is created from a mix of many genres, merging Celtic music with bluesy riffs and traditional tunes with rock flash to create a unique and joyful blend. These far ranging influences combined with dexterous finger work and energetic live performances have built them a reputation amongst fans with a diverse array of musical tastes. With artistic sensitivity always at the fore coupled with their charismatic rapport at live shows Whalebone continue to seduce audiences wherever they perform.
With a sound that hints at Fairport, Flook and acoustic Led Zep without the vocals, Whalebone’s music is a marriage of folk music and classic guitar rock played on acoustic guitars and fiddle, combining upfront spellbinding musicianship, infectious driving rhythms and exuberant presentation. The trio’s performances feature fiery and emotive original material, supercharged renditions of traditional music and wild re-workings of rock guitar classics played with dazzling virtuosity.
They have performed as featured artists on BBC Radio Shropshire’s Sunday Folk with Genevieve Tudor and have made numerous live radio and television performances. Whalebone’s credits also include Clun Green Man Festival, Festival at the Edge, Farmer Phil’s Festival, The Living Well Festival, Ludlow Food Festival, Stiperstock, Bridgnorth Music Festival, Kidderminster Music Festival and collaborations with The Kaleidoscope Theatre Company. After a successful 2009 that saw the release of both a live album ‘Rootsy...Folky...Live and Funky’ and the re-release of their remastered debut album ‘There to Here’ as well as spring and autumn tours, 2010 will see Whalebone embarking on The Gathering Tour, taking their show to venues throughout the UK.
The Gathering Tour shows will include haunting atmospheric tunes alongside the high energy acoustic music that Whalebone have built a well deserved reputation on. The evening will feature energetic and emotive performances of original self penned material, inventive interpretations of traditional music and rock classics interlaced with a few of the folklore tales and myths which inspired the tunes.
The Story
The idea for whalebone was born in 1998. A tour of the UK and Ireland playing with folk singer Charlie Landsborough gave Steve the opportunity both to discover the delights of playing acoustic guitar after a twenty year dedication to Gibson Les Pauls and to be introduced to Irish, Celtic and Folk music. The tune Two Wild Women was written in hotel rooms and sound checks on this tour and was the first hint of what was to become whalebone.
Back home in Shropshire more tunes followed and with them the idea of playing eclectic instrumental music that would put musicianship to the fore whilst still playing accessible tunes that mixed influences ranging from Led Zeppelin and Richard Thompson to Davy Spillane and Flook (no Jazz!) and a few tentative outings with various musicians occurred. Around this time a conversation with keyboard player Rob Willis who Steve had spent much time with on the Charlie Landsborough tour led to the band’s name. Rob had commented that he liked the name Didgeridoo Records because it sounded organic, earthy and fun, and with these thoughts in his head, the name whalebone came to Steve when standing on Rob’s door step.
As the idea for the band took hold, Steve wanted to find a more stable line up and asked Charlotte who had similar influences and ideas, to become a permanent member of whalebone. Their first performance as a duo was on October 23rd 2005 in Bridgnorth and the first gig at Cinnamon Coffee & Meeting House, a venue that was to feature largely in the whalebone story, was on 8th December 2005.
A steady stream of gigs followed through 2006. Having amassed enough material to record an album, Steve and Char set up a small studio in a room overlooking the River Severn in Shropshire and in November 2006 the bulk of the first CD There to Here was recorded in a single week and released in January 2007. The album featured Dreamstate, the first tune co written by Steve and Char.
By this time, whalebone was the resident band at Cinnamon, a cafe owned by Sarah. On discovering that Sarah played fiddle, several informal jam sessions took place. The bands first live performance as a trio was at an offshoot of Cinnamon in Highley when, during a calamitous evening, Sarah did a lightening 14 mile dash to get a purple fiddle and save the gig. Other trio gigs followed and, realising the special chemistry that existed between the 3 musicians, Sarah was asked to become a permanent member of whalebone.
The addition of Sarah introduced traditional and classical influences to the band, allowing new sounds and more complex and intricate musical arrangements to develop. A second CD, Music from the Green Wood, was recorded over a number of sessions in 2007, but the band were becoming aware of the difficulties of capturing the energy and exuberance of a live performance in a studio setting and so plans were made to record a live CD at Cinnamon in front of a rowdy home crowd.
Rootsy...Folky...live and Funky... was recorded on 1st June 2008 at Cinnamon on possibly the hottest day of the year (!) On its release in March 2009, it became an instant favourite both with the band and fans.