The Bluebeat Arkestra

Formed in Birmingham,UK in 2009, The Bluebeat Arkestra are a hard-to-categorise gang of musicians consisting of Shaun (guitar), Dave (bass), John (drums) - who were formerly in local indie/punk band Iasonic; folk singer-songwriter Hayley Trower and rapper and synth player Keji Adedeji (ex-of Liverpool hip-hop outfit F.o.E). The line up was later completed with the addition of ex-National Youth Orchestra violist Leonie Rainbird-Tilson and jazz trumpeter Chris Inns.

Making their live debut in August 2009, The Arkestra then spent a year honing their live show with frenetic sets around the country that veered from punk to drum'n'bass to soul and back without appearing contrived or confusing. Their hard-work was rewarded in summer 2010 with the honour of being the first unsigned act to play at Birmingham's HMV Institute, opening for cult Swedish legends Little Dragon.

Formed in Birmingham in early 2009, The Bluebeat Arkestra are a hard-to-categorise gang of musicians consisting of Shaun (guitar), Dave (bass), John (drums) - who were formerly in local indie/punk band Iasonic; folk singer-songwriter Hayley Trower and rapper and synth player Keji Adedeji (ex-of Liverpool hip-hop outfit Foe-ism). The line up was later completed with the addition of ex-National Youth Orchestra violist Leonie Rainbird-Tilson and jazz trumpeter Chris Inns.

Making their live debut that August, the band then spent the next year honing their live act with shows around the Midlands and in Liverpool, their hard-work was rewarded in summer 2010 with a packed-out show at Birmingham's Flapper & Firkin leading to rave reviews in the local press and the honour of being the first unsigned act to play at Birmingham's HMV Institute, opening for cult Swedish legends Little Dragon.

An EP of house and drum'n'bass remixes of their song 'Waves', released on a one-off deal with local dance label Musique, reached no.5 in the Speed Garage charts (higher than Dizzee Rascal) and helped secure a live on-air session for BBC's Introducing show.

The Band's Debut Release is the Brewbox EP set for release on the 1st August 2011

From here, The Bluebeat Arkestra intend to continue to build their reputation as one of the most exciting and inventive live bands to come out of Birmingham for a long time. Their sound is so hard to place that they have been compared to everyone from Blondie to Kool & The Gang to St. Etienne, but whether opening for one of the country's best live bands in their hometown or playing to five strangers in the middle of nowhere, The Bluebeat Arkestra will make you dance.