Leamington band’s Lovin’ big gig opportunity

The band, whose members hail from Leamington, Southam and Whitnash, will be supporting the Fun Lovin’ Criminals at Kasbah in Coventry in July.

This is an opportunity many up and coming artists could only dream of and lead vocalist and MC Alex Curtis says it will represent a huge step forward in the band’s development.

Alex, 29, said: “This is a huge deal for us as we’re all long-time fans of the Fun Lovin’ Criminals.

“It’s a massive opportunity for us to play in a big venue alongside a internationally-known band.

“We are all really pleased, I guess we see it as recognition that we are doing the right things and writing good quality music.

“For us to have come this far in a relatively short space of time is amazing.”

The band formed after a conversation in a pub between Alex and his friends guitarist Ollie Reece and drummer Jason Nicholl in 2009.

Bored of the direction in which their various musical commitments were taking them, the trio decided to write their own material.

They recruited bass player David Mulcahy and played their first gig at Kasbah in November.

Inspired by various artists from Jay-Z and Bob Marley to Alice in Chains and Slipknot, the Sixtyfours play mainly upbeat and party music but with the occasional down tempo number thrown in.

Alex said: “At the moment the charts are flooded with dance music, so-called ‘urban’ music and indie bands.

“I like to think we can appeal to all audiences.

“The vocals in the songs are predominantly rapping but they’re supported by a band of very talented musicians rather than electronically made backing tracks.

“People who love live rock bands will enjoy coming to see us but also people who love urban music will enjoy it because of the strong hip-hop influences.

“There’s also an element of the old skool funk element, everyone likes to get down to a bit of funk.”

People can see Sixtyfours play at Kasbah on Saturday May 7, and at the Prince of Wales in Warwick Street, Leamington, on Saturday May 28.

Alex said: “In the short term we just want to keep doing what we are doing.

“In the longer term we want to get to the point where we can release our first album.

“We all want to make it in this industry however tough it is and we are just going to give it everything we have got.”

For more on Sixtyfours visit www.myspace.com/sixtyfoursofficial or www.facebook.com/sixtyfours