When: 7.30pm on Wednesday 26 April 2017
Where: Gullivers, 109 Oldham Street, Manchester, M4 1LW

We’re delighted to be promoting a joint headline show featuring Holy Moly & The Crackers and Rob Heron & The Tea Pad Orchestra!

Holy Moly & The Crackers are a seven-piece ‘gypsy folk rock’ band from the UK. Founders Conrad Bird, Ruth Patterson and ‘Squeezebox’ Rosie lead the band with compelling charismatic style.

They released their debut album, First Avenue, in October 2012 and an EP, Lilly, a year later – described as ‘a re-imagining of three traditional folk/blues songs that evokes eras of whiskey and guns on modern punk folk steroids’. Their single A Punk Called Peter (2015) is ‘a sort of New Orleans funeral march mixed with some fine and highly danceable reggae’. Their latest single, Burning Back Wheel, was self-released in 2016. They have recently made a new album with top rock/pop producer Matt Terry at Vada Studios (The Enemy, Ocean Colour Scene, The Wonderstuff etc) which will be released in 2017.

Surely they are one of hardest working bands on the circuit with a growing and loyal fan base: over the last two years they have toured the UK extensively, and made impressive debuts in France, Germany, Holland and Portugal. In 2016 they appeared at 27 festivals, including performances at Glastonbury (Avalon Main Stage), Larmer Tree, Wilderness, Belladrum, Kendal Calling, Underneath The Stars, Towersey, Purbeck Valley, Deershed plus many more. In previous years they have appeared at Hop Farm, Secret Garden Party, Boomtown and Cornbury. At Towersey Festival the band were introduced to the main stage as the festival band of the year, and at Glastonbury they were a Avalon Stage crew highlight.

Influenced by an electric range of folk and popular music, Holy Moly & The Crackers play a exciting and visceral blend of rock, pop, folk, blues, balkan, klezmer, ska and reggae.

‘Completely at home in a smoke filled juke joint in New Orleans’ – Narc

Rob Heron & the Tea Pad Orchestra are one of the hardest working bands in the UK roots circuit. With thousands of touring miles under their belts, they have earned themselves a sizeable fan base in the UK, Europe and beyond.

Rob Heron play their own unique brand of western swing, blues, gypsy jazz and country, or ‘North Eastern swing’ as they’ve coined it. Influenced by early 20th Century American music, with the addition of razor-sharp solos, great arrangements and original songs; their music harks back to a golden age while staying perfectly modern. The songs are penned by Rob Heron, a crazy fool for country music and a full time dandy-cowboy. His songs are full of character, satire, and good old fashion hollerin’!

Their debut album, Money Isn’t Everything, caused a sensation when it was released in 2012, winning a host of rave reviews – many of them five-star. Their follow up album, Talk About The Weather in 2014, also received great radio play and reviews. Throughout 2015 and 2016 the band have continued to show their passion for touring and playing live with multiple sell out shows across the UK and beyond.

2016 started with a bang with the band extensively touring across February to May – including dates in England, Scotland, Ireland and Europe! Following this, Rob and the gang played some fantastic festival slots including Glastonbury (Avalon), Red Rooster, Shrewsbury Folk and Belladrum Tartan Heart. Rob Heron & The Tea Pad Orchestra are touring the UK once again this spring to promote the release of their highly anticipated third album Something Blue, which is already receiving fantastic reviews for which some are included below.

‘Rob Heron evokes the spirit of Bob Wills and Django Reinhardt with a quintet that shuffles and boogies with panache. Infectiously good-humoured’ – Uncut Magazine

‘On this, their second album of skewed Texas swing, gypsy jazz and hot, humorous country blues they’ve added reeds and horns for a big, thick sound, but their spontaneous combustion is always unstoppable’ – Scotsman On Sunday

Completing this triple bill are The Hornblower Brothers. Championed by BBC 6 Music’s Marc Riley, dubbed ‘charmingly shambolic’ by the Guardian, The Hornblower Brothers WLTM audiences with a GSOH.

Buy tickets now. Tickets are available from the bar (no booking fee), Piccadilly Records, Vinyl Exchange, WeGotTickets.com, Ticketline.co.uk and on 0871 220 0260.

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