Big Leaves
Big Leaves | |
---|---|
Origin | Waunfawr, Wales |
Genres | Indie rock |
Years active | 1988–2003 |
Labels | Ankst, Crai, Whipcord, Metropolis, Dell'Orso |
Associated acts | Sibrydion |
Past members | Rhodri Sion Meilir Gwynedd Kevin Tame Osian Gwynedd Matt Hobbs |
Big Leaves were a Welsh rock band formed in 1988, originally named Beganifs. They disbanded in 2003, with two members subsequently forming Sibrydion.
History[]
The band was formed in 1988 as Beganifs by then 11- and 12-year-old school pupils Rhodri Sion (vocals), Meilir Gwynedd (guitar), Kevin Tame (bass guitar, trumpet), and Osian Gwynedd (drums, keyboards).[1][2] They initially recorded and sold home-recorded tapes, and released two seven-inch EPs as Beganifs, the first on their own label, the second on Ankst Records.[2] They changed the band name to Big Leaves after they were mistakenly billed as this by a concert promoter in the Netherlands who misheard their name.[2][3] They were signed by , releasing two EPs in 1998 and 1999, and contributed to the second album by Catatonia, with whom they later toured.[2] They also toured with Super Furry Animals, a band with which they have been compared.[2][4] "Sly Alibi", released in 1999 on Adam Walton's Whipcord label, was the band's first English-language release.[1] Their 1999 single "Racing Birds" was so highly regarded by BBC Radio 1 DJ Mark Radcliffe that he played it twice in a row on his show.[4] The band's debut album, Pwy Sy'n Galw? (Who's Calling?) was released in 2000, after which they were joined by drummer Matt Hobbs.[2] The band performed at the South by Southwest festival in Austin, Texas in 2002, and were featured in a documentary on S4C.[2]
They released a second album in 2003, after which the band split up.[3] Meilir and Osian Gwynedd later formed Sibrydion.
Discography[]
Albums[]
- Pwy Sy'n Galw? (2000), Whipcord
- Alien & Familiar (2003), Dell'Orso
Singles, EPs[]
- Llygaid Gwyder EP (1997), self-released - as Beganifs
- Ffraeth EP (1997), Ankst - as Beganifs
- Trwmgwsg EP (1998), Crai
- Belinda EP (1999), Crai
- "Sly Alibi" (1999), Whipcord
- "Racing Birds" (1999), Whipcord
- Fine EP (2000), Metropolis
- Animal Instinct EP (2001), Dell'Orso
- "Electro-Magnetic Pollution" (2001), Boobytrap (part of the label's Singles Club)
- "Speakeasy" (2002), Dell'Orso
- Siglo EP (2002), Crai
References[]
- ^ Jump up to: a b Thomas, Bryan "Big Leaves Biography", Allmusic, retrieved 2010-09-18
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g Strong, Martin C. (2003) The Great Indie Discography, Canongate, ISBN 1-84195-335-0, p. 624
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Big Leaves biography", BBC, 30 January 2009, retrieved 2010-09-18
- ^ Jump up to: a b Lester, Paul (2009) "New band of the Day: No 480: Sibrydion", The Guardian, 6 February 2009, retrieved 2010-09-18
External links[]
- "Take it from me... Big Leaves", BBC, retrieved 2010-09-18
- British indie pop groups
- Welsh rock music groups
- Welsh-language bands
- Welsh indie rock groups