Sunbirds Live At Lions Den, Manchester (Feat. Dave Hemingway Of The Beautiful South)

Catch Sunbirds live at Lions Den, Manchester on Saturday 15th April 2023.

The man who once told us all he loved us from the bottom of his pencil case, The Beautiful Souths Dave Hemingway is back with a new sound and a new band - SUNBIRDS. Although born and bred in England the band's sound predominantly features the instrumentation of traditional American roots music combined with the occasional outburst of fuzz guitar more associated with Seattle in the late 80's.

However, you can only sing about what you know. “Although a lot of the songs have an Americana feel” says Dave, “they’re still about life in England... you’re going to feel a bit daft singing about pick-up trucks and low down honky-tonks when you live in Yorkshire.” Having previously served up most of the songs on The South’s debut offering Sweet Refrains ("an album that shrugs off its shadows and falls in love with music all over again" according to Rock'n'Reel Magazine) Dave and guitarist/songwriter Phil Barton decided that subsequent material would be better served free of the 'golden millstone' that the previous moniker had provided.

The band have put together COOL TO BE KIND, an album of new songs telling tales that cover age-old matters of the heart and soul as well treading less traditionally worn roads. All while viewed through the bottom of a recently drained pint glass.

“Now we're Sunbirds we’re free to do what we like, hopefully without any preconceptions” says Phil, “'Stars Still Shine' for example speaks of a dark period that needs exorcising, while 'When I’m Gone' is a love song to my daughter. We're free to write about anything we want... even Gary Lineker.  As long as it’s a good song and something worth writing about. Music is such a beautiful powerful vehicle that can challenge a person’s thinking, to just say 'I want to do this or do that to you' seems a wasted opportunity to me”.