Gaz Brookfield

Last updated

Gaz Brookfield
Gaz Brookfield 2022.jpg
Brookfield playing live at the Cheese and Grain, Frome in 2022.
Background information
Birth nameGareth Brookfield
Born (1979-07-04) 4 July 1979 (age 45)
Kettering, Northamptonshire, England
Genres Acoustic, Folk, Rock
Occupation(s)Singer, songwriter
Instrument(s)Guitar, vocals, harmonica
Years active2006–present
LabelsIn My Lounge Records
Land Pirate Records
Website http://www.gazbrookfield.com

Gareth "Gaz" Brookfield (born 4 July 1979) is an English folk and rock musician, who is based near Swindon, England. He is usually a solo artist, playing acoustic guitar, but is regularly joined by fiddle player Ben Wain and also has a full band, the Company of Thieves. He is also followed on his expansive tours by a loyal following calling themselves "The Land Pirates".

Contents

Biography

In his early career, Brookfield played with a number of bands but moved to a solo career in 2006. [1] In 2010, he won Acoustic Magazine's Singer-Songwriter of the Year award, [2] which also won him a place on the Big Top stage at Beautiful Days Festival, where he has played a number of times since. [3] He has also played at other major festivals such as Glastonbury, [4] and supported artists such as The Levellers, New Model Army, Ferocious Dog, and Frank Turner. [5] [6] In 2011, he became the first (and to this date only) unsigned solo act to sell out the 450-capacity [7] Fleece in Bristol, [3] an achievement which he has since repeated four more times with his Christmas shows; [8] the 2014 show was also his 1,000th gig. [9] In 2017, due to demand, the Christmas show was moved to the 750-capacity [10] Bristol Bierkeller which sold out as well. [11] With the closure of the Bierkeller shortly afterwards, the 2018 show was moved again, this time to the bigger SWX venue, [12] [13] where the 2019 show was also held. The Bristol Post, naming Brookfield in their "60 Coolest People in Bristol" article, said "There aren't many musicians in Bristol who could sell out the 1,100-capacity SWX, but he does." [14]

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Brookfield was forced to shield due to his Type 1 diabetes, [15] and was one of the first artists to write and publish an entire album about the pandemic which was appropriately called Lockdown and was released on 2 October 2020. While unable to tour during the pandemic, he played a weekly live stream entitled "Live from the Lockdown", [16] which celebrated its one-year anniversary with the 52nd show on 12 March 2021. [17] Brookfield released his eighth album, Idiomatic on 1 November 2021, which reached No.71 in the UK Albums Chart, and No.10 in the UK Download Charts. [18]

In August 2023, Brookfield's ninth studio album, Morning Walking Club, was released. It reached No.37 in the UK Albums Chart, and No.1 in the UK Official Folk Albums Chart. [19]

The Company of Thieves

Gaz Brookfield and the Company of Thieves, 2022. {l-r} Leks Wood, Ben Wain, Tom Granville, Gaz Brookfield, Nick Parker Gaz Brookfield COT 2022.jpg
Gaz Brookfield and the Company of Thieves, 2022. {l-r} Leks Wood, Ben Wain, Tom Granville, Gaz Brookfield, Nick Parker

Brookfield plays semi-regular shows with a full band, the line-up of which is as follows; [20]

Discography

Brookfield has released nine original studio albums, plus four "Solo Acoustic Guy" albums with re-workings of his previous songs. He has also produced a number of live albums. [21]

Studio

Reworkings

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fatboy Slim</span> British DJ, musician and record producer (born 1963)

Norman Quentin Cook, better known as Fatboy Slim, is an English musician, DJ, and record producer who helped to popularise the big beat genre in the 1990s. In the 1980s, Cook was the bassist for the Hull-based indie rock band the Housemartins, who achieved a UK number-one single with their a cappella cover of "Caravan of Love". After the Housemartins split up, Cook formed the electronic band Beats International in Brighton, who produced the number-one single "Dub Be Good to Me". He then played in Freak Power, Pizzaman, and the Mighty Dub Katz with moderate success.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Supergrass</span> English rock band

Supergrass are an English rock band formed in 1993 and originally called The Jennifers in Oxford. For the majority of the band's tenure, the line-up consisted of brothers Gaz and Rob Coombes (keyboards), Mick Quinn and Danny Goffey. Originally a three-piece, the band was officially joined by Rob Coombes in 2002.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Black Crowes</span> American rock band

The Black Crowes are an American rock band formed in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1984. Their discography includes nine studio albums, four live albums and several charting singles. The band was signed to Def American Recordings in 1989 by producer George Drakoulias and released their debut album, Shake Your Money Maker, the following year. Their follow-up, The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion, reached the top of the Billboard 200 in 1992. The albums Amorica (1994), Three Snakes and One Charm (1996), By Your Side (1999), and Lions (2001) followed, with each showing moderate popularity but failing to capture the chart successes of the band's first two albums. After a hiatus from 2002 to 2005, the band regrouped and toured for several years before releasing Warpaint in 2008, which reached number 5 on the Billboard chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Liam Gallagher</span> English singer and songwriter (born 1972)

William John Paul Gallagher is an English singer and songwriter. He is the lead singer of the rock band Oasis, which he co-founded in 1991. He fronted the rock band Beady Eye from 2010 to 2014, before starting a successful solo career in 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Happy Mondays</span> English alternative rock band

Happy Mondays are an English rock band formed in Salford in 1980. The original line-up consisted of brothers Shaun Ryder (vocals) and Paul Ryder (bass), Gaz Whelan (drums), Paul Davis (keyboard), and Mark Day (guitar). Mark "Bez" Berry later joined the band onstage as a dancer and maracas player. Rowetta joined as a second vocalist and percussionist in 1990. They were initially signed to Tony Wilson's Factory Records label.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ian Brown</span> English musician; singer of The Stone Roses

Ian George Brown is an English musician. He was the lead singer and the only continuous member of the alternative rock band the Stone Roses from their formation in 1983. Following the band's initial split in 1996, he began a solo career, releasing seven studio albums, a greatest hits compilation, a remix album, an 11-disc box set titled Collection, and 19 singles. He returned to singing for the Stone Roses in 2011, although this did not spell the end of his solo endeavours, releasing First World Problems through Virgin/EMI Records on 25 October 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paul Heaton</span> British musician (born 1962)

Paul David Heaton is an English singer-songwriter. He was the lead singer and main lyricist of the Housemartins, who had commercial success in the UK and other European countries between 1985 and 1988, releasing several singles including "Happy Hour" and the UK number-one single "Caravan of Love" in 1986, before the band disbanded. Heaton then formed the Beautiful South with the Housemartins' drummer, Dave Hemingway, and the band's debut single, "Song for Whoever", and debut album, Welcome to the Beautiful South, were released in 1989 to commercial success. They had a series of hits throughout the 1990s, including the number-one single "A Little Time". They disbanded in 2007.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James (band)</span> English rock band

James are an English rock band from Manchester, formed in 1982. They achieved popularity during the 1990s, with four top-10 hits on the UK Singles Chart and nine top-10 placings on the UK Albums Chart. The band's best-known singles include "Come Home", "Sit Down", "She's a Star" and "Laid". "Laid" also became a hit on American college radio. Following the departure of lead singer Tim Booth in 2001, the band became inactive, but members reunited in January 2007 and have since released a further seven albums. Live performance has continually remained a central part of the band's output. As of 2010, the band had sold more than 25 million albums worldwide.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Killers</span> American rock band

The Killers are an American rock band formed in Las Vegas in 2001 by Brandon Flowers and Dave Keuning. After going through a number of short-term bassists and drummers in their early days, both Mark Stoermer and Ronnie Vannucci Jr. joined the band in 2002. The band's name is derived from a logo on the bass drum of a fictitious band portrayed in the music video for the New Order song "Crystal".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hothouse Flowers</span> Irish rock band

Hothouse Flowers are an Irish rock band that combine traditional Irish music with influences from soul, gospel and rock. Formed in 1985 in Dublin, they started as street performers. Their first album, People (1988), was the most successful debut album in Irish history, reaching No. 1 in Ireland and No. 2 in the UK. After two more albums and extensive touring, the group separated in 1994. Since getting back together in 1998, the band members have been sporadically issuing new songs and touring, but also pursuing solo careers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lamb (electronic band)</span> English electronic music duo

Lamb is an English electronic music duo from Manchester, whose music is influenced by trip hop, drum and bass and jazz. The duo consists of producer Andy Barlow and singer-songwriter Lou Rhodes. They achieved commercial success with the hit singles "Górecki" and "Gabriel".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hayseed Dixie</span> American bluegrass band

Hayseed Dixie is an American band formed in Nashville, Tennessee, in 2000. Their first album was A Hillbilly Tribute to AC/DC. The band performs bluegrass cover versions of hard rock songs and also original songs of a mostly satirical or absurdist nature in a self-created musical genre which the band calls "rockgrass." The band's name is a linguistic play on the name of the band AC/DC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reef (band)</span> English rock band

Reef are an English rock band from Glastonbury whose members include Gary Stringer on vocals, Amy Newton on guitar, Jack Bessant on bass, and Luke Bullen on drums.

Nizlopi were an English folk and alternative duo formed in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, by Luke Concannon on vocals, guitar, and bodhrán, and John Parker on double bass, human beatbox, and backing vocals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Strangelove (band)</span> English alternative rock band

Strangelove were an English alternative rock band, formed in Bristol in 1991 comprising singer Patrick Duff, guitarists Alex Lee & Julian Poole, bassist Joe Allen and John Langley on drums. They released two EPs and three albums before disbanding in 1998.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Fratellis</span> Scottish indie rock band

The Fratellis are a Scottish rock band from Glasgow, formed in 2005. The band consists of three unrelated members, who perform under pseudonyms: lead vocalist and guitarist Jon Fratelli, bassist Barry Fratelli, and drummer Mince Fratelli. Their debut album, Costello Music (2006) was a success, peaking at number 2 on the UK Albums Chart and spending eighty-three weeks in the UK Top 100. In the United States, it peaked at forty-eight on the US Billboard 200.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jake Bugg</span> English singer-songwriter

Jake Bugg is an English singer-songwriter. His self-titled debut album, Jake Bugg, some of which was co-written with songwriter Iain Archer, was released in October 2012 and reached number one on the UK Albums Chart. His second album, Shangri La, was released in November 2013 and his third, largely self-produced album On My One, in June 2016. His fourth album Hearts That Strain, a largely acoustic effort, produced by Dan Auerbach, was released in September 2017. After a gap of four years, in August 2021, Bugg released the more pop-influenced fifth album Saturday Night, Sunday Morning.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Passenger (singer)</span> English musician (born 1984)

Michael David Rosenberg, better known by his stage name Passenger, is an English indie folk singer, songwriter and musician. From 2003 to 2009, Rosenberg fronted a band by the same name; he opted to keep the Passenger moniker for his solo work after the band dissolved. Rosenberg is best known for the 2012 song "Let Her Go", which topped the charts in 16 countries and accumulated more than 3.6 billion views on YouTube. Because Rosenberg was based in Australia at the time of release, it is the most-viewed Australian YouTube video ever. In 2014, the song was nominated for the Brit Award for British Single of the Year, and he received the British Academy's Ivor Novello Award for Most Performed Work.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George Ezra</span> English singer-songwriter

George Ezra Barnett is an English musician. After releasing two EPs, Did You Hear the Rain? (2013) and Cassy O' (2014), Ezra rose to prominence with the release of his hit single "Budapest", which reached number one in several countries. His debut studio album, Wanted on Voyage, was released in June 2014, reaching number one in the UK and the top ten in seven other countries. It was also the third-best-selling album of 2014 in the UK.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Squid (band)</span> British post-punk band

Squid are an English post-punk band from Brighton, England. Consisting of lead singer and drummer Ollie Judge, guitarists Louis Borlase and Anton Pearson, bassist Laurie Nankivell and keyboardist Arthur Leadbetter, they are currently based in Bristol.

References

  1. ↑ "Gaz Brookfield". City Showcase. Retrieved 22 April 2017.
  2. ↑ "Acoustic guitar player wins music award". Gear4Music. Retrieved 22 April 2017.
  3. 1 2 "Gaz Brookfield – What's On". Nottingham Post. 18 February 2017. Retrieved 22 April 2017.
  4. ↑ Cork, Tristram (27 June 2014). "Glastonbury Festival: Review – Gaz Brookfield". Somerset Live. Retrieved 22 April 2017.
  5. ↑ Franklin, Dave (1 September 2016). "Sounds around Town". Swindon Advertiser. Retrieved 22 April 2017.
  6. ↑ Ashdown, Kerry (21 April 2017). "Middle of Nowhere Festival". Staffordshire News. Retrieved 22 April 2017.
  7. ↑ Southall, Nick (16 September 2014). "The Fleece, Bristol". The Guardian. Retrieved 22 April 2017.
  8. ↑ "Gaz Brookfield: The West Country Troubador". The Ocelot. Retrieved 3 November 2017.
  9. ↑ "Gaz Brookfield interview". Bristol 24/7. Retrieved 3 November 2017.
  10. ↑ "Bristol Bierkeller" . Retrieved 3 November 2017.
  11. ↑ "Gaz Brookfield's Christmas Show 2017". Bristol Bierkeller shows. Retrieved 3 November 2017.
  12. ↑ "SWX Bristol". SWX Bristol. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
  13. ↑ "Gaz Brookfield – SWX". SWX Bristol. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
  14. ↑ Cork, Tristan (28 April 2019). "The Bristol Cool List 2019". Bristol Post. Retrieved 19 December 2019.
  15. ↑ Tasker, Ian (21 October 2020). "Gaz Brookfield: The Old Normal and other new lockdown songs". Here Comes The Song. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
  16. ↑ "2020 - this year in music". TrueStyle Music. 31 December 2020. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
  17. ↑ Brookfield, Gaz. "Live from the Lockdown #52". Twitter. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
  18. ↑ "Idiomatic UK Chart placings".
  19. ↑ "Morning Walking Club UK Chart placings".
  20. ↑ "Events – Gaz Brookfield". Marrs Bar. Retrieved 3 November 2017.
  21. ↑ "Gaz Brookfield". Discogs. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.