Birds of Wales

Infobox musical artist
Name = Birds of Wales


Img_capt =
Img_size =
Background = group_or_band
Origin = Ontario, Canada
Genre = Folk rock
Indie rock
Years_active = 2005 – present
Manager = Christi Thompson [http://www.thompsonmgmt.com/]
Label = The Agency Group [http://www.theagencygroup.com/]
Associated_acts =
URL = http://www.birdsofwales.com/
Current_members = Morgan Ross
Mike Caputo
Morgan James Smith
Jesse Smith
Past_members = Paul Barry
Scott Christian
Mike Tersigni

Birds of Wales is an Indie/Folk Rock band based in Ontario.

History/Bio

Known for great songwriting, strong musicianship and outstanding live performances, this young, hard-working folk-rock band is quickly garnering an impressive reputation. In their first year alone, [http://www.birdsofwales.com Birds of Wales] has signed with The Agency Group; had one of the most played songs on XM Satellite Radio; released and distributed over 560,000 copies of their single, "Cinderella (Has Nothing on You)", in Ireland; distributed their first CD in North America, the UK and Western Europe; and that's just the short list. Birds of Wales is definitely a band to keep your eye on.

Birds of Wales has quickly earned an impressive international following. During 2006, the band played (and often sold-out) shows at many of Canada's and the UK's most coveted venues - Toronto's Phoenix Theatre, Vancouver's Richards on Richards, Liverpool's Cavern Club and London's Borderline, to name a few. They've also performed alongside such bands as The Beautiful South, Stabilo, The Meligrove Band and The Sadies. While their music has drawn comparisons to the likes of Mojave 3, Coldplay, Ryan Adams and Belle & Sebastian, Bird of Wales maintains their own, distinctive sound.

"I've always had a thing for birds. I grew up with a cockatoo," recalls Morgan Ross, Birds of Wales' charismatic frontman, who is also of Welsh decent. Morgan, originally from Vancouver, Canada, always had a strong affinity for music. During his summer break from university in 2005, he recorded a collection of songs with his close friends from EMI band, Stabilo. Soon after finishing this collection, which would inevitably become Birds of Wales' freshman release, Morgan relocated to Toronto and formed the current incarnation of Birds of Wales with his bandmates, Mike Caputo (lead guitar), Moe Smith (bass) and Jesse Smith (drums).

Birds of Wales' EP has been enthusiastically received throughout Canada, the UK and Spain. Songs from the disc have been broadcast regularly across North America on "The Verge," XM Satellite Radio's new-music station, especially My Lady; In July which was the most-played song on "The Verge" during the month of June 2006. Also around this time, significant interest in the band also began to come from the UK which prompted three successful tours across the pond last August and November and April.

The success of Birds of Wales' shows and their EP did not go unnoticed. Last May, the band inked a deal with The Agency Group for their North American representation. Then in August, Birds of Wales sealed another deal with London-based label, Invisible Hands Music, to distribute their EP in the UK. By November, the band's songs began to show up on radio airwaves in South England and Wales.

At the start of this year, Birds of Wales began work on a new full-length album in Toronto which is being produced by Bob Egan of Wilco and Blue Rodeo fame. The band's single, "Cinderella (Has Nothing on You)", was featured on a Valentine's Day CD, 560,000 copies of which were distributed throughout Ireland by the major daily newspapers. Also, "My Lady; in July" will appear in Rob Heydon's upcoming film, Ecstasy, a film based on a book by the same author as Trainspotting, and the band is gearing up to head across the pond again in August for their fourth tour of the UK/Europe in just 12 months.

2007 is shaping up to be another impressive year for Birds of Wales.

Canadian Release Date: April 8, 2006

UK Release Date: May 21, 2007

XM Satelitte Radio: My Lady in July was the most played song on “The Verge” in June 2006

Band Members

*Morgan Cameron Ross: Lead Vocals,Guitar
*Mike Caputo: Lead Guitar
*Jesse Smith: Drums
*Moe Smith: Bass

Reviews

* [http://www.torontoist.com/archives/2006/06/post_25.php# Review of Birds of Wales gig] by David Topping on June 12, 2006 for [http://torontoist.com/# Torontoist]

Interviews

* [http://www.torontomusicscene.ca/interviews/birds-of-wales-no-sex-at-virgin-fest.html Interview with Morgan Ross] at Virgin Fest 2007 from Toronto Music Scene.ca

External links

* [http://www.birdsofwales.com/ Birds of Wales' Official Website]
* [http://myspace.com/birdsofwales Official MySpace Page]
* http://www.theagencygroup.com/