Plug
27-04-2011, 09:21
‘Ethereal and Electric’- The Guardian
“They sound like Emmylou Harris meets Jack White in a sexy headlock” - Word Magazine
'This is genuine, honest music impeccably crafted by three individuals with an obvious desire for their chosen path.' – Drowned in Sound
Sparrow and the Workshop will be releasing their new album ‘Spitting Daggers’ on May 23rd through Distiller Records. The album was produced and mixed at the new recording studio, The Distillery, by Leo Abrahams (Brian Eno / Sam Amidon). ‘Snakes in the Grass’ will be the first single and is also released on May 23rd; the album will be available on CD and download.
The band comprises of Belfast born, Chicago-raised Jill O’Sullivan (vocals/guitar/violin), Welshman Nick Packer (guitar/bass) and Scotsman Gregor Donaldson (drums/vocals.) Jill's voice has developed into a powerhouse of flexibility, allowing her to soar from keening Sandy Denny-esque tones to sensual peaks you're more likely to expect from PJ Harvey. With Gregor providing vocal harmonies alongside drumming and percussion duties, and Nick playing guitar and bass and an instrument combining the two affectionately referred to as the 'basstard', they have matured into a truly astonishing outfit.
The band had an extremely busy and successful 2010. They began the year supporting Idlewild on their “Post-Electric Blues” tour, and were then invited to support the Brian Jonestown Massacre on their European tour by bandleader Anton Newcombe after he stumbled upon a video of theirs on Youtube. Soon after this they headed across the Atlantic for the first time to perform three New York shows, the first of which was again supporting the BJM. In addition to numerous shows across Europe and a couple of Arctic gigs thanks to Norwegian Band Sivert Hoyem (ex Madrugada), the band also performed at festivals as varied as T in the Park, Bestival, and The Green Man Festival, the latter of which prompted Observer newspaper music critic Ally Carnwath to call them his best discovery of the festival. They rounded off the year as main support to The Pogues on their farewell Christmas Tour, an introduction that was also instigated by BJM's Anton Newcombe, who played Pogues' singer/tin whistler Spider Stacy some tracks at a dinner party in Berlin.
There is something gloriously new about the way Sparrow flit effortlessly between innocent simplicity and dark complexity, from ethereal softness to fearless post-rock crescendos at the drop of a hat. While they have been compared to bands as varied as Jefferson Airplane, Talking Heads and Black Sabbath, this is an album truly of their own making. A headline UK tour to coincide with the album release will be announced imminently.
http://www.myspace.com/sparrowandtheworkshop
Support tba
@ The Forum
127-129 Devonshire Street
Sheffield
S3 7SB
“They sound like Emmylou Harris meets Jack White in a sexy headlock” - Word Magazine
'This is genuine, honest music impeccably crafted by three individuals with an obvious desire for their chosen path.' – Drowned in Sound
Sparrow and the Workshop will be releasing their new album ‘Spitting Daggers’ on May 23rd through Distiller Records. The album was produced and mixed at the new recording studio, The Distillery, by Leo Abrahams (Brian Eno / Sam Amidon). ‘Snakes in the Grass’ will be the first single and is also released on May 23rd; the album will be available on CD and download.
The band comprises of Belfast born, Chicago-raised Jill O’Sullivan (vocals/guitar/violin), Welshman Nick Packer (guitar/bass) and Scotsman Gregor Donaldson (drums/vocals.) Jill's voice has developed into a powerhouse of flexibility, allowing her to soar from keening Sandy Denny-esque tones to sensual peaks you're more likely to expect from PJ Harvey. With Gregor providing vocal harmonies alongside drumming and percussion duties, and Nick playing guitar and bass and an instrument combining the two affectionately referred to as the 'basstard', they have matured into a truly astonishing outfit.
The band had an extremely busy and successful 2010. They began the year supporting Idlewild on their “Post-Electric Blues” tour, and were then invited to support the Brian Jonestown Massacre on their European tour by bandleader Anton Newcombe after he stumbled upon a video of theirs on Youtube. Soon after this they headed across the Atlantic for the first time to perform three New York shows, the first of which was again supporting the BJM. In addition to numerous shows across Europe and a couple of Arctic gigs thanks to Norwegian Band Sivert Hoyem (ex Madrugada), the band also performed at festivals as varied as T in the Park, Bestival, and The Green Man Festival, the latter of which prompted Observer newspaper music critic Ally Carnwath to call them his best discovery of the festival. They rounded off the year as main support to The Pogues on their farewell Christmas Tour, an introduction that was also instigated by BJM's Anton Newcombe, who played Pogues' singer/tin whistler Spider Stacy some tracks at a dinner party in Berlin.
There is something gloriously new about the way Sparrow flit effortlessly between innocent simplicity and dark complexity, from ethereal softness to fearless post-rock crescendos at the drop of a hat. While they have been compared to bands as varied as Jefferson Airplane, Talking Heads and Black Sabbath, this is an album truly of their own making. A headline UK tour to coincide with the album release will be announced imminently.
http://www.myspace.com/sparrowandtheworkshop
Support tba
@ The Forum
127-129 Devonshire Street
Sheffield
S3 7SB