Cornwall-based roots rock band Wille & The Bandits release their fifth studio album When The World Stood Still on January 28, 2022, on their independent label, Fat Toad Records. The album is now available to pre-order from www.willeandthebandits.com/shop.
The first single Will We Ever is released Friday November 5 and can be streamed from https://ingroov.es/will-we-ever-hk9-a.
This is about an album that documents a time when the world stood still, recorded in a place only accessible on the high tide, on the banks of the river Fowey; one of Britain’s most iconic recording studios that is coming to the end of an influential life. This could be the last album recorded at Sawmills, funded by the fans of a band considered one of the most exciting and successful independent acts in Europe,
Wille & The Bandits are a band who do not stop pushing boundaries. They were in the process of carving out a reputation as one of the UKs most original acts when the impacts of the pandemic led to a cease of touring. Wille and the Band got stuck into song-writing and an album was written; A group of powerful anthemic songs, who’s melodies and lyrics resonate with the emotions of a time that none of us expected.
“It had always been a dream for me to record at Sawmills,” says Wille Edwards, the band’s lead singer, guitarist, and multi-instrumentalist. “I was devastated at the thought that another piece of music history was being repurposed away from a place of inspiration for the arts.”
“However,” continues Wille, “there was a suggestion of fate when a friend took me night fishing at a secret spot, that just happened to be in the Foy River, looking across to this wonderfully situated building; one that we all know, even if we don’t realise it, from a childhood of reading Wind in the Willows. This set me on a hunt to find out if there was still a chance to record one last album at Sawmills with the man behind all the iconic albums recorded there – Mr John Cornfield. To fund this enterprise, we turned to our unbelievable fans who made the dream happen, and who we are eternally grateful, too”
Wille & The Bandits have so far recorded five studio albums to critical acclaim and are credited with pushing the boundaries of roots rock into a new era of music lovers. They were listed in the top ten must see bands at Glastonbury Festival by BBC Radio One and were personally invited to perform on the German TV show Rockpalast – a musical institution of global import.
They have played festivals across the world, from Broadway to the West End, and Belgrade to Sydney. They were picked to perform at the London Olympics after being voted one of UK’s best live acts.
The first single from the album, Will We Ever, features Wille’s signature slide guitar playing and powerful vocals. It mourns the loss of performing as a band, and asks the question; will the world ever be the same?
The combination of one of the country’s best live bands, best producer and iconic recording studios has produced something very special with the forthcoming release of When The World Stood Still.
LINE-UP
Wille Edwards – Lead vocals, electric and acoustic guitars, dobro, electric lap steel
Harry Mackaill – Backing vocals, bass guitar, synthesizer
Matthew Gallagher – Hammond organ, Fender Rhodes, piano, Mellotron, guitar, b. vocals
Tom Gilkes – Drums and percussion
WILLE & THE BANDITS MARCH & APRIL 2022 UK TOUR WITH SPECIAL GUEST TROY REDFERN on all dates *except
TICKETS – www.willeandthebandits.com
Palladium, Bideford Friday 4 March 2022
Old Bakery, Truro Saturday 5 March 2022
Phoenix, Exeter Sunday 6 March 2022
The Musician, Leicester Wednesday 9 March 2022
The Flowerpot, Derby Thursday 10 March 2022
The Bullingdon, Oxford Friday 11 March 2022
Philharmonic, Liverpool Saturday 12 March 2022
Continental, Preston Wednesday 16 March 2022
Bodega, Nottingham Thursday 17 March 2022
Hug & Pint, Glasgow Friday 18 March 2022
The Cluny, Newcastle Saturday 19 March 2022
Elsewhere, Margate Wednesday 23 March 2022
Junction, Cambridge Thursday 24 March 2022
The 100 Club, London Friday 25 March 2022
Thekla, Bristol Saturday 26 March 2022
Guildhall, Gloucester Wednesday 30 March 2022
The Greystones, Sheffield Thursday 31 March 2022
Town Hall, Selby Friday 1 April 2022
The Tivoli, Buckley Saturday 2 April 2022
The Star, Guildford Wednesday 6 April 2022
The Robin, Bilston Thursday 7 April 2022
Arts Centre, Bridgwater Friday 8 April 2022
Theatr Brycheiniog, Brecon Saturday 9 April 2022
*Nightrain, Bradford Thursday 21 April 2022
*The Tivoli, Wimborne Friday 22 April 2022
*Ropetackle, Brighton Saturday 23 April 2022
