A Guitarist and Bassist from South Wales who had played in bands with each other for the past three years were finding themselves at a sudden dead-end. In search of a Drummer who needed to match many qualities they had in mind, they were failing to find the man for the job leaving them with one foreseeable option…
The Guitarist in our story, Alun Roberts, has a brother. This brother was travelling the West Coast of Australia through the summer months of 2006. On his travels he met many new people. One of these was a certain Mark Lilley. He was a Drummer from Bristol, he took a liking to the tunes played to him by this stranger.
When the travellers had returned to our not so fair lands they decided to meet in Cardiff for a few drinks. Here is where Alun Roberts [Vocals/Guitar] and Mark Lilley [Drums] first crossed paths in the Sheafson story…
It was decided that each one’s musical styles should be tried on by the other, and so, as we are given the introduction of Hywel Jenkins [Bass/Vocals] bringing the low end, the elements that were to form the basis of a band named Sheafson were in place…
This trio of musicians were still young, but had all been in enough bands throughout their youths to know exactly what they wanted from this one.
Within the first few weeks, riffs flew and came and went. Songs were finely carved at home only to be ripped apart in the rehearsal studio. Some fell, others stood.
Of those that stood it was decided very early on that they should be documented.
This meant creating an album….
The Middle…..
With studio experience under their belts the band thought they could pull this off easily. They were wrong. So enlisting the help of friend and engineering guru Dimitris Asimis of State of Mind Productions, the band began work demoing tracks. They learned a huge amount through the process, honing the finer details of their songwriting, production values and about their relationships with each other as working unit.
The Past….
The band gigged when and where the opportunity arose between the time they formed and began laying down real tracks for the full-length album to come.
Here is a gig list…
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Nov 23rd 2006 – Callaghan’s, Cardiff
Jan 30th 2007 – The Croft, Bristol
Feb 1st 2007 – The Bunch of Grapes, Bristol
Feb 10th 2007 – Barfly, Cardiff
Feb 27th 2007 – The Louisiana, Bristol
Mar 20th 2007 – The Croft, Bristol
Sept 15th 2007 – The Junction, Bristol
Sept 28th 2007 – Workman’s Hall, Blaengarw
Oct 11th 2007 – Rockers’ Live! – Taunton
Oct 16th 2007 – The Croft, Bristol [First headline show]
Oct 19th 2007 – Arts Centre – Bridgwater
Nov 7th 2007 – Bar Inc, Bridgend [Headline]
Nov 10th 2007 – The Louisiana, Bristol
Jan 2nd 2008 - Moles Club, Bath
Jan 12th 2008 – Private Party [Headline]
Jan 15th 2008 – Barfly, Cardiff
Feb 7th 2008 - Talybont Social, Cardiff
Feb 14th 2008 - The Louisiana, Bristol [Headline]
Feb 16th 2008 - Leonard's EC1, Islington
March 6th 2008 - CF10, Cardiff SU
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Wherever they play they gain new fans to add to the building army.
Here’s a selection of the bands’ favourite quotes from gig-goers….
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[Of Sheafson’s headline slot at the Croft]
“That’s the best live gig I’ve ever seen from
an unsigned band!” – Pete Taylor, Solo Artist
[Of Sheafson song ‘Where Crows Land’]
“…like Muse meeting up with Mammoth Volume for a cup of tea at
Queens of the Stone Ages' house.” – Daniel Karl Morgan, Promoter
[After Bar Inc headline set]
”That was the first show by a band I didn't know that
I've really enjoyed for ages” – Geraint, The StopMotion Men
[Taken from an independent gig review of Bar Inc set]
“...mixing the ambient dynamics of Muse and the vocal power
and aggression of Pantera these boys are again onto a winning
combination! I'm sure it won't be long until they get the big
break they need and most of all deserve” – Shane Kinsey, Gig-goer
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The Present…..
The album has recently been completed and will be available for purchase in shops and at gigs (which the band are about to start playing again amazingly!) within the next month!
To The Future!
After the members cut their current ties and the album is in their hands they plan to do what they bloody well want!
That just so means that they plan a UK-wide tour for the later months of 2008. They wish to take in every major city with stops in between in order to sell the album, which they’ve worked so hard on for the past year since their formation.
It’s been a huge trip so far for Sheafson, but they believe [with plans for a second album, with the first still in the making] that the journey has only just begun…..
For the shortened version of this bio suggested by a friend please see below!
“They’re awesome!”
We hope this hasn’t been too Spinal Tap/Darkplace and thank you for your time!
Alun Roberts, Hywel Jenkins, Mark Lilley - Sheafson
We realise how this is quite obviously automated and you will probably consider it as spam and ignore it.. but if you are feeling the need for a some fresh new music please visit our page and give our new EP a listen. We've worked really hard on it and had some excellent feedback so far and would love to hear what you guys think.
"Exciting, Striding and assured. It has an energy reminiscant of everything that was good about the Klaxons debut album.." - BBC Radio Bristol.
"The overall sound echoes that of Bloc Party but with great conviction and sophistication. Go see them live if you can." - iTunes review.
It's also available to buy through our website and itunes if you really do like it.
The Scarlets, Blues, Ospreys and Dragons have each released a single with the aim of getting into the UK Top 40 on Februaty 8th (The day Wales begin their 6 Nations defence against Scotland)
Which region will get the highest chart posittion?
Please support your region by pre-ordering their single NOW!
The Scarlets - 'Yma O Hyd' Text 'SCARLETS' to 78789
The Blues - 'Delilah' Text 'BLUES' to 78789
The Ospreys - 'Cwm Rhondda' Text 'OSPREYS' to 78789
It's a place for bands to explain how they book shows. Comes along with news on web technologies, recording gizmos as well as music industry trends and anecdotes.
Hello and thanks for being friends with The BritBus!
I hope you take a moment to check out our page – we have some exciting international tours for unsigned bands in 2009. A year of touring the world...! You can apply directly from our MySpace page...
We also have a Facebook page and would love to see you there too - feel free to post a link to your MySpace page and tell us where you would like to tour!
hey guys, loving the sound you guys have, thanks for accepting us, be sure to take a listen of our tracks and let us know what you think, maybe we could do some gigs together?
Hey guys, great news you are joining us and Sedulus in London. Have you got the helicopter booked to get Mark out of the British Grand Prix!!! The queue's are horrendous!
Hi Sheafson, Don't forget Fathers Day - 15th June! The Official Album of The Welsh Rugby Union is available from the Official online shop - click the cover for details. Wales In Union - The Ultimate Welsh Rugby Supporters Album, available from Tesco - click the cover. Shine - The New Album from Paul Child, available from Tesco - click the cover.
alright gents, see your in the semi's of the uni battle of the bands! Good luck, I will try to make it down to support you guys! We won it last year, its a nice competition with good prizes so I hope you do well!
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