New CD HEY MOON available from CD UNSIGNED
Playing a mixture of original material and their own distinctive arrangements of vintage songs, The Curst Sons explore the hidden backwaters of American traditional music. Inspired by the pre-Rock & Roll world of Blues, Gospel and Old Time, their sound has been described as Hillbilly Blues, Country Punk and even Thrash Skiffle. Call it what you like, it’s infectious good-time party music, leavened with the occasional dark ballad or wistful waltz.
Tim Dunkerley (slide guitar, mandolin, vocals). Tim’s interest in music was first awakened by his father’s tales of wild living in a harmonica band on the minesweeper HMS Hound. Loath to leave his nautical background Tim coast hopped east from his Portsmouth home and soon washed up on the beach at Brighton. He is a teacher/ facilitator with Unified Rhythm, a samba/fusion marching band for young adults, including those with learning difficulties.
Willi Kerr (vocals, percussion). Born on Mersea Island on the marshy fringes of Essex ,Willi abandoned his agricultural roots and took to the sinful ways of the city. Diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma (an incurable cancer of the bone marrow) in 1998 he was given 6 days to live. Being a cantankerous old cuss he decided that this was the perfect time to re-launch his musical career, and The Curst Sons were born. Thanks to the healing power of hillbilly music he is now in the rudest of health.
Dave (Specky) Simner (banjo, lead guitar, vocals). Raised in the Black Country on a diet of heavy metal and motorbikes Dave fled South till he hit the coast. He lost the long hair and leather jacket and soon became entangled in the Brighton music scene. He has played in more bands than he can remember and somehow took up the banjo. He also plays with his own 60’s R&B outfit The Spectones , and in his day job leads music sessions for adults with learning disabilities.
Guests Have Included
Kate Simner (guest vocals). Sole remaining member of The Similar Sisters to still occasionally perform with the band,
Luke Cresswell of Stomp fame
Sean C Davis on Trombone and Helicon
Rich (Dickie Jayston) on snare
Ali Nelson on trombone
Phil Jones (bass),AD Harris (drums), Mark Anderson(harmonica)
and many others to who we owe thanks not forgetting our favourite sound man Simon Walker at Loophole studios
The Curst Sons have released three CDs
CD Reviews
HEY MOON (2007)
"A fine new album...loads of good things..."
Mark Lamarr BBC RADIO 2
"Their biggest appeal is that they manage to stay true to American folk musics rich lineage, while throwing in enough curve balls to piss off the folk puritanicals.
Go forth and buy 'Hey Moon' and then go and see the shows. The Curst Sons deserve your support."
AMERICANA UK
"Full of energy."
Bryan Burnett BBC RADIO SCOTLAND
"The Curst Sons have got evrything nailed, and nailed good. Hey Moon is one of those albums that restore your faith in British country music"
MAVERICK (Sept 07)
"The Curst Sons, a Brighton-based three-piece, offer their unique rugged
version of American roots music on Hey Moon, their third album. Theirs is a
distinctly unpretified version that hasn't had all it's rough edges sanded
off for popular consumption.
Consequently the raw combination of Mandolin, banjo, guitar and vocals has a
delightfully dirt-road quality to it."
ROCK AND REEL (Oct 07)
Hell Awaits You (2005)
'…down to earth good humour runs right through the album... …ever-powerful and rounded vocals bring flair and character to every track… …an appealing lightness of touch, the entire collection exudes casual confidence.'
MAVERICK
'Country bluegrass beaten out of copper and tin'
THE SOURCE
.'..the best Brighton album in quite some time. …skirt swirling, pint swilling joy…'
THE ARGUS
'…works like a dream. Particularly entertaining tracks include: ‘On the Road Again’, ‘Hobo’ and ‘Young Bride’ but the album in its entirety makes for interesting listening…'
AMERICANA UK
A Day Late and a Dollar Short (2003)
'This fantastic album will have you reaching for the moonshine and your sister. … can pick the banjo faster than the Devil'.
THE SOURCE
'...play the blues like trailer trash kids from the dark heart of Texas…a group to watch with your dancing shoes on.'
ARGUS WEEKEND
… 'the songs are crafted with humour and skill. Live they would tear the place apart…'
AMERICANA UK
Visit The Curst Sons official website to puchase the CDs and for more info
//www. thecurstsons.co.uk
CONTACT
Email [email protected]
