The Electric Swing Circus

Electric Swing Circus
Origin Birmingham, West Midlands, United Kingdom
Genres Electro swing
Years active 2011 (2011)–present
Labels Independent
Website www.electricswingcircus.com
Members Laura O
Chandra Walker
Tom Hyland
Rashad Gregory
Patrick Wreford
Vicki Olivia

The Electric Swing Circus are a six piece electro swing band based in Birmingham, UK.[1] The line up features Laura O and Vicki Olivia (vocals), Chandra Walker (drums and keyboard), Tom Hyland (guitar), Rashad Gregory (samples, MPC & synths) and Patrick Wreford (electric double bass and bass synth). The Electric Swing Circus first formed in June 2011. The band’s preview EP, Penniless Optimist, was released in September 2011, and their debut album "Electric Swing Circus" in May 2013.

History

2011

The Electric Swing Circus had their first live performance at the Book Club on 17 September 2011.[2] The band also recorded the video for ‘’Penniless Optimist’’, which was filmed in Boxxed by Realm Pictures.[2] The video was uploaded onto Youtube on 6 September 2011 and has since received over 210,000 views.

During October 2011 Penniless Optimist was remixed by C@ in the H@ and Sam Redmore. Penniless Optimist received airplay on BBC Radio 6 on The Craig Charles Funk and Soul Show. The video for Penniless Optimist was also shown on BBC Big Screens nationwide.[3]

At the ElectroSwing People’s Favorite Awards, The Electric Swing Circus won Best Live Act award in December 2011.[3]

Electric Swing Circus has a residency at Hot Club de Swing, a club night at the Hare and Hounds, Birmingham. Hot Club de Swing hosts a 1920s theme and performers include cabaret, burlesque and electro-swing acts.[4] The band also have a residency at Electric Swing Club, which has many venues across the UK.[3]

2012

The Electric Swing Circus played many festivals during 2012, including Bestival, Secret Garden Party, Nozstock, BoomTown Fair, Beat-Herder, Fieldview and WOMAD. The band also performed as headline act on the Main Stage of Vale Festival 2012.

2013

The Electric Swing Circus filmed the video for the single Valentine in March 2013. It was filmed in Birmingham Municipal Bank and premièred at Swingamajig Festival in May that year.

On 9 May 2013, the band released their self-titled debut album. This was funded by their CrowdFunder campaign that began in July 2012.[5] Electric Swing Circus are a cooperative and have been featured in both cooperative events and press.[2]

Over the European summer, the band played several big name festivals, including Glastonbury Festival, Shambala and Fusion Festival.

The band's track, "Valentine" has been featured in the semi-finals of New Zealand's Got Talent, as a backing track for dance-duo Silhouette, who went on to be Runners Up in the 2013 Grand Final. Interestingly, Laura O has spent considerable time growing up in New Zealand, though Silhouette's choice to use an Electric Swing Circus song was only a coincidence.

2016

The Electric Swing Circus were announced as one of the headline acts at the pro-Brexit concert Bpoplive. However, when contacted by BuzzFeed the band described themselves as "generally pro-EU" and withdrew from the event.[6]

Swingamajig Festival

In May 2013, the band hosted a 1-day festival in Digbeth, Birmingham, which was the first of its kind in the UK. Headline acts included The Correspondents, Dutty Moonshine, Odjbox and Pierre, DJ Switch and C@ in the H@. The festival sold out.

In May 2014, the second Swingamajig Festival took place in Digbeth, with many well-reputed acts including Molotov Jukebox, featuring Natalie Tena.

Band members

Former band members

Discography

References

  1. ↑ Hyland, Tom. "The Electric Swing Circus". Retrieved 02/08/2012. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  2. 1 2 3 "Electric Swing Circus plug in to co-operation". Co-operative Futures. Retrieved 02/08/2012. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  3. 1 2 3 "Electric Swing Circus". Beat-Herder. Retrieved 02/08/2012. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  4. ↑ "Hot Club De Swing". Retrieved 02/08/2012. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  5. ↑ "The Electric Swing Circus Debut Album". Retrieved 02/08/2012. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  6. ↑ Jim Waterson (4 April 2016). "Bands Pull Out Of Anti-EU Music Festival After They Learn It's Anti-EU". BuzzFeed. Retrieved 25 May 2016.

External links

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