Demob Happy

Very soon they had moved-in together, formed a band and were beginning to forge a sound rattling out their early songs in the dive bars of Newcastle. After the setback of a lengthy court battle to get their gear backthe police had seized all their instruments due to noise complaints, Demob Happy set sail for the shores of the south coast settling in Brighton where they began to dig in their heels as stalwarts of the music scene. It was here in their new home of Brighton that the band would help set up Nowhere Man Cafe- the basement of which became their HQ, rehearsal room and the spot for frequent underground DIY shows and parties. Meanwhile out on the road the boys were swiftly building a reputation for their raucous live shows and freewheeling spirit.

In 2015, with a wealth of material accrued since their formation, they took a break from city life and isolated themselves over the winter in a secluded Welsh cottage cut off from internet and phone signal. During these sessions they tightened up their existing material and wrote additional tracks, which formed the basis for their debut album, Dream Soda. An album that took aim at consumerist and capitalist ideologies. To release the album they partnered with label SO Recordings and set up base for a 6 week stint recording in Eastbourne’s Echo Zoo Studios, where friend and producer Christoph Skirl produced the album alongside the band. Skirl was also spotted performing with the band on keyboard duties during their set at Secret Garden Party. Dream Soda was released in October 2015 to critical acclaim and in support of the album they embarked on a European tour and the U.K. festival trail, which included a slots at Reading and Leeds Festivals. The rest of 2015 through to 2016 saw the band grow in popularity whilst touring in support of Dream Soda and opening for the likes of Death From Above 1979, The Cribs and Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes. By the end of 2016 Demob Happy became a three-piece, going separate ways with guitarist Mathew Renforth after a year filled with what the band called ‘dizzying highs and dingy lows.’