Artist description THE MUSIC A blend of modern dance rhythms, traditional celtic and indie rockThe BiographyIn the summer of 1998, after several years of playing in various bands both together and separately, Bernie Spalding , mandola player, and Stevie Glover (whistle and mandolin) headed for Thurso Music College to study an NC in Modern Music. Whilst there, they formed Trudge Euphoria , and in May 1999, recorded their first album, 'Festering Days', which received a critical but encouraging review in Traditional Music Maker magazine. At the end of the course, the band members left Thurso to go their separate ways, and the limitations of Highland geography put paid to the existing line-up. Bernie and Stevie returned to Kyle of Lochalsh determined to carry on with the band, and began the search for new, local musicians.The following few months were an unsettled time for the band, with the existing line-up coming slowly into being. First to join was drummer, Harry Saunders who in the late summer of 1999 left his music course in Perth to return home to Kyleakin on Skye to play with Trudge Euphoria . A trawl of the local musician's register unearthed David Simons in Struan on Skye, who brought his extensive musical knowledge and distinctive bass playing to the band just in time for a couple of important local gigs over the Christmas and New Year period. It was at the New Year gig that singer and flautist Anita Hurding first heard the band. Involved in the 1980's Sheffield music scene, and having lately discovered folk, soul and traditional celtic music, Anita had returned to the Kyle area looking for a band and decided that Trudge Euphoria was it. A few weeks of pestering later, she was in - to start recording the face that... 8 days later. Last to join was locally reknowned guitarist and mandolin player Duncan McKerlich who was invited to grace the album with his melodic, heavy-rock infuenced guitar, and ended up a fully-fledged member of the band.Half-way through recording the face that... with the band feeling they had reached a settled and committed line-up, Stevie ended up in hospital seriously ill for several months and the remaining five members were forced to complete the album without him. Stevie's gradual return to gigging through the summer months has seen Trudge Euphoria finally become a stable six-piece.Trudge Euphoria are currently promoting The face that... with gigs throughout the Highlands and beyond, and writing new material which combines all the differing styles and influences of the band members.

Music Style Celtic Indie

Musical Influences Mainly from the modern celtic & traditional music scene

Similar Artists Tartan Amoebas, Cappercaillie, Deaf Shephard, Martin Bennett

Artist History Trudge Euphoria formed in November 1998 at Thurso Music College,and in May the following year,the original line-up recorded the first album,"Festering Days".At the end of their course,the core members,Bernie Spalding and Stevie Glover returned to Kyle of Lochalsh to continue the band.After an unsettled period,the current line-up came into being,in early 2000 and began gigging in the Highlands.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------The new album "The Face That...", is an independant venture,recorded in Kyle of Lochalsh in collaboration with "Soundstheearth" records.The title track(made available prior to the recording of the rest of the album),received airplay on Radio Scotland`s "Celtic Connections" programme in mid-February.On release of the album in May,it received local and national airplay,and is now available by mail order(No24 Wemyss Place,Kyle of Lochalsh,Ross-shire,IV40 8DE) or by downloading individual tracks at www.soundstheearth.com--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Summer 2000 has been spent promoting the album with various gigs throughout the Highlands and beyond, including supporting Kepa Junkera at the Arran Folk Festival; a slot at Eden Court Theatre, Inverness as part of the panHighland 2000 festival; an appearance at the Lemon Tree in Aberdeen, and supporting Donnie Munro at a large charity concert on Plockton Airstrip. After several tracks from the album receiving airplay on Radio Scotland's 'Celtic Connections', the band were invited to Glasgow for a live session on the programme on July 25. The Tarbert Music Festival was good craic,good music,good food and a very friendly atmosphere. In November the band were approached by M.N.E T.V.,to shoot a video for broadcast on the BBC in the spring of 2001.

Group Members Bernie Spalding - Mandolin, Fiddle David Simons - Bass Harry Saunders - Drums Anita Hurding - Vocals, Flute, Whistle Duncan Mckerlich - Guitar Stevie Glover - Mandoline, Whistle, Vocals

Instruments Mandoline, Whistle, Vocals, Flute, Bass, Drums, Guitar

Albums The Face That

Press Reviews One recent Friday night four front parlour music fans were imposing their tastes on one another. As a musical safari the evening was a non-starter. Although we'd listened in to Memphis, New York, Louisiana, San Francisco and backsticks Texas at various times during the past forty years, we were still firmly grounded in the USA. Was rock music condemned to spend forever rolling along some endless interstate highway, where each fresh generation merely scrawled its name on the same old signposts? At times of crisis a serious head is sometimes useful. "Here you two, keep quiet and give a listen to this.""This" is a tune called "Folked Up". Out of a tinkling acoustic background a guitar note stretches its electric sinews, while deep within this musical cavern a bass rumbles away. A mandolin chimes in with its skippity-lick rhythm, whistle notes rise lark-like into the air, past meets present - and suddenly we are no longer in America."Folked Up" we may have been at the start of the track; when it ended we were definitely un-folked, courtesy of Trudge Euphoria, talented music-makers and songwriters, no doubt known to some of you. Their ten-track album "Festering Days" was recorded at Ian Sinclair's Murkle Bay Sound Studios. Criticisms? None really. Like all fine things in life "Festering Days"is best taken in small doses - after all, no sensible soul sucks malt whisky from the bottleneck. A Trudge Euphoria capsule taken now and again is the perfect prescription for transatlantic rock sickness.Steven Cashmore 1999 Read more reviews at www.trudgeeuphoria.com

Location Inverness, Highland Region - United Kingdom

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