The BlueHearts
About the Blue Hearts
The Blue Hearts founder members, Bob Powell and Mark Horse started in 1988 playing a diverse collection of covers including material by Muddy Waters and Dwight Yoakam. They quickly expanded the line up to include Fiddle, Double Bass, Drums and Pedal Steel and concentrated on developing the Blue Hearts as an indie/pop/country concept with their own original songs. 'The Doors' 'Tom Waits' and 'Nick Lowe' are included in the band's influences as well as 'Johnny Cash' & 'Nick Cave'. This has defined a new sound for the band so that no matter what the song is, it will always sound like the Blue Hearts.
The band's debut album 'Lullaby for the Lost' received great reviews in the mainstream and country press and it generated extensive airplay on local and national radio both in the UK and Europe.
They were invited to the launch of CMT in London and to BBC events that promoted the new country sound.
Since then the Blue Hearts music has been played throughout the world, from Australia to the USA and Europe. They have achieved chart success in Nashville. Their last single 'Everyone Wants to Dance With My Girl' was 'A' play listed on the UK's premier Radio Station, Country 1035.
Typical quotes are:
Great Pop Hooks - a debut that will make you want to see them play live: Mojo
A sparky and stylish slice of UK country-rock, full of urgency and passion: Country Music International
A great British sound, laid back and musically excellent: Dave Allen (BBC Radio 2)
The band were also the only British band featured on BBC1's Country Night.
The Blue Hearts are:
Bob Powell - Vocals & lyrics
Mark Horse - Guitar
Brian Powell - Guitar
Sue Bradley - Violin/vocals
Scott Warman - Double Bass/vocals
Mike Fitzsimons - Pedal steel guitar.
Geoff Ansell - Drums
The band are based in Brighton, East Sussex, England.
Discography
1993 Single Delirious 3 tracks
1995 Album Lullaby For The Lost 14 tracks
1995 Single Hearts About To Break 3 tracks
1997 Single A Thousand Stars 3 tracks
2001 Album No More Long Goodbyes 12 tracks
2003 Single Everyone Wants To Dance With My Girl 3 mixes
2005 Album Dark Side Of Town 10 tracks
They are all available direct from Big Cactus Records, CDBaby.com and as download from all good quality sites such as iTunes
The primary songwriters are Mark Horse (guitar) and Bob Powell (Lyrics)
Blue Hearts background bits
Mike and Geoff played bass and drums with The Piranhas Brighton's most famous band. Top ten Hits with Tom Hark and Zambezi
Sue played fiddle with Pookiesnackenburger, the band that spawned 'Stomp' the highly successful world-wide percussion with dustbins and brooms show.
The band's first album 'Lullaby for the Lost' featured Kirsty McCall on backing vocals.
The band have played several dates opening for Jools Holland.
Mark played with Bone Orchard, a punk goth band, they made one album with revolution records
Mike played with The Papers, a White Reggae band, No.1 indie chart hit with 'How Many More' featuring Ronnie Regan (The US President) on guest announcements. This band also worked with Gus Dugeon, Elton John's producer.
Scot played with Big Ma McGee a local blues band.
Bob and Brian played with URU, a Brighton rock band.
The Blue Hearts regularly sell out in advance at the Komedia Club in Brighton, their home base
A point of view
The Blue Hearts are recognised as important influential leaders of the new music scene in Brighton UK. Having created a new sound that is an uncompromising challenge to complacency, fired by provocative lyrics, built around mesmeric stories and tales. New bands have taken this direction and created their own distinct but respectful sound. Brighton’s new vibrant live music scene is built around the pioneer work started by the Blue Hearts.
A Blue Hearts gig is not to be missed. Let your soul enjoy the whiskey and your heart the stories. Spend a little time with the Blue Hearts. It will never leave you untouched. We'll be glad to see you.
Love to you all sisters, mothers, brothers, fathers, cousins and friends and bring on that peace stuff...quickly
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