Bluesy, rootsy, authentic and happy! The True Strays are on some kind of musical mission. Well, that’s our interpretation. They are harking back to the authenticity of sound, while celebrating ‘happy’, friendship and hardwork. All very admirable, especially when coupled with their music.
Campesina
Campesina, recorded on 8 track tape in New Cut Studios, Bristol, on analogue equipment, is the first single from the forthcoming debut album from True Strays.
The song was recorded in one day as a challenge to recreate the studio process of the pre-digital era.
Shared commonalities
Tracked live, Campesina (Country Girl in Spanish) is a joyous declaration of love between two people from different worlds and how by celebrating our shared commonalities and connection to the land we can overcome our differences.
World Happiness Day
The track will be released in conjunction with the UN’s World Happiness Day on the 20 March. “This year’s theme is Happier Together, focusing on what we have in common, rather than what divides us.”
The tour starts on March 28, the True Strays turn famous lit town Haye on Wye into a famous stray town, before hitting the Paladium Club Bideford Paladium on April 3. They pop into Newton Abbot, at the Kingskerswell Parish Church, on April 26. With the tour closing in Newquay in May.
The challenges of forming a band mean that most split up before they even leave the practise room. True Strays met in a sandpit when they were in playgroup and have seen many a great band fall by the wayside.
Friendship, honesty and hardwork
But despite many previous band break ups and hard knocks, Joe James and James Cameron are using these personal experiences to fuel their latest endeavour with greater urgency and honesty than ever. Life’s too short to hide yourself and give up on your dreams. Based on friendship, honesty and hardwork, True Strays is the culmination of a life times ambition.
Music with meaning
True Strays make sounds for an America that didn’t quite exist. Influenced by the blues of Willie Dixon, the calls for justice of Bob Dylan and Neil Young, the dirt of QOTSA and the sonic brilliance of Alabama Shakes. Not just brainless rockers, the music is concerned with zero hour contracts, the destruction of the National Health Service, climate chaos and the mental health epidemic.
From sand pit beginnings, the band have completed countless UK tours winning fans old and new, supported bands as diverse as My Baby and Elles Bailey, been jump started by Keith Allen, played by BBC Introducing and BBC Radio, played their first European dates, survived 70+ festival shows at prestigious festivals like Green Man, Boom Town, Larmer Tree and Shambala, been featured on the Spotify Nu-Blue playlist, and even curated their own venue for 5 years at the now legendary Fieldview Festival.
“It’s a dream for your band to be the reason to visit new places. We can’t wait to meet new people and share our latest music,” said Joe.
James said: “This tour is our most exciting one yet because it’s a full UK tour. It’s always been our intention to get up to the North of England and Scotland and now it’s happening!”
Beyond The Horizon Tour
28.03 – The Globe at Hay, HAY-ON-WYE
03.04 – Paladium Club, BIDEFORD
05.04 – The Bell Inn, BATH
08.04 – The Bodega, NOTTINGHAM
09.04 – Gullivers Bar, MANCHESTER
10.04 – Victoria Hall, SETTLE
11. 04 -The Hug and Pint, GLASGOW
12.04 – Bannermans, EDINBURGH
15.04 – The Greystones, SHEFFIELD
16.04 – The Star, GUILDFORD
17.04 – Arlington Arts, NEWBURY (Supporting Big Boy Bloater & The Limits)
18.04 – Sebright Arms, LONDON
19.04 – The Prince Albert, STROUD
26.04 – Kingskerswell Parish Church, NEWTON ABBOTT
02.05 – The Louisiana, BRISTOL
03.05 -The New Inn, NEWPORT
08.05 – Chintz Symposium, FALMOUTH
09.05 – Smugglers Den Inn, NEWQUAY
For more information:
Facebook – Soundcloud – Twitter – Youtube – Spotify
- Katie Spencer | “Live performance is a big part of what I love” - September 18, 2023
- RAMM announces new commissions by two Devon-based artists - September 12, 2023
- Profound and eloquent, haunting and dramatic | The Ciderhouse Rebellion - September 4, 2023