Cripplecreek

Cripplecreek are a rock band from Aberdare, Wales. Formed in January 1994 former members of 'The Wild Flowers'; Carl Harvey (drums), Carl Andrews (keyboard), Julian Nicholas (acoustic guitar) along with Justin Beynon (acoustic guitar). The initial gathering in Hirwaun, just to try something different and original, spawned enough ideas to carry on writing together. Soon joined by Paul Rosser (bass guitar), former member of 'Zephyr' and 'Silent Runner' (whose other members included Kelly Jones of Stereophonics) and John Williams (vocals) in March 1995. Chris Davies (vocals, keyboard), fellow band member and friend of Rosser, swelled the ranks in July 1997 freeing up the guitars to play more dual lead stuff and more emphasis on three-part harmony vocals. With their own transport the 'Creek made regular appearances in London, winning over the usually apathetic 'scene' and securing bigger and better venues. The sheer scale of things sound-wise, with huge, twenty-minute-plus improvisations and deafening volume ran its course though, peaking with a four hour performance at an illegal outdoor festival in Cwmaman in November ’98.

It was time for a change.

With the intention of recording a debut album that reflected the eclectic writing, arranging and playing talents of the whole band, new instruments were added with the demise of the last line-up. With vocal duties split amongst four distinct voices and the rotation of instruments within the band bringing out different playing styles, they separated the wheat from the chaff of their huge back catalogue of material and concentrated on arrangements, texture and subtleties. These features, married to the power of their live experience as what was effectively a rock band, created the unique sound of ‘The Family Tent’. Essentially two different bands (a full, electric, rock outfit and a weird, quiet acoustic ‘thing’), they played over a hundred gigs promoting the album throughout 1999, raising their national profile significantly with appearances on Welsh National TV and Radio and local radio. Songs were given significant airplay on Radio Wales and Valleys FM with copies of "The Family Tent" selling in Cardiff branches of HMV and Virgin.