Noz: Lead Vocals/Guitar.
John: Drums.
Lee: Bass.
Vikki: Keyboard.
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Influences
Thursday December 6 2007 @ Manchester Academy 2 (Impress the Judges)
By Bodog Battle:
Early in the night Mercia Drift took the stage. They had a great indie rock sound with a beautiful female keyboard player that added backing vocals. They had a great look on stage and their lead singer sung with passion.
'SAME BOAT' - 'LIVE' @ MANCHESTER ACADEMY
VOTE FOR US ON XFM
www.xfmuploaded.co.uk/merciadrift
Mercia Drift began writing and playing music together January 2007. The band is made up of Lee Knowles, John Wright, Vikki Cost and Lee Williamson. Lee Knowles aka Noz has been in various bands now for the past ten years eventually meeting up with John and forming a band together in 2004. After 3 years of gigging they decided they needed to mature as a band and therefore started afresh with new members and a new name 'Mercia Drift' in January 07. Vikki is a classically trained pianist with a sound that John and Noz thought would add the extra edge to what they wanted. Lee is the youngest member of the band who they met through following Noz and John's old band and discovered he was a great and dedicated bass player. The four piece began practicing hard to come up with some great atmospheric/anthemic songs.
Over the last year Mercia Drift have been busy trying to up their profile and get their name known, not only just locally but around the country too. They have had numerous gigs in Glasgow (Barrowlands2, Rockers, Box etc), played the famous Cavern Club in Liverpool, Manchester Academy 2 and 3.
Mercia Drift were put through to the final stage of a competition held at Manchester Academy. The judges who put them through the first two stages reviewed the band as 'seriously strong lead vocals and emotion-packed guitar solos, a great indie rock sound with a beautiful female keyboard player that added backing vocals. They had a great look on stage and their lead singer sung with passion'.
Mercia Drift have also been gigging constantly around their local city of Leeds, becoming better known by the day. The band have recently recorded a 3 track CD @ Pravda Studios in Leeds with producer Matt Peel who has worked with the likes of The Kaiser Chiefs and The Pigeon Detectives. This CD is now ready to be shown to the world!!
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REVIEWS
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SANDMAN REVIEW - April 2008
Mercia Drift
The Be All And End All
Mercia Drift almost flew right under my radar. Quite
how they managed this is beyond me, as this is an
absolute gem. Opening track ‘All I Want To Be’ introduces
itself with old-fashioned majesty, bringing to mind
Coldplay. Before you get on your musical high horse,
however, just take a minute to let the soaring strings and
gorgeous vocals capture you. ‘Worlds End’ does, as the
title suggests, conjure up images of standing on a mountain
during the final moments of an impending apocalypse.
The complete pomposity of the song is done
extremely well, and without any hint of pretension, doomy
and uplifting at the same time. Closing track ‘Same Boat’
is stronger still, glorious synths and vocals full of melancholic
optimism lift the song up.
Gavin Bailey
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MANCHESTER MUSIC SCENE - By Simon Brown
Wakefield’s Mercia Drift sound a bit like a cross between Embrace and James, which at some point and time in the universe would be a pretty good thing to be. “All I Want To Be Is All I want To Be” provides a convincing mix of stadium sized sounds, smart keyboards and jangling, strutting guitars which all underpin the exuberant voice of “Noz”.
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Hey thanks for adding Backline Photography to your friends, its great to be here!
Thanks also for your kind comment, the feeling is mutual, cool sounds!
Working locally (midlands /mid Wales), nationally (UK) & internationally, we specialise in affordable high quality music photography, alternative / environmental portraiture & consultations for developing bands & musicians.
Hey, thank you very much for taking me to your myspace family....I am doing fine. I hope your week has been going good as well so far and wish you a great day.... - Dave
Hey! Long time no speak! Remember me Vicky? Gabrielle's friend? Was just passing through and noticed your date for the Escobar.. might have to come see you guys. Loving the sound! Keep it up!
Hello! Cheers for that Vikki, we were pretty chuffed with the review...as you can probably appreciate, its nice to get those little things now and then! I do believe a few of us will be attending on the 28th!! Looking forward to it!! Stu x
Hello Mercia Drift, I just want to thank everyone who has had concernes about my well being. It is much appreciated, I have came into a problem with my page deleting people from it (NOT AT ALL MY DOING) and I also was not able to send nor receive emails. So please do not take anything personal if I did not respond to your emails. Much luv, Carlos Neal
