- The Storys
Infobox musical artist
Name = The Storys
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Origin =Swansea ,Wales
Genre = Acoustic,Country rock
Years_active = 2003 – present
Label = Korova, Hall Recordings
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URL = [http://www.thestorys.co.uk The Storys Official Website]
Current_members =Steve Balsamo Andy Collins Rob Thompson Brian Thomas Alan Thomas
Past_members = Dai Smith
Notable_instruments =The Storys are a band from
Swansea ,Wales , UK, formed in Spring 2003. Their main influence is 1970s U.S. West Coast bands in the country-rock genre. The lineup isSteve Balsamo - vocals/guitar; Andy Collins – vocals/bass; Dai Smith – vocals/guitar (departed 2008); Rob Thompson – vocals/guitar; Brian Thomas – drums/percussion; Alan Thomas – keys/mandolin/banjo.Chapter One
The group features four singer-songwriters all taking lead vocals on different songs. They count as inspirations such vocal harmony-based bands as
Fleetwood Mac ,The Eagles , Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young andThe Beatles .They recorded their eponymous debut album Storys in an old converted cinema in the Welsh Valleys and decided to put the album out themselves, setting up their own label, Hall Recordings, before signing a record deal with Warner Bros and having their album re-released on Korova in March 2006.
Their first gig was to over seventy thousand people at The Olympic Torch Concert outside
Buckingham Palace , and was soon followed by a support slot with Tom Jones and a series of gigs in venues such as Bush Hall and The Borderline. The band also supportedElton John on two European tours.Chapter Two
Town Beyond The Trees is the second album, released in 2008 on the band's own label, Hall Recordings, after Korova folded in 2007. It was recorded in Spring 2007 at Peter Gabriel's Real World studios near Bath, UK. The album is produced by Jon Kelly (
Beautiful South ,Kate Bush ,Deacon Blue ,Paul McCartney ).It has received favourable reviews from such publications as Maverick Magazine, Uncut Magazine, Classic Rock Magazine, Rock 'n' Reel Magazine etc.
This year the band have supported Santana (Switzerland), Celine Dion (Holland), Sinead O'Connor (Belgium), Runrig (Germany) and Van Morrison (UK) as well as touring the UK in their own right.
Chapter Three
In Spring 2008, Dai Smith went absent due to ill health. Dai was a major contributor in terms of songwriting as well as production duties (on debut album, The Storys).
At the Liberty Stadium gig in Swansea supporting Elton John on 29 June 2008, Dai was missing from the onstage line-up and as a result was replaced with a female vocalist and guitarist, Rosalie Deighton. Dai has not played with the band since May 2008.
The South Wales Evening Post newspaper reported on 16 August 2008:
Dai Smith has quit The Storys after five years with the band, it has been confirmed. The guitarist and vocalist announced his decision just days before the group's gig supporting Van Morrison in London on Saturday.
Dai told the Post: "After a lot of thought, I have decided to leave the band. My reasons are varied, but, basically, I feel it is time to move on and pursue some other adventures in music. I have had a great five years with the band and have fulfilled many dreams and gained some fantastic experiences along the way."
The band - which supported Elton John at his Swansea gig in June, without Dai - will continue as a five-piece.
Lead singer Steve Balsamo said: "It's unfortunate that he has decided to leave the band. We all remain good friends and wish him the best of luck with his future musical endeavours."
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