Nine Below Zero ’Avalanche’ Album release: 4th October 2019 Label: Zed Records www.ninebelowzero.com twitter.com/NineBelowZero1 www.facebook.com/ninebelowzero www.instagram.com/ninebelowzero/

‘Are We There Yet?’ 40th Anniversary tour 1979 – 2019

“One of the finest R and B acts around” – Louder Than War

Three years on from the exploratory record ’13 Shades Of Blue’, Nine Below Zero have returned, bringing with them the Big Band ensemble for their new record ‘Avalanche’, due for release October 4th 2019. The album is followed by a UK tour celebrating the band’s 40th anniversary, which includes Islington Assembly Hall, London on December 7th 2019 (full list below).

‘Avalanche’ features the most expansive Nine Below Zero line up to date, appearing on record for the first time following their unveiling at Glastonbury 2016, with brass arrangements, keys and backing vocals adding a new life to the band’s classic R&B sound. Never content with staying in one place too long, chief songwriter and vocalist/guitarist Dennis Greaves notes it has been a long awaited dream of his to record an album with this ensemble, and the energetic live shows synonymous with Nine Below Zero have been represented in full, as all tracks were written and performed with the Big Band in order to capture the spirit of the concerts. also returns as a lynchpin in the Nine Below Zero sound, providing his unique and virtuosic harmonica playing on all 12 tracks.

Recording ‘Avalanche’ became a test of grit for Dennis. Tasked with orchestrating a much larger group for this album, he had meticulously scheduled recording the instrumentation, only to have 3 musicians depart at the last moment. This left a massive hole in the band and, with only a few weeks until their scheduled studio time with producer Wayne Proctor, Dennis managed to enlist his son, Sonny, for drums, impressive young multi- instrumentalist Tom Monks for keys, and Stone Foundation’s Dave Boraston for trumpet, “When the three guys left, I was really worried” says Dennis. “I had to dig deep. I’d set the whole thing up for them to be involved, and I had to rebuild the band. Funnily enough, through the adversity I think it’s turned out better than I had imagined it would, but it wasn’t until getting into pre-production that I could really relax. And lucky for me, they can all sing!”

Vocalist Charlie Austen, who has fast become a fan favourite at concerts, has been given her moment in the spotlight, providing lead vocals for tracks ‘Ter Wit Wer Woo’ (written with Squeeze’s ) and ‘Recycle Me’. Dennis says his main draw for working with her is, “not only her singing, which is so much smoother than all those belting soul singers, but her song-writing. We have just the right chemistry which wasn’t something had I sought out to begin with and, when she approached us in 2016 at a blues jam I was hosting, I was blown away and knew we would make some great work together.”

Rounding off the ‘Avalanche’ line up of 8 permanent members is music’s most in demand harmonica player (and Nine Below Zero co-founder) Mark Feltham, trusted bass player and collaborator Ben Willis, and new saxophonist Chris Rand. Dennis’ satisfaction with the ‘Avalanche’ line up beams when he comments on working with them, “The chemistry of the whole band really made this record. Having the younger members on it definitely gave it energy, and a female vocalist added colour. Tom Monks reminds me of a young John Mayall, he’s got immense talent. I was initially worried about Sonny, nepotism and all that, but he really bought some great ideas to the table.”

In addition to drawing musical inspiration from their new performing environment, Dennis puts forth his views on the current social/political environment, with the majority of lyrics for the 12 tracks being meditations on subjects ranging from austerity and government, to social media fakery and obsession. Further commentary of a more personal nature can also be heard throughout the record, as Dennis muses on stories that have touched

7 Broadbent Close, Highgate Village, London, N6 5JW t 020 3213 0135  f 020 8348 7776 e [email protected]  www.republicmedia.net @republic_media him, including life with his family, North Carolina’s sordid history of slavery and the tale of a terminally ill 13 year old girl becoming an organ donor.

Since the band’s inception and early successes - including a memorable performance of ‘11+11’ on the very first episode of anarchic comedy hit The Young Ones, high profile tours with and and regular features on The Old Grey Whistle Test and the Southbank Show - Nine Below Zero have gone from strength to strength. Through constant innovation of their music, to explosive live shows, Nine Below Zero have captivated fans across the traditional and contemporary blues scene, whilst staying true to their roots.

“Nine Below Zero are back, re-united and with a big sound”- Blues in Britain

Their current incarnation is the strongest yet, and with the release of ‘Avalanche’ Dennis feels the group enter a new era of excellence, “For the last 6 years, every tour has been different, every line-up has been different. Whether that’s a good thing, I don’t know, but it works for me. I really don’t want to become a tribute version of ourselves. Maybe it’s my nature, where I feel I need to change things… it’s like moving furniture around in the house, but I do it in the band! I always want to keep it fresh.”

Nine Below Zero are: Guitars/vocals: Dennis Greaves Harmonica/vocals: Mark Feltham Drums: Sonny Greaves Bass: Ben Willis Vocals: Charlie Austen Keys: Tom Monks Sax: Chris Rand Trumpet: Dave Boraston

Artwork by Peter Tingey

Produced and mixed by Wayne Proctor

‘Are We There Yet?’ 40th Anniversary tour 1979 – 2019 2019 Tour Dates: October: Saturday 5th Mick Jagger Centre, Dartford Friday 11th Chinnerys, Southend Saturday 12th The Brook, Southampton Friday 18th Arts Club, Liverpool Saturday 19th Gorilla, Manchester Friday 25th The Brewery Arts Centre, Kendal Saturday 26th Old Fire Station, Carlisle November: Friday 1st Booking Hall, Dover Saturday 2nd Rescue Rooms, Nottingham Friday 8th Robin 2, Bilston Saturday 9th Riverside, Newcastle Friday 15th Guild Hall, Gloucester Saturday 16th Concorde 2, Brighton Friday 22nd The Wardrobe, Leeds Saturday 30th Fiddlers, Bristol December: Friday 6th Junction, Cambridge Saturday 7th Islington Assembly Hall, London Friday 13th Arts Centre, Colchester Saturday 14th Roadmender, Northampton

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7 Broadbent Close, Highgate Village, London, N6 5JW t 020 3213 0135  f 020 8348 7776 e [email protected]  www.republicmedia.net @republic_media