Before The Gold Rush

Before The Gold Rush is a new night organised by members of London folk band Long Dead Kings at The Wilmington Arms music venue in central London. It showcases the best in emerging and unsigned artists within, but not strictly confined to, the genres of folk, americana, and alt. country.

Confirmed acts: Borough Lovers, Worry Dolls, Because Of The Bears, The Sea Kings, Long Dead Kings.

Borough Lovers

Borough Lovers is the name given to the shifting set of superb musicians that play the songs of Daniel Orcese, tales of jilted lovers and cheating hearts.

Dan will be familiar to many as one of the owners of The Gladstone pub, “the biggest small venue in the world”, and one of the founding members of the Moon Music Orchestra, house band at the venue.

Dan and his full band will play songs from his ‘Random Acts of Fate’ album released on the Gladstone’s own Superglad label.

The album contains a diverse collection of tragi-comic stories delivered with a rye smile and a knowing wink.

Think 70′s George Harrison, Ronnie Lane’s Slim Chance, and Village Green era Ray Davies.

“Imagine if Andrew Loog-Oldham had locked Ray Davies and Chet Baker in the kitchen?”
- Rory Decourtelle

http://www.facebook.com/boroughlovers
http://www.youtube.com/theboroughlovers
http://www.youtube.com/boroughlovers
http://boroughlovers.tumblr.com/
https://twitter.com/BoroughLovers
http://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/random-acts-of-fate/id465367000
http://open.spotify.com/artist/3D8zWRvW0dFaMMUmFuo4Dy


Worry Dolls

London-based duo Worry Dolls are at war, not that you’d ever know. Think of the Worry Dolls as Tom And Jerry, but in one of those episodes where the titular two-some are forced to team up against a great evil. In this case, the evil is meaningless music filled with tired clichés.

Two solo singers by nature, Rosie and Zoe first teamed up while studying together at Paul McCartney’s old school in Liverpool. They bonded over being the only two redheads in their class, and Rosie’s ability to swear casually onstage (and, presumably, off). After they graduated, the two returned to their respective home counties of Devon and Kent, travelling to one another’s house on weekends to write songs together. Then, one day last Spring, Zoe decided she was moving away from Kent, and bought a one way ticket to London. More impressive still, she decided that Rosie was going to do the same, and convinced her bandmate to quit her job and move into a house in South London with her.

The transition has not always been the easiest, with Rosie and Zoe being two very different people – they readily admit to never agreeing on anything. Miniature battles rage over vegetarianism, whether songs should rhyme, or if the band should have a ‘The’ before their name… When the two decided to alleviate some of their frustrations by putting them into song, they went away to write individually on what they hated about one another, resulting in the song, ‘War’. There is a tangible feeling of metaphorical steam being released by the band whenever they perform it live.

The Worry Dolls won’t sing about love. Not directly, at least. In all of their songs the ‘l’ word is mentioned only once, and hardly in a positive context. It’s their small statement against a worn down lyrical standard that is too often relied on when a writer has nothing new to say. It doesn’t need to be groundbreaking, and it doesn’t need to be important (on ‘Oliver’ Rosie and Zoe sing about an infatuation with a West End drag queen), but it needs to be original, and it needs to have meaning. At least, that’s how the Worry Dolls both see it. And if they agree on that, it must be true.


Because Of The Bears

Because Of The Bears are a group of incredibly talented Pembrokeshire girls with original songs, intricate harmonies, acoustic guitars and rootsy percussion accompaniment.

Formerly known as The Lovely Somethings, the band decided in late 2011 that with a new life in London should come a name change, as vocalists Suzi and Lucinda moved to the capital to study music.

Whether playing as a full four piece, along with Rona and Joanna, or just as an acoustic duo, the simple beauty of their songs will have you hooked from the moment you hear them.

Their songwriting reflects a maturity beyond their years, and there is no doubt that the future promises great things for the group.

http://soundcloud.com/becauseofthebears
http://www.facebook.com/pages/because-of-the-bears/280994438585907


The Sea Kings

The Sea Kings are originally from the far-flung county of Cornwall, UK. Having been friends and occasional bandmates during their teenage years, each member moved up to London separately in the early Millennium to pursue careers in music, exchanging the coastline for concrete and the ocean for rush hour.

The trio were reconnected by solo appearances on the Greenwich open-mic circuit. After a summer spent travelling and busking around Europe they resolved to create something new, together. They began collaborating on fresh material, and the band was born.

On 9th April 2010, a four-track EP, An Introduction To The Sea Kings, was released through online distribution service Record Union, containing songs that will feature on the album (scheduled for release 2012).

The Sea Kings are; James Wills (Vocals/Guitar), Joe Holtaway (Vocals/Mandolin) and Jake Alexander (Vocals/Percussion/Cello).

“Close your eyes and you can feel the sand between your toes, taste the salty sea air, smell that heady mix of salt, seaweed and seagull droppings. It’s the sound of wizened old bearded indie kids swapping tales around a roaring fire while quaffing flagons of real ale.”
- The Devil Has The Best Tuna music blog


Long Dead Kings

Formed in late 2010, Long Dead Kings are one third rootsy lullabies, one third dark country noir and er… another third valve pushing folk rock.

Occupying a large 19th century church in Crouch End, North London, the band comprises three multi-instrumentalist (they swap around sometimes) songwriters, a campaigning rhythm section and no one single questionably principled front man.

As you read this from the comfort of your home or office or school or prison cell, the band is most likely out there somewhere like Kilburn, slogging away, entertaining the whiskey-sodden masses with music and songs and words.

The band released their first full album in 2011, and previously worked with producers at London based artist development outfit The Animal Farm.

Main influences include The Band, Neil Young, Bob Dylan, Richard Thompson, John Martyn, The Byrds, Gram Parsons, CSNY, Nick Cave, Johnny Cash, REM, Radiohead, My Morning Jacket, Fleet Foxes, The Low Anthem, Midlake, AA Bondy, The Decemberists, Mumford & Sons and many more.