The Beggars' Belief Band - Mixed Styles Band

Biography

History of how the band formed...

In Easter 2008 Paul and Joe happened, over a cigarette, to discuss their shared interest in making music. Thus was born a song writing collaboration. Later that year they were joined by Chris Francis on electric guitar and Andy Higgins on bass. This short lived combination, going by the name of the Headstones and playing gentle folk, disbanded in early 2009. However, Joe and Paul maintained their collaboration and formed a new line up with Chris, Mitch, on mandolin, and Dave Williamson on bass and performed 2 local gigs under the name Filthy the Dog.

The absence of a drummer in the band, in spite of countless trials, led to a frustration with the sound and eventual disbandment in late 2009.

April 2010 marked the birth of Beggars' Belief when, following constant badgering of whoever Joe or Paul came across, to establish whether or not they played anything and/or wanted to form a band, culminated in the arrival of Bernie Cottrell on drums, Michela Martin George and Matt Dickerson on trumpet. Chris Francis on electric guitar completed the line up. At the same time Joe’s interest in the music of the Duelers marked a move in musical direction to embrace Ska and Reggae. On the band’s first outing a mere month later, at the Powell Arms in Birchington, Matt’s uncle Marty Boneidol was badgered to go home and get his trombone. He has been a mainstay of the band ever since.

Throughout the remainder of 2010 the band worked on approximately 25 new songs and played 30 gigs including a short tour of Cornwall in the summer. They recorded their first album Anger to Grace in October.

In early 2011 due to personal commitments Matt left the band and was replaced on saxophone by Martin Cox, a veteran of the Thanet music scene and co-founder of EK1. The band made significant improvement during 2011, performing every weekend throughout the summer months at the usual pubs & clubs, gaining a consistent following of new fans. A venture into music festivals culminated with a performance at The Faversham Hop Fest. The band also played at coastal cafe's including more that a few performances at the very popular Harbour Garden Cafe at Whitstable Harbour. This inspired the title to the bands up coming album " Songs from the Sunshine Coast". The band hopes to finally release this album early in 2012.

Paul - Vocals/Semi Acoustic Guitar

Joe - Cello/Vocals

Michela - Accordian/Keyboard

Chris - Electric Guitar/Vocals

Bernie - Drums/Backing Vocals

Martin - Saxophone/Percussion

Marty - Trombone/Percussion