WITHERED HAND
with support
THE VESTALS
Friday 21st September 2012
Dempseys,
Castle Street, Cardiff
7.30pm / 18+ show
£7 adv from | www.swnpresents.com |
| www.seetickets.com |
| www.wegottickets.com |
| www.ticketlineuk.com |
| Spillers Records |
WITHERED HAND
Withered Hand is the music of Dan Willson. Live and on record, Dan may be accompanied by any or all of the following: Hannah Shepherd (cello); Neil Pennycook (banjo); Alun Thomas (drums); Neil Sylvester, Benni Hemm Hemm; Chris Bryant; Faith Nicholson; Jo Foster; and Bart Owl.
Photo By Jazzy Lemon
Withered Hand have made four records. Their Religious Songs EP was recorded at home by Neil Pennycook and released through SL Records and Bear Scotland in 2008. You’re Not Alone is a solo EP, recorded by King Creosote and released through Fence Records and SL in spring 2009. Good News is the band’s first album – it was funded by the Scottish Arts Council and mixed by cult American producer Kramer (Low / Galaxie 500 / Daniel Johnston), and was released by SL Records on September 14th 2009 (2011 in the US on Absolutely Kosher) and subsequently available through Dan’s own micro-label Brother & Dad. Fence Records issued a limited vinyl EP called ‘Heart, Heart’ in the UK 2012.
Photo by M Gallacher
Withered Hand have been privileged to play alongside many incredible artists with a similar ethos, including Jeffrey Lewis, King Creosote, Herman Dune, Calvin Johnson, Little Wings and Malcolm Middleton. They have several times played Fence Records’ Homegame Festival, was invited to perform at the last ever Triptych Festival and the inaugural Tennents Mutual, and during the Edinburgh Festival 2010 headlined a sold-out show as part of The Edge Festival and at all-day DIY extravaganza Retreat. In 2011, Withered Hand headlined the Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh as part of the Edinburgh International Festival Fringe 2011.
photo by Brian Vass
Withered Hand have recorded three BBC radio sessions: two with Marc Riley, on BBC 6Music, and one with Vic Galloway, on BBC Radio Scotland. Dan’s music continues to gain endorsement from quarters as diverse as DJ and indie superstar Jarvis Cocker, alternative music legend Julian Cope and comedian Daniel Kitson.
Photo by J Kincaid
The snow-bound early months of 2010 saw Withered Hand tour the UK solo, selling out almost every date on the tour, but managing to sneak in a couple of memorably raucous full band shows en route. Withered Hand played solo shows across 5 countries in continental Europe through Spring 2010, as Dan headed out on the road accompanying the Icelandic band Benni Hemm Hemm.
Dan performing solo at AAA Kensington, London
At the end of 2010, Withered Hand was delighted to sign a deal in the US with Absolutely Kosher Records, who released ‘Good News’ Stateside in March 2011 to favourable reviews’ including an ‘Artist to Watch’ recommendation in Rolling Stone Magazine. Several East and West Coast US solo dates followed in support of the release in March, including a packed showcase at the prestigious SXSW Festival in Austin, Texas. In July 2011, the BBC produced and aired a documentary featuring Dan’s progress in USA as one of the Scottish-based contingent attending SXSW.
Fence Records released the vinyl only ‘Heart Heart’ EP in 2012. Another limited EP will emerge before another album is completed. Dan is intending to spend most of 2012 shredding in the kitchen with his new electric guitar, finishing songs for the next full length release and working out how he feels about the music industry.
THE VESTALS
Newport’s own, The Vestals are a fascinating throwback to the moody, melancholic times of the 1980s when The Cure and The Sisters Of Mercy were top of people’s agenda.
Funnily enough, it won’t belong before this mysterious – as such for drumming up an air of anonymity – five piece are the same; as, despite being on the radar for a matter of months, there’s already quite a buzz about this scuzzy bunch.
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