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The Barnaby Ray Quartet are an original, six piece live Drum & Bass and Hip-Hop band.
Since forming in Cornwall in 2003, the band has quickly gained a reputation as one of the best live acts in the South West. The BRQ consists of a bassist, drummer, keyboard player, female vocalist (& flautist), MC (& percussionist) and sound designer allowing them to create sonic and harmonic improvisations while still performing completely live with no loops or backing tracks.
Taking influences from artists as diverse as Dillinja, Tori Amos, Herbie Hancock, Squarepusher and MF Doom. They have created their own unique, fresh and diverse sound that is taking Drum & Bass in a new direction appealing to many different markets. The bands primary aim is to be able to get their music heard by wider audiences and challenge current musical opinions by pushing musical boundaries.
Within a year of forming, the band won the PRS Foundation Unsigned award, granting them recording time in the prestigious Sawmills studio in Fowey and the release of a 3 track E.P. in Fopp record shops nationwide, all copies were sold.
The BRQ has developed an extremely strong and rapidly growing fan-base, generating sell out gigs and rave reviews on a regular basis. This has not gone unnoticed by established acts such as Pendulum, Dreadzone, The Asian Dub Foundation, Salmonella Dub, Coolio, The Young Blood Brass Band and Mampi Swift whom they have supported at their shows in the South West.
In 2006, the band played many accomplished performances on the UK festival circuit as well as completing a six week tour of the French Alps gaining a strong demand to return next season. They also featured in the BBC 2 series Blast with a live performance of two tracks and an interview which gained them an overflowing response of praise. Then in September, the band signed their first record deal with a Cornwall based independent label – ‘Pura Vida Records’.
2007 promises to be an eventful year for The Barnaby Ray Quartet with the release of their debut album in May. After putting the finishing touches to the recording the band are due to return to the French Alps for a three weeks tour, soon followed by a six week UK tour of many respected venues, this will coincide with the release of and promote their new Album. The Album will be distributed nationally and promoted through radio play, television exposure and press both regionally and nationally. After the UK tour the BRQ will again be performing on the festival circuit for the summer season, topping it off with their first tour of Ireland early in September.
The BRQ are committed to several charity organisations and have performed at various charity events. These include ‘The Dreadnaught Centre’ that works with children with emotional and behavioral difficulties, ‘The New Build Uganda Project’, ‘The Tsunami Appeal’, ‘Surfers Against Sewage’ and MS charities.
There are some live tracks recorded at the ISO bar in St. Ives in August 2006 and some excerts from the up and coming album on this space, keep watching for updates...
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