Cardiff, United Kingdom

Under the Driftwood Tree have only been together since February 2009 yet they have already achieved a great deal in a short time recording 4 tracks for BBC Introducing and receiving airplay on daytime Radio 1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/introducing/artists/underthedriftwoodtree/ Exceptional song-writing skills transform their music into mini-tales of simple philosophies that everyone and anyone can relate to. Add this to a cheeky “live only” repertoire of “semi acoustic Gangsta Rap” irreverently mixed up, mashed up and “folked up” -videos of which often seem to find their way onto the internet. It is easy to see why the band already have a growing fan base that includes non other than Radio 1's Fearne Cotton. Fearne was so enthralled by the band that she invited them to the BBC's Maida Vale studios to record an interview & live session to be played to listeners of her daytime show www.bbc.co.uk/music/introducing/artists/underthedriftwoodtree/interview/#emp Discovering a mutual love for not only surfing but acoustic based and folk tinged music, what started out as a beach party fireside jam has now turned into a touring band. Boasting a chilled out West Coast surf sound of their own featuring soft melodic harmonies and exceptional song writing their sound has been described as “completely unique” by the BBC. After some early busk sessions outside one of their favourite surf shops in their home town of Cardiff caused a roadblock the band realised that they were on to something that was capturing the hearts and minds of people. Word of mouth began to spread as they started playing in local live music venues in Cardiff including; Barfly, Clwb Ivor Bach, 10 feet tall and The Globe. Their stylised soft melodic drifting vocal harmonies (more often found in the music of West coast of America than West coast Wales) combined with subtle arrangements underscored by the unusual instruments they play were a hit with a large cross section of music lovers. Unsurprisingly in their first year together the band become Welsh winners of Surface Unsigned 2009 & were chosen to be the official band behind Stereoboard.com's “Access All Areas” campaign. Expanding their musical universe Under the Driftwood Tree have already appeared on TV shows, making it to one of the final 10 bands on Channel 4's Evo Music Room & appearing on ITV’s The Wales Show. Alongside the aforementioned BBC Maida Vales sessions the band have performed on several other radio stations including BBC Radio Wales, RTE Radio 1 Ireland,The Wave, Cardiff Radio, Bryn Mawr FM and GT FM Under the Driftwood Tree have also received great press with reviews published in the Cardiff Echo, Bristol Post, the Capital Times and The Miniature Music Press and online. Festival opportunities started to appear in 2010 with performances booked at music and surf festivals including Beach Break Live, The Eden Sessions (with Jack Johnson), Bug Jam, VW Festival, Santa Pod, Mighty Dub Fest, VW Festival, Connaught Village Summer Festival, Kingsfest, The Lazy Bishop Festival, Nibley Music Festival Blow Out, Newport Comedy Festival and Oxjam.

2009

Chris Stoodly – guitar, ukelele, accordion and lead vocals Kathryn Shanahan -djembe, cajon + backing vocals Robbie Price -guitar and lead vocals Alex Perry - guitar Sam Griffiths – bass + backing vocals

Acoustic, Pop-Folk, Vocal