The King Blues

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The King Blues
Origin London, England
Genre(s) Punk
Folk
Reggae
Ska
Years active 2004–present
Label(s) Field Records
Island Records
Household Name Records
Website http://www.kingblues.net
Members
Itch
Jamie Jazz
Fruitbag
Johnny Rich
Jim Parmley
Gumby
Former members
Robin Guy (Temporary Drummer for Reading & Leeds, 2006)
Chris Goodman (Bass on Under The Fog)

The King Blues hail from London, UK. They blend a wide range of styles of music from acoustic to ska to create a truly unique sound. Influences include King Prawn and The Clash.

Contents

[edit] History

The King Blues started off as a solo project, consisting of Itch playing ukulele and contributing vocals. They then expanded to also include two acoustic guitars and an acoustic bass, before again expanding to include full-time percussion members. Their sound is described as "soulful ska with raw folk and a punk rock attitude"[1].

In June 2006 their debut album, Under The Fog, was released on Household Name Records which coincided with increased touring and gigs. In November of the same year, Mr Music Man was released as a CD single, also on Household Name. The single was enhanced with a video chronicling the band's attempt to play more gigs in a 24-hour period than Status Quo's record-breaking 4 gigs in one day. The King Blues managed seven[2]. Their single Mr Music Man was voted Best Punk Song of 2006 by Radio 1.

The King Blues opened the Lock-Up Stage in 2006 at Reading and Leeds Festivals and played the stage again, albeit in a higher slot in 2007. They are scheduled to play the stage once again in 2008. In February 2007 the band played on the inaugural Ruff and Ready Tour alongside Sonic Boom Six, Failsafe and Mouthwash.

In 2007 the band was signed to Field Records, a subsidiary of Island Records. Under The Fog was re-issued in March 2008, and was preceded by a new single of "Mr. Music Man". [3]

In August 2007 the band played the Empress Ballroom stage at Rebellion festival at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool, alongside The Filaments, Neville Staple and Leftover Crack.

The band also has a monthly residency at The Purple Turtle venue in Mornington Crescent, London, which started in June 2007.

On December 18th 2007 The King Blues played their biggest gig ever at Wembley Arena, supporting Hard-fi.

The band has also played support slots for the likes of Capdown, The Slackers, Bedouin Soundclash and Anti-Flag.

In May 2008 the band released a single from their forthcoming second album [title tbc] called "Let's Hang the Landlord" to all those signed up to their mail-list. The song takes them in a slightly different direction, opening with violin, and with a sound echoing that of The Pogues and Flogging Molly.

[edit] Band members

[edit] Discography

[edit] Albums

Year Album Label
2006 Under The Fog Household Name
2008 Under The Fog (Re-Issue) Field/Island

[edit] Singles

Year Album Label
2006 Mr. Music Man Household Name
2007 Come Fi Di Youth Field/Island
2008 Mr. Music Man (Re-Issue) Field/Island

[edit] References

  1. ^ See KingBlues.com: The Band.
  2. ^ See Household Name Records: Mr Music Man single.
  3. ^ See KingBlues.com: Main Page.

[edit] External links

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