Billy in the Lowground + Band in Bristol, EN

ABOUT

Billy In The Lowground (originally called the Brew Band) were formed in 1991 by founder members Chris Hibberd & Ruth Behan, since when we've played literally hundreds of gigs at pubs, clubs, large venues and festivals all over the UK, as well as some in Europe.

Past Festival gigs include: Glastonbury, Ashton Court, Trowbridge Pump, Bath festival, Respect in the West, Pontardawe International Folk, Larmer Tree, Off the Tracks, Farmfest & a host of others.

Notable past support slots include: John Otway, Shane MacGowan & the Popes, Rock Salt & Nails, Norma Waterson & Martin Carthy, Oysterband, the Men they Couldn't Hang, the Wurzels and Fairport Convention.

The band have often been pigeonholed as Folk-Rock (think 'Weapon called the Word' era Levellers rather than 'All around my Hat' era Steeleye Span!), but that doesn't cover the half of it - the sound is continuously evolving, veering into alt.country territory and even out-and-out Rock. Or, as recent reviews have put it:

"...The music can only be described as foot stomping greatness. The sheer energy and passion that pours from the band is matched only by their musical ability, and the songs themselves are the kind of short infectious pieces that grab you by the throat and demand that you move, without you really noticing. The twin melodies of violin and guitar swirl and twirl in and around eachother with a grace that defies the relentless stomp of the bass and drums, while the acoustic and vocals work mercilessly away at your subconscious, making sure that the material haunts you for days."
- Woolley Festival

"If the Levellers were moonshine-swigging Appalachian mountain folk instead of Guinness-swilling Brighton crusties, they would probably have sounded a lot like this."
- Green Man

"The poster said Folk-Rock, but anyone expecting an evening of gentle, fiddle-tinged easy-listening was rapidly disabused of that notion, as 'Billy in the Lowground' grasped Folk firmly by the scruff and dragged it backwards through a Hedge of Rock. Mixed metaphors aside, what emerged was a sound akin to a cider-fuelled Grateful Dead, only tighter. Superb."

For further info, see our website:
http://www.billyinthelowground/

Screen name:

slylittlei

Member since:

Jan 19 2012

Active over 1 month ago

Level of commitment:

Very Committed

Years together:

20

Gigs played:

Over 100

Tend to practice:

1 time per week

Age:

60 years

Influences

All original material (Nobody else plays our stuff, so why should we play theirs?), but think along the lines of Levellers, Waterboys, Oysterband and you'll be somewhere handy.
No twee folk, it's loud and proud...

Members Of Band

All our songs are penned by long suffering, weather-beaten singer/guitarist Chris Hibberd, who claims he finds them under hedges. He pins them to the ground with a forked stick, wrestles them into a sack & brings them to an old cowshed, where the rest of the band kick them around until they've had enough. Once they've had all the rough edges knocked off, they're left to hang for a while until they're good and ready.

Legend has it that fiddle-player (and niece of the notorious Brendan) Ruth Behan met with the Devil at a crossroads one dark & stormy night, where she sold her soul in return for her fearsome fiddle-playing ability. It's also rumoured that the great Irish champion Cuchulain presented her personally with a bow strung with the hair from his horse's mane after enjoying her 'Waxy's Dargle'...

Bassplayer Ian Simpson tried to make the same deal, but the Devil refused, as close inspection revealed his soul to be in a sorry state of repair & covered in nasty stains. Ian took up the bass guitar thinking it would be easier than a six-string and would get him more attention from girls. He was wrong on both counts.
Previously with 1980s Bristol band All Night Chemists and after that a brief stint in the Spasmodics, Ian joined the band in 1993. He escaped briefly in 2002, but was swiftly recaptured.

The other, much taller half of the rhythm section is DFP, previously with 'Crash Paris', 'The Killertones' and many more...

EQUIPMENT

Current line-up is drums, bass (and backing vocal), rhythm guitar (and lead vocal) and fiddle.
We're looking for a great lead guitarist who can also preferably play 5 string Banjo/Mandolin...

MUSIC