Folkesong Winter Festival presents three great live bands:
THE EMBROOKS
They quickly changed course towards the more aggressive sounds coming out of the UK and Europe in that same mid-60s period, a transitional style which came to known as freakbeat. Here, the band found their true calling, and delivered 2 killer singles (“If You Let Me Go”, Max Picou and “More Than Ever”, Guerssen, both 1999) and their highest profile LP, “Our New Day” for legendary California label Bomp’s Voxx imprint (2000).
Numerous tours through the UK and Europe were undertaken, and they even found time to cross the pond into the US and Canada on a number of occasions, appearing at such legendary events as the Wild Weekend, Las Vegas Grind, Cavestomp, Purple Weekend and many more besides. The follow-up LP, “Yellow Glass Perspections” (Munster, 2004) saw the band incorporating more psychedelic elements to their sound, but still very much rooted in the aggressive Mod-Rock that had served them well.
As external commitments became ever more time-consuming, the band amicably parted in mid-2005, but as of 2016 they’re back, with 5 more singles and another LP (“We Who Are”, State Records, 2018) under their collective belt. Look forward to a bran new LP in 2026!
The Embrooks the UK’s favourite Freakbeat Trio are heading to Folkestone. Don’t miss it – you might even find out what happened to Terry and Julie…..
Picturebox
Formed in Canterbury, Picturebox have released 4 albums on the Gare Du Nord label. Led by songwriter Robert Halcrow, their music combines Syd Barrett psych, Blur and Canterbury Scene with indie fuzz and motorik freakouts, most recently heard at their Canterbury Arts Lab nights at The Salvation Army Annexe, Canterbury.
“Sometimes sinister, maybe melancholy, often odd and always engaging….here for all your surreal storytelling, guitar bounce, DIY pop song needs. 4 Stars” Ben Graham, Shindig! Magazine
the Beatpack
Formed in order to play the kind of wild teenage Rock’n’Roll, 60s garage punk, Rhythm & Blues and raw blues that all five members grew up on, The Beatpack have been around in various shapes and forms for thirty years now, albeit with a two-decade break in the middle!
First time around, they recorded a 45, an EP and LP for German label Screaming Apple, toured Scotland with The Manic Street Preachers, and then vanished in a puff of smoke, only resurfacing in 2012. Since then, two more 45s and two EPs have followed, along with tours of Spain and Germany and two more LPs, “All Good Things (Turn to Dust)” and “The Violet Hour”, both on Spinout Nuggets.
Their live shows are the stuff of legend during which anything can – and frequently does – happen: tambourines and hearts break, guitars and ears bleed, beer and blood spills. You’ve been warned!
