BWANI JUNCTION to be first band to play on top of the Forth Bridge in Edinburgh
BWANI JUNCTION
“A bit like if The Libs and Vampire Weekend formed a supergroup”
“8/10. By rights they’re a Glastonbury institution in waiting”
NME
“ Afro-beat somersaults, dueling guitar solos and swaggering, tumbling drums… these guys have tunes and they aren’t afraid to use them. Be afraid!”
Artrocker
Innovative and infectious, new band Bwani Junction, become the first band to play on top of the Forth Bridge in Edinburgh on Monday 2 July.
In 1969 The Beatles played on the roof of their record company in London.
In 1987 U2 made another celebrated rooftop appearance in Los Angeles.
In 2012 Bwani Junction will eclipse both with a gig on top of the iconic Forth Bridge.
The Edinburgh based band of four – Rory, Jack, Dan and Fergus will be taking to the top to perform a set ahead of their T in the Park show on 6 July. The bands first single, Two Bridges, off their highly acclaimed album, Fully Cocked, was released on 25 June and has attracted the attention of the industry and fans alike. They will be taking to the top pf the bridge to celebrate the release and recent completion of works on the Bridge.
Jack Fotheringham, drummer, is thrilled about playing on the bridge “it’s been an ambition of ours ever since we wrote our track, Two Bridges, to now finally get a chance to play 100 metres up top of one of Scotland’s most noticeable landmarks and celebrated architectural designs will be an amazing experience and to be the first band to play will make it even more special”.
Craig Bowman, Communications Manager for Network Rail, who own and operate the Forth Bridge, commented: “We’re pleased to be able to support a local band that write and perform songs about their home town by allowing Bwani Junction to become the first band ever to play on the Forth Bridge. We’ve been able to grant one off access following the completion of Forth Bridge restoration works earlier this year, so, following their last video, we’ll keeping a keen eye out to make sure that they don’t start painting it blue”
Fully Cocked is skewed indie, sprinkled with Afro-Scottish influences, already compared to a mix between Vampire Weekend, Big Country and Two Door Cinema Club. Writing hometown tales, they mix local characters with the occasional political comment and anthemic tunes.
Bwani Junction source their sound from an array of genres, including an injection Afro-beat that sets them apart.
“We are inspired by all types of great music,” says Dan Muir, lead-guitarist, “I’ve always been a particularly massive Clash fan. I grew up with the Bhundu Boys, literally, my Dad was their manager. They taught me guitar – that may just have influenced me a little bit too.”
A fantastic live band, they own every venue they play. Having headlined the BBC Introducing stage at T in the Park last year, recorded a session for Huw Stephens and supported The Vaccines and Little Comets, they are now slated for a raft of festivals. This summer finds them playing sets at Latitude, The Great Escape, Jersey Live, Isle of Wight and T in the Park, among others.
Frontman, Rory Fairweather, “Playing live is the whole point of being in a band. If you can pull it off on stage without the studio trickery that’s the mark of a good band….also, there’s no easier way to get laid.”
Bwani Junction have attracted support from BBC Radio 1 (including Chris Moyles show), BBC 6Music, Five Live, NME, Artrocker Magazine, The Sun, Record Of The Day, among many others. Two Bridges is the lead track from the EP.
An addictive, dazzling debut album, electrifying live shows and a band with a voice, Bwani Junction are the soundtrack to the summer – and beyond.
