Liam Frost

Last updated

Liam Frost
Liam Frost performing in Manchester January 2014.jpg
Musician Liam Frost performing at Manchester Sound Control on 20 January 2014. Image Emma Farrer 2014 and used with her permission.
Background information
Birth nameLiam Pickering
Origin Manchester
Genres Alternative folk
Years active2006–present
Labels Emperor Records
Lavolta Records
Lariato Recordings
Website Liam Frost

Liam Frost is a musician from Manchester, England. [1] He recorded and played with his backing group 'The Slowdown Family' on his debut album Show Me How The Spectres Dance [2] but now performs solo under the name Liam Frost.

Contents

Frost made his live debut at 15 years of age playing gigs at the Akoustik Anarkhy nights at the Star & Garter in Manchester. After a few years singing in punk rock bands, he went solo in 2003 at the age of 20, signing a record deal with Lavolta Records, a subsidiary of Sony BMG, in 2005. He has released music through Sony / Lavolta and his own imprint, Emperor Records but currently releases material via Lariato Recordings. He writes and records both solo material and also performs as part of the band TOKOLOSH. [3]

Frost is described by Guy Garvey (of the band Elbow) as "the UK’s answer to Bright Eyes". [4] His songs are heavily focused on the deaths, ten years apart, of his father and brother and the impact these events had on his life and the lives of those around him. [5]

Musical career

With The Slowdown Family

In October 2005 Frost played at a tribute gig for the late Radio 1 DJ John Peel along with new band Nine Black Alps. Other acts playing the show at The Night and Day Cafe included I Am Kloot and Badly Drawn Boy. [6]

March 2006 saw Frost performing at the SXSW festival in Austin, Texas [7] and that same year he also played a residency in Manchester's Night and Day Cafe to coincide with the release of his first EP. [8] In 2006 Frost also completed his first headline tour of the UK with his band The Slowdown Family [9] and made appearances at many of the UK festivals throughout the summer. He also shared a stage with Elbow at their Somerset House gig [10] in addition to playing on the same bill as The Decemberists, The Magic Numbers, Willy Mason and Ray Davies.

Frost had spent the early part of 2006 with The Slowdown Family in a London studio with Coldplay producer Danton Supple [11] recording his debut album Show Me How The Spectres Dance. The first four singles were released by Lavolta; the She Painted Pictures EP in February 2006, The Mourners of St Paul's in June and The City is at Standstill in August. "She Painted Pictures" was released as a chart-eligible single in February 2007. [12] Show Me How The Spectres Dance was released on 1 September 2006. [13]

"The Mourners of St Paul's" was voted the No. 1 single of 2006 by Channel 4's Planet Sound.

Post Slowdown Family

Following the disbanding of The Slowdown Family Frost discovered that Lavolta had become a part of Columbia Records, and his second album would be made for them. [14] He travelled to New York to make the record with Victor Van Vugt [15] at Chelsea's Stratosphere Sound. Upon completion of the album, Frost was dropped by Columbia near the end of 2008. However, he negotiated terms to leave the label with the master tapes of the album. [16]

The album, We Ain't Got No Money, Honey, But We Got Rain, was released in the UK on 28 September 2009 on Emperor Records, [17] Frost's own label. It was titled after a poem of the same name by the poet, novelist, and short story writer Charles Bukowski. [18] It contains several collaborations with singer-songwriter Ed Harcourt, including Your Hand in Mine, and a duet with Martha Wainwright. [19]

Radio sessions

Frost has performed several live sessions for BBC network radio. On 13 February 2006 he appeared on Liz Kershaw's Radio 2 show as she stood in for Janice Long. On 28 August of the same year he appeared again on Radio 2, on the Mark Radcliffe show. [20] Further sessions took place on digital station BBC 6 Music. Frost performed two sessions for the Marc Riley Show on 2 March 2009 [21] and 17 February 2010 [22] and also a session for Lauren Laverne on 21 January 2010. [23]

On 13 January 2007 Frost appeared on the Radio 3 arts show The Verb where he performed songs and was interviewed about his lyricism by poet Ian McMillan. [24]

With TOKOLOSH

In 2011 Frost formed a collaborative side project called TOKOLOSH with brothers Christian and Nicky Madden of The Earlies, The Whip's Nathan Sudders and drummer Richard Young. [25] Described by BBC 6 Music DJ Marc Riley as a supergroup, [26] the band played numerous shows, with a debut gig at the historic John Rylands Library Reading Room in Manchester City Centre. [27] On 13 December 2013 they provided support for I Am Kloot at the Manchester Apollo. [28] In September 2014 they appeared at Festival No 6 playing an evening woodland gig [29] and earlier that year they also released their debut album Stay Strong on the Jack To Phono label. [30]

Recent solo work

2013 saw Frost return to performing solo shows following a break of over two years during which he had been concentrating on working with TOKOLOSH. He played two sell out shows at the International Anthony Burgess Foundation [31] and a show at The Deaf Institute later that year. [32]

In 2014 Frost started working on songs for his unnamed third album and throughout the year he played a number of headline solo shows and support slots which included new material. In July 2014 he provided support for Badly Drawn Boy at a gig which celebrated the life of Manchester Roadhouse co-owner Steve Lloyd and raised money for Manchester's Christie Hospital. [33] Later that year, in addition to several solo dates, Frost played support sets at shows headlined by Cherry Ghost [34] and Liam Fray; frontman of The Courteeners [35]

On 27 October 2014 Frost released tracks from his forthcoming third album, via Lariato Recordings, entitled The Wild Places EP. The EP contained five downloadable tracks: "Who's Gonna Love You", "The Wild Places", "When I'm Alone", an acoustic version of "Who's Gonna Love You" and a cover of Sade's "No Ordinary Love" [36] and a physical copy of the EP was released the following year.

Frost continued to perform live playing regular gigs around the country in 2015. Notable shows included support slots for The Courtneers when Liam Fray asked Frost to perform at two warm up shows which took place in Leeds and Liverpool in the week prior to the band's gig in Manchester's Heaton Park. Frost played full band sets at both these shows. [37] In July he also performed an acoustic set at Band on the Wall as part of a double headliner gig with The Earlies who had reformed to play some shows to mark a decade since their debut album was released. [38]

Later in 2015 Frost announced that he would be undertaking his first UK tour for some years, playing a number of solo and full band dates across the UK and Ireland in October and November. The tour was to coincide with the release of The Courage EP, which would contain more tracks from his forthcoming third album. [39] The gigs went ahead but the new EP was put on hold when Frost announced that his penultimate show of the tour, which took place in Manchester's Ruby Lounge, would be the last live date he would undertake in either Manchester or London for some time for him to focus more on writing. [40]

Reformation of The Slowdown Family

Towards the end of April 2016 Frost made a surprise announcement that he would be reforming The Slowdown Family for a one off show to mark the 10th anniversary of his debut album Show Me How The Spectres Dance. The gig would see him play the album in its entirety and was arranged for 3 September 2016 at The Deaf Institute in Manchester. Tickets went on sale on 25 April and completely sold out in around two hours. Some fans took to social media to express their disappointment at not securing tickets, so that same week Frost announced that he would play an additional matinee show on the same day at the Deaf Institute and released more tickets, all of which sold out within hours.

Other work

Cape Farewell

Following the promotion of his first album, in 2007 Frost took part in a sailing expedition known as Cape Farewell, campaigning to raise awareness of climate change. The voyage aboard a schooner took nearly three weeks, crossing the North Atlantic and travelling to Greenland with a crew made up of scientists, writers, artists, musicians and comedians. [41] Despite suffering with sea sickness it was on this trip that Frost began writing material that would make up his second album, [42] including the songs "Shipwrecks" [43] and "Leading Lights and Luminaries". [44]

Chaos to Order

In November 2014 Frost took part in Manchester Central Library's Chaos to Order residency curated by the band Everything Everything at the newly refurbished library. [45] Frost and fellow musician Sara Lowes spent a week mentoring a group of young musicians between the ages 18 and 25 who were recruited via The Band on the Wall's Brighter Sound project, [46] helping them to create original compositions which were performed live at the library at the end of the residency. [47]

In 2011, a portrait of Frost was painted by British artist Joe Simpson, [48] and was exhibited around the UK including at Simpson's solo exhibition at The Royal Albert Hall. [49]

Discography

Liam Frost

Albums

Singles and EPs

TOKOLOSH

Albums

Singles and EPs

Related Research Articles

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

Oasis were an English rock band formed in Manchester in 1991. Originally known as the Rain, the group initially consisted of Liam Gallagher, Paul Arthurs (guitar), Paul McGuigan and Tony McCarroll (drums). Liam's older brother Noel later joined as a fifth member, finalising the group's core lineup. During the course of their existence, they had various lineup changes, with the Gallagher brothers remaining the only staple members.

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

William John Paul Gallagher is an English singer and songwriter. He achieved fame as the lead vocalist and part time songwriter of the rock band Oasis from 1991 to 2009, and later fronted the rock band Beady Eye from 2009 to 2014, before starting a successful solo career in 2017. Oasis had various line-up changes, though Gallagher and his older brother Noel remained the only staple members. One of the most recognisable figures in British rock music, Gallagher is noted for his distinctive vocal style and outspoken, brash, and abrasive personality. His demeanour during Oasis' commercial peak in the mid-1990s garnered much attention from British tabloids, which often ran stories concerning his drug use and self-destructive behaviour.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ocean Colour Scene</span> English rock band

Ocean Colour Scene are an English rock band formed in Solihull in 1989. They have had five top 10 albums including a number one in 1997. They have also achieved seventeen top 40 singles and six top 10 singles to date.

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

Elbow are an English rock band formed in Bury, Greater Manchester, in 1997. The band consists of Guy Garvey, Craig Potter, Mark Potter and Pete Turner. They have played together since 1990, adopting the name Elbow in 1997. Drummer Alex Reeves replaced Richard Jupp in 2016.

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

Babyshambles were an English rock band established in London. The band was formed by Pete Doherty during a hiatus from the Libertines. As of 2013 the band includes Mick Whitnall, Drew McConnell and Adam Ficek. Babyshambles have released three albums—Down in Albion (2005), Shotter's Nation (2007) and Sequel to the Prequel (2013)—three EPs and a number of singles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paul Arthurs</span> English rhythm guitarist

Paul Benjamin Arthurs, widely known as Bonehead, is an English musician. He is best known as the rhythm guitarist, occasional keyboardist and co-founder of the rock band Oasis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thomas Gabriel Fischer</span> Swiss musician

Thomas Gabriel Fischer, also known by his stage names of Tom G. Warrior and Satanic Slaughter, is a Swiss metal musician. He led the groups Hellhammer and Celtic Frost, and today is the frontman of the band Triptykon.

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

The Subways are an English rock band from Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire. Formed in 2002, the band consists of Billy Lunn, Charlotte Cooper and Camille Phillips (drums). Founding drummer Josh Morgan left the band for personal reasons in October 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Phil Cunningham (rock musician)</span> English guitarist

Philip Cunningham is an English guitarist who is a member of the bands Marion, New Order, Bad Lieutenant, ShadowParty and, more recently in 2020, Sea Fever.

Frost* are an English neo progressive rock supergroup, formed in 2004 by Jem Godfrey and members of Arena, Kino, and IQ. Frost* released their first studio album, Milliontown, in 2006, before splitting up. In 2008, Godfrey reformed Frost*, adding Darwin's Radio vocalist and guitarist, Declan Burke, to the lineup, and released their second album, Experiments in Mass Appeal. The band disbanded again in 2011, to reunite later in September, after a brief hiatus.

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

The Dykeenies are a Scottish indie rock band from Cumbernauld, formed in 2005. The group consists of brothers Brian Henderson and Andrew Henderson, along with Steven Ramsay and John Kerr. Since their formation, they have released one studio album, Nothing Means Everything, accompanied by three singles. After a worldwide tour, the band began work on their second album, which was released in October 2011. They broke up in January 2012, before re-forming for two performances in 2017. The Dykeenies released their EP 'I Wanted To Show Her All The Beautiful Things in the World' on 11 May 2018. The title of the 2018 EP was taken from Bret Ellis-Easton's 'American Psycho'.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Seal Cub Clubbing Club</span> English post-punk band

The Seal Cub Clubbing Club were a five-piece post-punk band from The Wirral, England.

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

Courteeners are an English band formed in Middleton in 2006 by Liam Fray, Michael Campbell, Daniel "Conan" Moores and Mark Cuppello (bass); the latter was replaced by the band's producer Joe Cross in 2015. They previously toured with pianist Adam Payne, who has been featured on every album, but in 2019 was replaced with Elina Lin. In December 2012, the band dropped "The" from their name, continuing simply as "Courteeners".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Liam Fray</span> English musician (born 1985)

Liam James Fray is an English musician, singer, songwriter and lyricist, best known as the founder and frontman of Manchester-based indie rock band Courteeners, which was formed in 2006. Fray hails from Middleton, Greater Manchester and he references his hometown in multiple songs.

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

The Whip are a dance-rock band from Manchester, England. The two founding members, Bruce Carter and Danny Saville, previously played in the band Nylon Pylon, who were signed to London Records and supported The Music on their 2003 Tour. Other members of The Whip are Nathan Sudders (bass), who also plays in Manchester band Tokolosh and Fiona "Li'l Fee" Daniel (drums), who was previously in Colne based band Earl.

Jeffrey Wootton is an English musician, guitarist and songwriter from Manchester. He has been the lead guitarist in the Gorillaz live band since 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Travelling Band</span>

The Travelling Band are an English folk-rock band, formed in 2006 and based in Manchester. The band members are Jo Dudderidge, Adam P. Gorman and Nick Vaal, Harry Fausing Smith and Sam Quinn. Previous full-time members include Steve 'Snaf" Ballinger, Steve 'Mugger' Mullen and Chris 'Spenny' Spencer. Previous touring members include Chris Hillman, Tanah Stevens (viola) and Hannah Nicholson (violin).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tom Chapman</span> Franco-British musician

Thomas Louis Chapman is a Franco British musician, producer and songwriter, best known as being the bass guitarist of English rock band New Order. He is also one of the founding members of Anglo-American group ShadowParty and, more recently in 2020, Sea Fever.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tokolosh (band)</span>

TOKOLOSH are a Manchester-based band formed in 2011 and made up of singer and guitarist Liam Frost, keyboard players Christian and Nicky Madden from The Earlies, bassist Nathan Sudders from The Whip and drummer Richard Young.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blossoms (band)</span> Pop band from Stockport, England

Blossoms are an English pop band from Stockport, Greater Manchester, England. Formed in 2013, the band consists of Tom Ogden, Charlie Salt, Josh Dewhurst, Joe Donovan (drums) and Myles Kellock.

References

  1. ↑ Nelson, Craig (January 2010). "CityLifers: Liam Frost Interview". Archived from the original on 4 February 2010. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  2. ↑ Mason, Stewart. "AllMusic Artist Biography: Liam Frost" . Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  3. ↑ Brown, David (5 April 2013). "Louder Than War: Interview – Liam Frost / TOKOLOSH" . Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  4. ↑ Riley, Jack (19 April 2010). "The Independent: Music Reviews – Liam Frost, Tabernacle, London" . Archived from the original on 14 June 2022. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  5. ↑ "IndieLondon: We Ain't Go No Money, Honey But We Got Rain" . Retrieved 2 January 2015.
  6. ↑ "Manchester Evening News: Acts line-up to pay tribute to Peel". 26 September 2005. Retrieved 23 December 2015.
  7. ↑ Sherwin, Adam (24 March 2006). "Between A Rock and a Hard Sell". The Times (London).
  8. ↑ Ashley, Jon (22 December 2005). "Manchester Music: News Story from the Archive – No Slowdown For Frost" . Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  9. ↑ CA (11 August 2006). "Manchester Music: News Story From The Archive – Fear of Autumn Frost" . Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  10. ↑ Melia, Daniel (30 May 2006). "Gigwise News: More Added to Somerset House Line Up – Liam Frost and Others" . Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  11. ↑ Shilling, George. "Record Production: Video Interview Feature – Record Producer Danton Supple" . Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  12. ↑ "45Cat: Lavolta Label Discography" . Retrieved 2 January 2015.
  13. ↑ "MusicBrainz: Show Me How The Spectres Dance". 24 May 2009. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  14. ↑ Frost, Liam; Adams, Sean (12 August 2009). "Drowned In Sound: Finer Details – Liam Frost on his duet with Martha Wainwright". Archived from the original on 14 February 2015. Retrieved 2 January 2015.
  15. ↑ "World's End Producer Management: Victor Van Vugt – Discography" . Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  16. ↑ Clarke, Helen (1 April 2010). "Get West London: Liam Frost – Happy to be a Cult Secret" . Retrieved 2 January 2015.
  17. ↑ "MusicBrainz: We Ain't Got Money, Honey, But We Got Rain". 16 February 2010. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  18. ↑ Bukowski, Charles; Martin, John (2012). Run With The Hunted: A Charles Bukowski Reader. HarperCollins. p. 16. ISBN   9780062272294 . Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  19. ↑ "NME News: Martha Wainwright to guest on new Liam Frost album". 23 July 2009. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  20. ↑ "BBC Genome: Radio Times Online 1923 – 2009 – search results for Liam Frost" . Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  21. ↑ "BBC 6 Music Website Programme Page: Marc Riley". 2 March 2009. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  22. ↑ "BBC 6 Music Website Programme Page: Marc Riley". 17 February 2010. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  23. ↑ "BBC 6 Music Website Programme Page: Lauren Laverne". 21 January 2010. Archived from the original on 8 December 2014. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  24. ↑ "BBC Radio 3 Website Programme Page: The Verb". 13 January 2007. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  25. ↑ Lester, Paul (8 April 2013). "The Guardian: New Band of the Day – TOKOLOSH (No. 1,487)" . Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  26. ↑ "BBC 6 Music Website Programme Page: Marc Riley – TOKOLOSH join Marc Riley in the Studio". 22 October 2012. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  27. ↑ MDS. "Beard Rock: Reviews – TOKOLOSH at John Rylands Library" . Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  28. ↑ "TOKOLOSH Official Facebook Page Update". 10 December 2013. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  29. ↑ "TOKOLOSH Official Website Update – Festival No. 6 Lost in the Woods". 26 June 2014. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  30. ↑ "Jack to Phono: Stay Strong! – TOKOLOSH release Stay Strong album". 3 August 2014. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  31. ↑ Brown, David (12 May 2013). "Louder Than War: Liam Frost / Hannah And Lois : Manchester International Anthony Burgess Foundation – live review" . Retrieved 2 March 2016.
  32. ↑ Armstrong, Michael (8 October 2013). "Louder Than War: Liam Frost: Manchester – Live Review" . Retrieved 2 March 2016.
  33. ↑ "Even The Stars Music Blog: Review – Liam Frost / Badly Drawn Boy – Manchester Roadhouse". 13 July 2014. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  34. ↑ Horkan, Chris. "Last FM Events: Cherry Ghost and Liam Frost at Band on the Wall" . Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  35. ↑ Frost, Liam (23 December 2014). "Liam Frost Official Facebook Page Update" . Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  36. ↑ "iTunes The Wild Places EP" . Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  37. ↑ "Even The Stars: Courteeners / Liam Frost / Louie Louie – Liverpool O2 Academy – 3rd June 2015". 4 June 2015. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
  38. ↑ "Band On The Wall: Events – The Earlies and Liam Frost" . Retrieved 30 November 2015.
  39. ↑ "Official Liam Frost Website: News – October / November Dates". 29 July 2015. Archived from the original on 17 November 2015. Retrieved 15 August 2015.
  40. ↑ "Even The Stars: Liam Frost – Manchester Ruby Lounge – 30th October 2015". 31 October 2015.
  41. ↑ "Cape Farewell 2007 Expedition Overview: 23 September – 10 October" . Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  42. ↑ "Cape Farewell 2007 Expedition: Who We Are – Liam Frost" . Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  43. ↑ "Cape Farewell 2007 Expedition: Liam Frost – Shipwrecks video, recorded October 3, 2007". 10 October 2007. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  44. ↑ "Cape Farewell 2007 Expedition: Liam Frost – Leading Lights video, recorded October 5, 2007". 10 October 2007. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  45. ↑ "Library Live: Everything Everything Present Chaos to Order". Archived from the original on 11 July 2015. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
  46. ↑ "Brighter Sound: About" . Retrieved 18 March 2015.
  47. ↑ "Chaos to Order: Brighter Sound Emerging Musicians". 16 November 2014. Archived from the original on 5 December 2014. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
  48. ↑ "Reuben Colley Fine Arts: Joe Simpson – Musician Portraits" (PDF). Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  49. ↑ Griffin, Matt (14 May 2012). "Joe Simpson: Musician Portraits Exhibition". Archived from the original on 31 December 2014. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  50. ↑ "Official Charts Company: Liam Frost & Slowdown Family – The City Is At A Standstill". 9 September 2006. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
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.