Great Imitation are a Leicester based band comprising of four distinctly different personalities and music backgrounds. They have created their own brand of Hip-Hop which mixes slick rap poetry with raw English singer/songwriter soul, and electronic hooks and beats which make it perfect for today’s popular music industry. Formed just over a year ago, Ryan Albutt (vocalist and guitarist) and James Scott-Howes (rapper) wrote their first song within an hour of meeting each other and within three weeks they had played their first live show as an acoustic duo and instantly started to build a fan base. After three months of writing and performing they decided to record and mix their tracks, as well as expand the band by introducing Joe Lambden on drums and Mark Connor on bass.

In concert Great Imitation are a unique proposition. The band creates clinically executed live versions of the production heavy recordings, over which rapper James unleashes his unique brand of insanity. The band have been taking their live hip-hop show around the country, performing in Nottingham, Birmingham, Derby and London regularly as well as playing several festivals throughout the summer. At the start of this year they were invited to headline the new acts evening at London's legendary Monto Water Rats, after which they were offered a support slot with Jurassic 5's own Akil The MC. They have also supported Pixie Lott, Tinchy Stryder, Get Cape Wear Cape Fly, Kano and Pendulum amongst others. Most recently they have been performing in the Surface Unsigned competition and have thus far made it through to the regionals finals at the O2 Academy.

Leicester's live community was exceptionally quick to notice the talent and showmanship of Great Imitation. The band rapidly gained the attention of fans and promoters, developing a fan base large enough to sell-out Leicester's premier live venue Sumo in May 2009, to celebrate the release of their debut EP 'An Imitation Party'. The self-released EP showcased the band's diverse repetoire of songs which veeres from laugh out loud social commentary to geneuinely harrowing and dark narratives. An Imitation Party's initial press of 500 copies has entirely sold out within the first four months of it's release. Recently Great Imitation has gone back into the studio to develop and record their new album which is due for release later this year.

Last summer Great Imitation performed for Balcony TV at Camden Lock which received over 800 views within three days of it being uploaded onto YouTube. Both presenter and cameraman proclaimed it was one of the best performances they had ever seen at Camden Lock, out of 2000+ acts that they have recorded. Great Imitation have also done live interviews and sessions for various radio stations, including BBC Introducing on BBC Radio Leicester as well as Total Rock Radio and Demon FM. All of these stations have commented on how many emails they had been sent in from listeners and fans of Great Imitation.