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Jacey Bedford of
Jacey Bedford Tour Management
01484 606230
agency(at)jacey-bedford.com
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Queensberry Rules
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The Queensberry Rules (UK)
Available for festivals throughout 2009
The Queensberry Rules are:
Gary Wilcox - Vocals and Percussion
Phil Hulse - Vocals, Guitar, Bouzouki, Harmonica
Duncan Wilcox - Vocals, Double Bass, Mandolin, Fiddle
Listen: England; Molly Leigh; Dollia; Sinking Town
“..they are a real hoot live..” - Sing Out Magazine (USA)
"Fine instrumentalists all, it is the quality of vocals and harmonies, which stand out. There is quality to their songwriting - you only have to hear the opening track, 'I still believe in England' to realise that. They are being compared to the likes of Lindisfarne, Strawbs etc. but I reckon there is a feel of the Oysters acoustic work." - Living Tradition
Hailing from the working class suburbs surrounding Stoke-on-Trent, The Queensberry Rules arrived on the folk circuit with the release of their 2004 album – ‘Heritage and History’ containing a collection of songs focusing, in the main, on their home city of Stoke on-Trent. Songs such as ‘The Saggar Makers Bottom Knocker’ and the title track, talked of trade and industry synonymous with the area, whilst ‘Jam Jar Wakes’ dealt with the local traditions. So successful was the album that the prestigious Fellside label in Workington, Cumbria signed them up immediately
The result of their fruitful collaboration with Fellside was the album ‘The Black Dog and Other Stories’ ( July 2006), Provoking comparisons with Jez Lowe and Vin Garbutt and continuing to mine the rich seams of local history, the title track being based around a local legend. The album also contained live favourite – the emotional ‘A Mother’s Love’, their workout of the shanty based folk standard ‘Rounding the Horn / Gallant Frigate Amphitrite’ and songs with a social conscience such as ‘Can’t Comprehend’ and the lead track ‘Sinking Town'.
"For a three piece they manage to create a powerhouse of sound that brings to mind a variety of the finest cutting edge performers of the past 20 years, but always with sufficient originality of their own. They're also lucky enough to possess two exceptionally effective vocalists." Rock 'N' Reel
It was this track in particular which really brought the band to prominence with wider audiences. Multiple airplays on Mike Harding's BBC Radio2 weekly folk program and an ebullient Harding enthusing about the band on air claiming that they are; “..a band destined for great things,” and that ‘Sinking Town’ was; “..one of my favourite tracks of the year,” The rapturously received, if slightly obviously entitled ‘Black Dog Tour’, saw the band play to numerous full houses, even in areas that they had never visited before. Three videos were recorded to promote the tour and album release – “The Black Dog”, recorded on location down the last working mine in Staffordshire, was featured as a promo video on the album, whilst ‘Sinking Town’ and ‘Architects of the Fall’ were also released (the latter in conjunction with Fair Trade, using footage shot on an ambassadorial visit to Uganda by the actress Gail Porter).
“A band destined for great things.” - Mike Harding, Radio2
Touring nationally and internationally since 2006 the band has proved to be a festival favourite. Great for main stages, but happy to roll their sleeves up and get up close and personal with their audience in smaller venues, meeet session and the occasional workshop.
“They have pulled many a dire festival bill out of the mire and made everybody smile.” Simon Jones, fRoots, 2006;
So, fast forward to January 2008 and the release of the bands brand new, eagerly anticipated album ‘Landlocked’. The album features the playing talents of Fiddle player – Kate Bramley from Jez Lowe’s band – ‘The Bad Pennies’ and the respected Melodeon and Concertina player – Brian Peters, to back the bands strong new songs and arrangements. Content-wise, it’s more of the same as local legends such as The Stoke-on-Trent witch and Halmerend’s Mining Accident get the TQR treatment in ‘Molly Leigh’ and ‘The Minnie Pit Disaster’ respectively. There is also the inclusion of two traditional numbers – ‘High Germany’ and ‘Dol-li-a’ and the band’s first instrumental tune, plus the lead track ‘I still believe in England’ is a wry stab at the state of our nation. Title track ‘Landlocked’ is reminiscent of Steve Knightley or Martin Joseph, is an evocative, nostalgic trip into childhood holiday memories, but with a bitter, hard centre. This new release is certain to cement the bands place in the hearts of folk audiences internationally, and will help to contribute to their meteoric rise to mainstream success.
" The Queensberry Rules is een pure Britse folkgroep - rootsy, akoestisch en erg lekker om naar te luisteren. Een stevige, lekkere slaggitaar (dat is zeldzamer dan je geneigd bent te denken), mandoline, bouzouki, fiddle, soms wat percussie of wat mondharmonica of bas en vooral lekker stevige zang. De liedjes zijn meer dan prima, en er wordt niet alleen stevig solo gezongen, ook de samenzang is onverwacht goed. Traditioneel, maar ook weer niet. Kortom - lekkere frisse, energieke Engelse folk, goed om je een uitstekend humeur te bezorgen". Moors Magazine