Biography
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Years Active
2000 – present (25 years)
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Founded In
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, United Kingdom
Cranebuilders are a indie band formed in Liverpool in 2000 and take their name from the city’s former Music Shop Bell & Crane Music, where guitar player Simon Reynolds and singer/guitarist Tommy Roberts used to work and where the band would rehearse before the shop went into receivership.
Cranebuilders have released a number of E.P.s, singles and albums on a number of different record labels, but are mostly associated with Manchester Skinny Dog Records who released their debut album ‘Sometimes You Hear Through Someone Else’ in March 2005 which was recorded by Rob Ferrier. This album was released in North America in January 2006 on Azra Records.
Their association with this label started when Guy Garvey spotted the band performing in Manchester’s Night & Day Café, and was quoted shortly afterwards in a GQ Magazine interview that “Cranebuilders are the most important unsigned band in Britain”. Not only did the band release their debut album on his label, but he sang backing vocals on two of the album’s songs; ‘New Captain’ and ‘She Can’t Find The Words’. The album also featured Vinny Peculiar on acoustic guitar on the song 'Trouble is'.
Cranebuilders often tour with Skinny Dog co-founder Peter Jobson’s band I Am Kloot.
A name often synonymous with the band was BBC Radio One DJ John Peel. Peel was always very vocal in his love for the band who recorded two sessions for him as well as appearing at The Eurosonic festival in Groningen as his guests. This performance was later broadcast on his show. Coincidentally the shop where the band took their name was the shop where Peel bought his very first record. Listeners voted 'You're Song' into Peel's 2002 "Festive Fifty".
The band made their UK television debut on Channel 4’s ‘4 Music’ in March 2005.
It is rumoured that front man Tommy Roberts has contributed to the forthcoming Johnny Marr album.
Over the years the band have performed with: Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs, Cinerama, Elbow, I Am Kloot, Ella Guru, My Morning Jacket, The Magic Numbers, Lift to Experience, The Hidden Cameras, Adam Green, The Earlies, The Fall, Preston School of Industry, Herman Dune, The New Year and The Hours.
Band Members
Tom Roberts (Vocals/Guitar)
Stephen Keast (Drums)
Matthew McPartlan (Bass)
Helen Turner (Vocal/keyboard)
Simon Reynolds (Guitar 2000 to 2005)
Jack Jelfs (Guitar 2005 to present)
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