NEW ALBUM - Sooner but Not Later - NOW AVAILABLE on www.straytown.com and iTunes and other download sites
Hargreaves is a four piece band that plays Blues and Soul influenced Country.
We released the (Bad,) Bad Girl EP last summer, and now we have a 12-track album available from www.straytown.com and iTunes. We are currently arranging gigs around Yorkshire and Tyne-side, and Dublin (!!).
NOTE - We are taking a break while we sort out a few personal issues and illnesses, write songs, and maybe do some recording. Meanwhile, our album is selling better than we expected, so get your copy while you still can!
We write many of our own songs, mixed with covers of blues classics and songs by contemporary country artists and writers who could easily be classified as something else, such as Mary Chapin Carpenter, Steve Earle and Boo Hewerdine. Sad songs about heartbreak and alcohol, happy songs about love and more alcohol. Dusty Springfield is a big influence on our sound, but so are Emmylou Harris, Pink, The Pretenders, Queen, The Stranglers, Tom Waits and many others.
Here's a review of our debut EP, available on CD and on-line at http://straytown.dloadshop.com/shop.asp?artistid=14; and downloadable from iTunes and similar sites.
Hargreaves: (Bad,) Bad Girl (EP)
Although still mainly acoustic, Harrogate band Hargreaves’ debut release on local label Straytown Records isn’t quite as “late 60’s Woodstock†as their demo of last year.
The four-piece’s two openers; the bluesy title track, co-written by lead singer Claire Ashton and bass player Chris Webb, and poppy Kiss Me Better (penned by Ashton herself) aren’t quite as good as the covers Passionate Kisses or the real standout Life By The Drop (made famous by Stevie Ray Vaughan) – though they run them close. Then the key to Hargreaves is the incredibly well-judged delivery. Topped off as always by Ashton’s impressive vocals, this breezy band sound as natural as honey on buttered toast.
www.myspace.com/hargreavesblues
Graham Chalmers
Harrogate Advertiser
22nd August 2008Sunday, October 12, 2008 CLAIRE ASHTON & HARGREAVES
To be the lead singer of any band, takes a monumental amount of effort, determination and talent, being a female lead singer, the scrutiny and demands are raised even higher. Claire Ashton has all the qualities required and more besides as she leads with passion, vigour and class. With an easygoing persona which never reduces her professionalism, she helps four-piece Harrogate band Hargreaves produce superior performances in both “Live†and “Studio†work. Covering Blues, Soul and Country themes, including many of their own songs and also some classic cover versions, the band consists of Claire, James Healey on Guitar, drummer Steve Shelley and Bassist and backing vocalist Chris Webb. Their highly acclaimed and recently released EP is a wonderful introduction to what the band is all about, with the bluesy title track, “(Bad,) Bad Girlâ€, an uplifting and toe-tapping “Kiss Me Better†and covers of Stevie Ray Vaughan’ “Life By The Drop†and finally Mary Chapin Carpenter’s “Passionate Kisses†which this reviewer felt was the equal at the very least to the original recording. The EP is very good, catch them live and you will be very, very impressed, if America is looking for a favourite UK acoustic/blues/country band, then look no further than Claire Ashton and Hargreaves.
Paul Abrahams - Keep Music Live blog at www.leedsmusicpromotions.com
Hargreaves started playing live in March 2007, encouraged by Paul Fedorenko, Laurie Hopkins and Sharon Colgan of Bluesville. We've since recorded demo tracks with Ian Hardcastle (Shotgun Universe) and Tom Weldon at Straytown Studios, and mixed them with Laurie who also runs Straytown Records. Ian Hardcastle is currently producing an album of our material.
Our first headline gig was at the fabulous Blues Cafe Bar in Harrogate on the 1st May 2007. We thoroughly enjoyed it - and judging by the number of people dancing to "(Bad,) Bad Girl" played as an encore, so did most of the people who came to hear us.
We were the first live band in the 2008 series of gigs at The Black Swan in Harrogate on the 16th February, and we've also played other gigs at The Blues Bar,, No19 Bar and Grill in Harrogate and at The Black Bull in Ripon, The Primrose and The Fenton, in Leeds, The Fairways in Rotherham,plus open mic nights in Leeds and Gateshead. Claire and Chris (the main song writers) also perform as the duo 'Ashton and Webb', and Claire also sings in choirs, stage shows and solo. We're planning more gigs for the autumn at a wider variety of venues.
We're very keen to play and collaborate with other musicians and artists, and we're always happy to hear from people who would like to work with us in some way - just drop us a message and we'll get back to you asap.
We love Fender guitars, and between us own 2 Strats, a Tele, a Telecoustic and 2 DG series acoustics. Chris now also has an Adam Black O-7 for live acoustic work, and his bass is an early 80's Aria SB R-60 bass. Stevie D currently plays Pearl Masters Drums, Pearl 14" Aluminium Sensitone Elite Series or an wooden-shell Jalapino snare, Zildjian Amarnd Cymbals, Vater 7A Sticks, Remo Heads, Protection Racket Cases, and a Meinl Cajon.
We plan to play a few festivals in 2009 and to start work on a 2nd album in the spring as we are continuously writing songs.
We're trying to do something just a bit different with Hargreaves. This is a blues band that focuses on vocals - a country band that focuses on emotions - a soul band that focuses on instruments and arrangements. We've got a laid back sound that let's Claire's voice shine out, helped along by Chris' direct bass, Jaymz's energetic guitar, and Stevie D's jazz influenced drumming. But please, listen to the demos and tasters and let us know what you think.