On The Radar #110 Noble Jacks

YESTERDAY (March 17) Noble Jacks played two back-to-back shows for St Patrick’s Day in Brighton.

It followed the Horam-based “rip-roaring alt-folk band” releasing their new EP at Latest Music Bar last month.

As they work on their forthcoming album Matt Deveson introduces the band.

“Lead singer and fiddle/mandolin/guitarist Will Page, and guitarist, Ant Longhurst, have been gigging together at pubs, clubs and festivals in various bands since Will was 15. I joined the band after Will heard me playing Jimi Hendrix on guitar, through the bedroom wall in halls at university. He knocked on my door, had a jam, and the rest is history. Joe Walker was introduced to Will at a summer garden party in 2013. They instantly started chatting about their passion for music and planned for collaborating in the future. He joined the band in 2015.

“Our current tracks have really come together over the last two or three years of playing together in pubs and clubs around East Sussex. This is our first EP but not our first release. We actually recorded a shinier folk/pop single in 2014, which was played as BBC Introducing’s Track of the Day (South). This time around, we really aimed for it to be a much rawer, live sound and a truer snapshot of our band’s upbeat live set. We really tried capture all the energy, excitement and stomping of a live performance and transport it into the speakers.

“We’re all about exploring the cross-over between acoustic and electric instrumentation, it makes for such a broad spectrum of sound. We like to combine the hard rock drives and catchy hooks of folk bands, such as the Levellers, with the foot stomping and fiddle shuffling of artists such as Seth Lakeman, along with earthy, warm and ambient vibes of the Eagles/ Mumford and Sons.

“So far we’ve played some amazing local festivals such as Paddle Round the Pier in Brighton and Local and Live Festival in Tunbridge Wells. It’s always great to play in front of such attentive and lively crowds. Last May we also played a magical gig in the Trinity Theatre, Tunbridge Wells, the atmosphere and character of such an historic building was truly epic.

“We’re pleased to say there is an album coming up on the horizon. We’re at early stages of working with Union Music Store in Lewes, who manage their own record label and organize many live music events throughout the year. I think the EP is going to be a pretty good indicator of what’s going to be coming up on the album. Although, saying that, we have definitely had much more of an experiment with instrumentation on our album tracks, at the moment we’re really enjoying the massive sound of the mandola.

“We’re going on a big push to get our music listened to, nationally and beyond. We have tours in the UK and the USA being planned right now, in preparation for the release of the album. We’re really looking forward to all the festivals we have coming up this summer, including Lewes Live, Chagstock and many more.”

Noble Jacks continue the Irish-themed shows with a gig at Uckfield’s Ringle Cross pub tonight (March 18) from 9pm and The Crown in Newick tomorrow (March 19).

Find out more:

www.noblejacks.com

Facebook.com/noblejacksofficial