Chris Clark (Guitar + Vocals),
Mike Ashbee (Bass),
Martin Steadman (Drums + Percussion),
Mark Dixon (Didgeridoo + Vocals)
Influences
Life, current affairs, history, human beings, what lives under the sea, space and time, nature and the nature of politriks.
GREAT BANDS like Killing Joke, Ozric Tentacles, King Crimson, Pink Floyd, Yes, Black Sabbath, Faith No More, Soundgarden, Alice in Chains, Nirvana, Slayer, CultureShock, Subhumans, Crass, Metallica, Rage Against the Machine, Screaming Trees, Pil, Massive Attack, Roni Size,, Portishead, Kyuss, Led Zeppelin, Hawkwind, Jethro Tull, Test Department, Soulfly, Bob Dylan, The Doors, Bob Marley, Johnson, Prince Far I, Lee Scratch Perry, Misty in Roots, Aswad, Radiohead, Porcupine Tree, Slipknot, Ian Drury and the Blockheads and Marilyn Manson.
GREAT DRUMMERS like Bill Bruford, Neil Peart, Lars Ulrich, Dave Lombardo
GREAT GUITARISTS like Jimi Hendrix, David Gilmore, Jimmy Page, John Butler, Steve Vai, John McLaughlin, Paco DeLucia, Kirk Hammett, Adrian Belew, Jerry Cantrell, Django Reinhardt, Kim Thayil and Tommy Iommi.
GREAT SINGERS like Robert Plant, Chris Cornell, Mike Patton, Mark Lanegan, Jeff Buckley, Cedric Bixler-Zavala, Jello Biafra, Brandon Boyd, David Byrne, Ronnie James Dio and Josh Homme.
GREAT BASSISTS such as Danny Thompson, Jeff Ament, Chris Squire, Lemmy, Harvey Bainbridge, Aston Barrett, Tony Levin and John Paul Jones.
Sounds Like
On a good day all the things we like and on a bad day not quite!!
Buy Stuff
NEWS FLASH.... LIMITED EDITION CROW CREW T SHIRTS AVAILABLE
We over ordered and are selling them at the price of £10 each. Only 20 are available!!
They are black and on the front is the first CROW T-Shirt logo ever used (very few T-Shirts with this logo still exist). On the back is the CROW logo. They are available in medium, large and extra large.
The photos really don't do them justice (can't get the models these days). They look great in the flesh.
Please pay by Paypal using the button below. If you don't have Paypal but are coming to the next gig, send us a message and we'll put one on one side for you.
CROW formed like a sonic phoenix from the ashes of previous alternative outfit DOOR MARKED SUMMER.
Unlike DOOR MARKED SUMMER, who had an unyielding and sometimes chaotic sound produced by 2 drummers, 2 guitarists, a bass player and a didgeridoo, CROW stripped down and focused the sound allowing the music a clearer sense of purpose and an opportunity to move in diifferent directions. This was a move away from the 'all out' power and angst that the more punk DMS had.
At the beginning, guitarist Ian Squire (aka Horse) brought a melodic feel to CROW's music, but personal differences proved too much and he left, thus creating a three piece of drums, bass and guitar.
CROW were initially influenced by so many bands before them such as Pink Floyd, Killing Joke, Led Zepplin, Rage Against The Machine, Ozric Tentacles, Faith No More, John Martyn and King Crimson to name but a few. As a result CROW's sound is a variation of light and dark, heavy and mellow, intense and edgy and other such adjectives to describe something that is totally subjective.
CROW are a band that incorporates a myriad of styles and rhythms into their songs. Rock, Tribal Psychedelia (tribadelic), Trance, Reggae, Metal, Funk, Prog....in some form or other it's covered. However, this isn't a disjointed clash of styles; the music naturally flows between different moods, because CROW firmly believe that their music should be about substance not style. The songs have never had verses and choruses and a lot of the tracks are instrumental, thus relying on the dynamics of the instruments rather than the focus of the singer. Where there is singing on a track, the lyrics promote positivity and speak of environmental, spiritual and social issues.
In addition to the music, CROW's gigs incorporate visual elements such as lighting and projection shows. Originally working with corvus lighting, gigs were a "sensory delight" of backdrops and stage props, smoke machines and dancing lights. CROW are currently working alongside BlueTribe Sound System on producing live visuals.
"to this day the scent of paraffin takes me back to happier times..."
Many gigs have also seen CROW team up with the amazing jugglers from Kent Circue School (www.kentcircusschool.com) and the combination of hypnotic tribal rhythms with the primal spectacle of fire-jugglers and breathers and their fantastic UV acts, make for an intoxicating brew.
CROW split up in 1995, but reformed in Autumn of 2007 following the sad news that former promoter Bryan Steele had passed on. He left a message with his family wishing that CROW would reform and play a gig at the Leas Cliff Hall in Folkestone in his memory. CROW are honoured to do this gig as a tribute to Bryan and are still in the process of trying to make this gig the special event that it deserves to be.
CROW are now playing gigs again and are writing new music with the intention of putting together a new album. CROW are also working alongside other artists in order to utilize soundscapes and keyboards in to the music.
CROW are very much alive and are positively looking towards the future.
The welcome return to Orange Street of THE KIM THOMPSETT BAND. Kim - guitar, vocals, flute, recorder, zither, harp, bowed psaltery Dave Kent - guitar, keyboards Naomy Browton - cello, vocals Andy Renshaw - Percussion, kalimba Kims debut CD Songs From the Uglee Meadow.... "As well as singing, multi-instrumentalist Kim plays guitar, flute, zither, recorder and percussion. The result is an intimate and intensely personal recording, rich in pastoral imagery and rooted in the English landscape.....It draws on Celtic, medieval and English folk, but the album is not overwhelmed by its influences, retaining its own shape and identity. The tone is ruminative, reflective and at times celebratory, whether a poignant love song crafted from an epitaph or taking in the beauty of leaf and stream. For more reference points, think Sandy Denny’s Who Knows Where the Time Goes?.... Philip G Martin guests on hurdy-gurdy and bagpipes ( WILL SUMMERS from CIRCULUS also appears ) , while Sarah Tadros weaves cobweb patterns on violin. A very mellow recording, not so much shoe-gaze as tree-gaze, and a finely crafted piece of English whimsy " www.myspace.com/kimthompsett WITH SUPPORT FROM-BENEATH THE OAK- last seen at Orange street supporting THE KITTIWAKES- watch the gig again here- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_gJkYfyLB0
TWILIGHT FOLK CLUB PRESENTS… CIRCULUS plus SYD ARTHUR LIVE AT ORANGE STREET MUSIC CLUB CANTERBURY
ORANGE STREET MUSIC CLUB (01227) 760801
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 26TH 8.00PM TICKETS £9/£8 IN ADVANCE CIRCULUS
‘British band Circulus have almost single handedly reinvented English Psychedelic Folk Rock for the 21st Century…..their sound is totally unique coming across like a mixture of medieval English Folk, Fairport Convention and Ozric Tentacles! ‘This band just leave you wanting more, playing a wonderful mix of psychedelicised folk whilst hankering to a more pastoral time, but always feel uncomfortably bang up to date. The songs are a fantastic mix of heady summer jigs & ballads, sung with a crystal clear Englishness that can make you come over all unnecessary. This is prog/folk spot on in every way, and probably the only band around who use a Crumhorn, Cittern & Rausch pfiffer????......the audience is sent home happy. Seeking medieval inspiration is not in itself new – Gryphon and Amazing Blondel spring to mind – but Circulus marry this with vintage 70’s space-rock a la Hawkwind/Gong’. Power to the Pixies! WATCH CIRCULUS HERE- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2OavLPpPVw
SYD ARTHUR Syd Arthur are an exciting new band from the South East of the country, at the forefront of the young musical explorers whose unique sound has been making waves far beyond their native Canterbury. Their highly ec
many thanks for coming to see me play last night, it meant a great deal to me. Glad you enjoyed my set, hope to do again soon... if you're ever short of a support act... ;-)
Unsure if I can make the Maidstone gig, I hope that and the Jackdaw thing go well.
