"Let a gale rise and swell into a storm, and let a sea run that might appal the stoutest heart that ever beat; let the light ships on the sands throw up a rocket in the darkness of the night; or let them hear through the angry roar the signal guns of a ship in distress."
Cocos Lovers are a seven piece roots and folk band from Deal on the Kent coast. We are a rare mix of a husbands, wives, brothers, sisters and good friends. The band has drawn the best out of the members personal relationships and the chemistry created is producing both critically acclaimed recordings and live performances. We have recently been taken on by Quite Great Music PR, the company which launched the careers of Newton Faulkner and Sandi Thom and also GR8 Ape Music Publishing. (More info here Quite Great )
BAND MEMBERS
Will (vocals/guitar/mandolin/percussion)
Natasha (vocals/violin)
Mary-Anne (vocals/accordion/cello/percussion)
Nicola (vocals/flute/recorder/percussion)
Phil (tenor banjo/guitar/mandolin/vocals/percussion)
David (lead guitar/acoustic guitar/vocals)
Bill (bass/vocals)
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BAND HISTORY
We came together at the start of 2008 and began playing many gigs throughout the South, together with a number of festivals, winning many friends along the way. After a busy summer of 2008, we set sail for Europe to spend three months playing gigs, writing new material, finding new sounds and making new friends. The route took us to Belgium, Holland, Germany, the South of France and Spain where we settled in the 'Magic Valley' between Valencia and Barcelona.
2009 has seen us establish ourselves on the UK festival circuit and highlights have been The Green Man Festival, The Small World Festival, Lounge on the Farm Festival, Secret Garden Party, Coed Spring Gathering, Sellindge Music Festival, Broadstairs Folk Week, Triban Spring Gathering, Sidmouth Folk Festival, Brighton Farmyard Festival, amongst others.
The Lounge on the Farm festival featured such acts as Cherbourg, Josh Weller, Peggy Sue, The Horrors, Son of Dave, The Temper Trap, 6 Day Riot, A Hawk and a Hacksaw, and many more. We performed to a packed crowd inside the Farm Folk tent and a further outside set on The Bandstand, which again drew a great crowd.
The Lounge on the Farm festival has been reviewed on VIRTUAL FESTIVALS website - ....' The unknown surprises found by meandering in and out of the smaller tents are what make this festival a bit special. Bands like 6 Day Riot, Cocos Lovers and A Hawk And A Hacksaw played on an adoring and aghast crowds’ heart strings in the Farm Folk tent with their diverse brands of folk dance and brilliant musicianship'
In 2009 we have also supported some great new bands such as Mumford and Sons, Alessis Ark and 6 Day Riot.
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We have released two ep's on Smugglers Records. The first ep was released in April 2009 entitled 'The story of lunatic van rogue'. The second ep 'Time to Stand' was released in July 2009.
The 'The Story Of Lunatic Van Rogue' has SOLD OUT, but is available to download from ITUNES
Our second ep is entitled 'Time To Stand' .This ep has again SOLD OUT., but can be dowloaded from ITUNES
click here to go to our ITUNES store
Tracks from the above ep's have been featured on BBC Kent Introducing and BBC6 Music, as well as various internet radio stations.
The debut album has been recorded and is penciled in for a release date March 2009.
We are featured on Kent TV, playing 'Homeward Bound'. Watch the video here.
Please vote for our video below at www.kenttv.com/soundclash
REVIEWS & WORDS :
There are plenty of intriguing local acts across the bill, including the peculiarly named Cocos Lovers, an eight-piece roots and folk outfit from the altogether unglamorous surroundings of Deal. Made up of husbands, wives, friends and siblings they succeed in creating a whirlwind of glorious unfettered joy in a way that is reminiscent of a more organic Noah And The Whale or Mumford And Sons imbued with greater urgency. Flutes, violins, tambourines and banjos are interchanged throughout an electrically-charged performance which even inspires a bout of crowdsurfing from one eager soul. Their heavenly harmonies are a beautiful substance that soothes the soul one beat at a time.
CLICKMUSIC
My good gosh!!! This band are one of our exciting myspace finds of recent memory. A truly sublime 8 piece roots and folk outfit from a charming place named Deal.
It would not be out of place to mention them in the same breath as the likes of Mumford and Sons, Laura Marling or Cherbourg. Or christ!...even Leadbelly, Merle Haggard and Woodie Guthrie.
Simply breathtaking. One of those acts that have the ability to grab your attention just by mic testing, hold your gaze by string tuning and simply take your breath right out of your body on the first song and send your heart raising round your body on the second. And you wont stop trying to catch it till well after they've left the stage. 'Bloody Awful Poetry'
'When this fine band from Kent burst into song, everyone who was in their sound range suddenly took notice.
A couple of minutes into the first track almost everyone was dancing or swaying to the rhythms of their quite unique sounds.
There was about six of them playing guitars, banjos, and violins.
Wrapped around all this were very special vocal harmonies, almost spiritual, with a touch of Afro/Celt sounds.
This was a real coup for Blackpool to get this band.
Hopefully they will be back.'NORTHWESTBAND.CO.UK
"One of the most promising bands in Kent" BBC Radio Kent Introducing
"The real revelation of the evening, tho' was Cocos Lovers. An eccentric, vaguely folky bunch of lovable types exuding a rare warmth and playing a succession of gorgeous songs" Sounds from The Spring
Check out some more here
* Thank you to Michael Houghton for the top four pictures taken at The Tunbridge Wells forum - http://michaelhoughton.co.uk
I found you through Krissy and the Jackdaws. Unexplainably good! Going to try keep and eye out and come to some of you're shows! Can imagine it being so so wonderful live!
Thanks for the info about your EPs! Iwould like to come to the Camden gig but I'm driving back from Birmingham that day from two gigs there that weekend so might be a bit too tired to come in to London if I'm honest (I live in Colchester) Plus travelling by train on Sunday is dire. But hopefully you'll play London again fairly soon?
Kent TV is proud to announce that the first episode of "Hollywould..." is now available to watch!
The website also features more information about the characters, plus bios of the cast and crew, with more behind-the-scenes extras to be added in the forthcoming weeks.
TWILIGHT FOLK PRESENTS…. SHARRON KRAUS With support from Peter Delaney and C Joynes Live at Orange Street Music Club, Canterbury Weds October the 21st 8.00pm £5 in advance/£6 on door
“Sharron Kraus is a dark-folk gem. Listening to her high, clear voice cut through melodies woven from acoustic guitar, banjo and hurdy-gurdy, you may struggle to remember which late-'60s traditionalists beat her to the material.Here's one folklore expert whose originals feel both authentic and alive….Exquisite second album by this wonderful singer. She conjures up visions of Karen Dalton, Shirley Collins, Judy Dyble and even early Joni. Live she was fantastic too. ..this moves from traditional folk (in a Shirley Collins, Anne Briggs style) to her own songs and enchants all the way. An immaculate album from a major new singer.”
Peter Delaney lives in Limerick, Ireland. He comes from a folk music background and plays his own unique style, drawing on early Hawaiian folk songs and Alan Lomax field recordings as well as more contemporary musicians such as Joanna Newsom and Josephine Foster. Peter released his debut EP/Mini Album "Duck Egg Blue" in April 2007 to much acclaim.
Peter has played throughout the UK, Ireland and Norway and has shared the bill with A Hawk and a Hacksaw, Alasdair Roberts, Jozef van Wissem, Juana Molina and The Swell Season. www.myspace.com/peterdelaney
"English acoustic guitarist C Joynes uses traditional country-blues and early ragtime t
TWILIGHT FOLK CLUB PRESENTS as part of THE CANTERBURY FESTIVAL- the IVOR NOVELLO AWARD NOMINEES......... THE LEISURE SOCIETY LIVE AT ORANGE STREET MUSIC CLUB, SUNDAY OCTOBER 25TH STARTS 1.00 PM TICKETS £12/£10 in advance.
Nick Hemmings band THE LEISURE SOCIETY, famously nominated for an Ivor Novello award this year for their song "THE LAST OF THE MELTING SNOW",will be playing live in Canterbury as part of the CANTERBURY FESTIVAL. The band are also on the same label as, and share members with THE SONS OF NOEL AND ADRIAN who were so well recieved at the club earlier this year-this will be a rare oppurtunity to catch this rapidly upcoming band in a small venue.....
In the words of the critics....
"Beautifully pastoral debut." MOJO **** "Wonderful" Observer Music Monthly **** "An autumnal mist of British Bank Holiday ennui surrounds Nick Hemming's literate meditations." The Times **** "Music to cuddle up to, music to clutch yourself to, music that is, as Jimmy Webb might say, necessary. This is a band that could well be the sound of 2009." Maverick Magazine **** "A lovingly crafted, tender folk record that will secure them as a named brand on the shelves of pop. The love affair begins." Ragged Words "Magical... shimmers with loveliness" Word Magazine "This is a record of extraord
hey! just to let you know our debut album 'signs and wonders' is out this week on itunes / amazon! check it out and let us know what you think, cheers Animal Kingdom x
