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EMPTY-HEADED HEROES - Biography:
The Empty-Headed Heroes formed in Blackpool in late 2005 by vocalist Kev Atherton and guitarist Dave Payne, principally as a way of making music without the complications of playing with a full band, of which both musicians had previous experience.
After a brief formative period, entertaining and/or annoying their neighbours by jamming out acoustic blues and rock-based songs, the duo soon began playing live in venues around Blackpool. Despite frequently performing songs that had been written just hours beforehand, the fledgling Empty-Headed Heroes were greeted with a warm response from appreciative audiences and rapidly built up a strong local following.
Following a period of intensive song writing, and with a handful of performances already under their belt, the duo recruited local harmonica player Paul Bamford to add to their trademark style of aggressively acoustic, ballsy blues-flavoured rock.
The Heroes rapidly developed a reputation as one of the most exciting acoustic acts in Blackpool. The raw, emotional intensity of their songs and energetic live shows soon took them beyond the acoustic ghetto, becoming a popular support act for many bands in Blackpool’s thriving live music scene and a headline act in their own right.
In early 2006, the band became involved with the ‘Acoustic Soup’, a monthly showcase for acoustic bands and singer-song writers. These events became hugely popular, with the Empty-Headed Heroes as one of the main talking points. In the same year, the trio recorded a live session for Sean McGinty’s Friday night show on BBC Radio Lancashire, played at the Tommyfest festival and also performed a support slot for singer-song writer and former Wildhearts frontman Ginger.
A busy year has been rounded off with the completion of a debut album titled Songs from the Manor, named after Dave Payne’s house on Manor Road, where most of the songs were conceived and written. The self-produced and financed release - a collection of 11 hard-edged, yet soulful acoustic rock songs - was met with rapturous feedback. With its vinyl-look CD and miniature record sleeve, the album has attracted praise from lovers of acoustic music and rock fans alike, and has been voted as one of the top three album releases from Blackpool-based bands on a local music website’s end-of-year poll.
With another album’s worth of songs almost completed, recording already underway, and a string of shows lined up for the New Year, the Heroes are showing no sign of slowing down their prolific work rate.
Band Synopsis
Empty-Headed Heroes consist of Kev Atherton on vocals, Dave Payne on guitar and Paul Bamford on harmonica. The Heroes can be found playing around the Fylde Coast, and indeed the world, on a regular basis. Proving popular amongst a varied audience due to the diversity and wide appeal of their music, the Empty-Headed Heroes prove you don’t need electric guitars to be noisy, aggressive, and heavy as sin. You just need soul, passion and a skin full of whisky.
Kevin Atherton: Vocals
Born in the sleepy hamlet of Blackpool, Kev has been singing for most of his life. His personal taste in music is varied and strange, from the bleeps and whistles of 80s synth bands, full-on rock from the 60's/70's, 1920’s slide blues guitarists, and late 20th Century heavy metal. Kev likes messing about with PC's, art/design, Taekwondo(used to, knackered knee waah!) now Aikido, stripping/building guitars and motorbikes and 1 arcade cabinet, and is currently undertaking music production for a few Fylde Coast bands.
Dave Payne: Guitar
Born in a bottle and spilled on the streets of Blackpool, Dave has been playing guitar for about 10 years or so. His tastes vary from the leather-clad, hairspray-and-mascara LA rock bands of the late 80s, to classic rock ‘n’ roll outlaws like Robert Johnson, Johnny Cash and Stevie Ray Vaughan. He loves watching wrestling, playing guitar and YOU, our adoring fans.
Paul Bamford: Harmonica
Paul’s unique style of harmonica playing has everyone baffled as to how he keeps his lungs filled with air for so long... Some would suggest that he works a bit like a set of bagpipes... looking at the way he dances anyway! His influences include: New Model Army, Ben Harper, Bruce Springsteen and The Waterboys. Paul is also a member of Lotus Circle and Cosmo Disney, as well as acting as a session player with many other Blackpool based bands.
