TheLlamas
TheLlamas - An exciting 6-piece ska punk outfit hailing from Somerset UK. James Andrews & Dan Childerley are joined by Roger, Chris, Gloria and Simon
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Island In Your Arms Island In Your Arms
This song was one of the first we wrote together. A live favourite, it is always dedicated to our wives and respective others
We are an exciting 6-piece ska punk band with strong singalong melodies throughout. Songwriting duo Dan Childerley (vocals / guitar / drums) and James Andrews (vocals / trombone / keyboards) are joined by Roger Cawsey on drums, Chris Brown on sax, Simon Cook on bass and Gloria Lawrence on vocals.
Our album (Ancillary Control), and a Chistmas Single (Snow Day) have been relaesed in the last year and have been quite popular. We have also build up a live following with some high - profile gigs coming up in the next year.Band/artist history
This is taken from our official site www.thellamas.co.uk
Cool teachers? Yep it is possible.
Dan and James are teachers at Heathfield Community School, Taunton. Dan is the D&T guy and James teaches the normally old and boring subject of Maths.
Being two creative guys interested in music and with far too much abundant energy rattleing around these guys started jamming early on in their friendship (and their careers). Dan playing drums and guitar and James on the trombone and keyboard. They both decided they were gonna sing (and have rarely shut up since).
Due to James' lack of driving skills (and hence, lack of license) he had to stay over at his mate Dan's after parents evenings or twilight inset days and these jamming sessions continued way into the night (much to Dan's wife Karen's dismay). This was the time when they decided to go about being a 'proper' band.
During lunchtime sessions students and staff at Heahtfield used to come along and listen and give their seal of approval (or diss) the guys and their songs. One such listener was Stuart Walker who was the IT Manager at school. He listened, he liked, he mentioned he played guitar. The boys, wanting to expand on their sound and broaden their reportiore, asked Stuart to join. TheLlamas first proper incarnation was born.
The guys played their first 'real' gig at Heathfield's Year11 Prom at a Stately Home in Somerset.They went down a storm and this sealed the future for TheLlamas.
Practice and songwriting continues and they score their next gig. Well we say score, it wasn't a difficult gig to get. They play James' Wedding Reception and gain lots of new fans. Ok, so family and friends 'have' to like your stuff, but they still count.
After the wedding madness has died down and things are back to normal James and Dan set about promoting the band. Dan got the boys on to BBC's Somerset Sounds website and onto their playlist. James set about submitting MP3s of some of their tracks to various major download sites such as www.download.com/thellamas.
Next was a gig at the Watchet Boat Museum. This was to be Stuart's last day as a Llama as he decided he was no longer going to be part of the group. This could have been a tense and awkward gig but actually went very well and was enjoyed by all (apart from an old lady who walked out during the first number, and came back in again after they had finished).
TheLlamas are back to being a two piece. James then organised for them to play at an Open Mic Night at the Market House Inn in Glastonbury. This was a wicked evening and TheLlamas decide they like this sort of format and are currently looking for more Open Mic Nights to strut their stuff at. If you know of any near you please contact TheLlamas and let us know.
In August 2005 James and Dan went back into the studio to record their debut album 'Ancillary Control'. They were aided by Roger Cawsey who not only mixed the album, but also drummed on opening track 'Who Ray?', and Simon Cook on Bass. The boys enjoyed TheLlamas music so much, they offered their services to help James and Dan in their upcoming gig at Watchet Football Club in October 2005. TheLlamas were joined on the night by Chris Brown on sax and guest vocalist Gloria Lawrence.
The six-piece Llamas went down a storm, performing in front of a crowd of 150+. They went down a storm - so much so, the football club wanted them to return. All four 'guests' enjoyed themselves so much, they agreed to become official Llamas.
The momentum continues to build with a high profile gig at the Tacci Morris Arts Centre in Taunton scheduled for April 21st 2006. More gigs on a similar scale are also in the pipeline.
The six-piece Llamas have just returned to the studio & recorded their two-track Chrismas EP featuring 'Ska Bells' and 'Snow Day'.Have you performed in front of an audience?Somerset is our base and where we have played live to date. Highlights include The Assembly Rooms in Glastonbury and Watchet Football club (our first gig as a six-piece).
Your musical influences
Mad Caddies, Goldfinger, Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Me First and the Gimme Gimmes, Madness, The Beat, The Specials, Pulp, Blur, Bowie, Sinatra
Glastonbury,
United Kingdom
ID
441581
Contact
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