Neil Halstead
Cornwall-based songwriter, musician and former ‘shoegazer’, Neil is signed to the Brushfire Records label alongside Jack Johnson and G Love, and supported Johnson on his last tour. At the festival he’ll be playing songs from his latest album, Oh Mighty Engine.
Neil fronted a band called Slowdive in the late 1990s, playing a type of alternative rock music known as ‘shoegaze’. The music press coined this term based on the behaviour of the musicians involved with these bands, who stood relatively still during live performances, concentrating on their floor pedals – hence the term shoegazing. The shoegazing sound is typified by significant use of guitar effects, and indistinguishable vocal melodies blending into the creative noise of the guitars.
When the band separated, a handful of members – including Neil – formed psych-country/folk outfit Mojave 3. They have so far released five albums and are in the process of thinking about another one. It may take some time.
Neil’s first solo record Sleeping on Roads was released on 4AD records in 2002, while Mojave were busy thinking about their third album. He recorded his new album partially at The Solar Powered Plastic Plant in Los Angeles and the rest in and around his hometown of Newquay.
www.brushfirerecords.com/artists/neilhalstead/
“He surfed in the mornings, and drank beer and recorded with various friends in the evening. Neil is an old soul and his newest solo record is exactly who he is. Welcoming, warm, clever and kind.”
Emmett Malloy – Brushfire Records
“One of Britain’s greatest songwriters”
Timeout
“Britain’s best keep secret”
NME
Video:
Neil Halstead – ‘Queen Bee’ video:
