Los Campesinos!

Infobox musical artist
Name = Los Campesinos!

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Img_capt = (l-r) Ellen, Gareth, Neil and Tom performing.
Img_size =
Landscape =
Background = group_or_band
Alias =
Origin = Cardiff, Wales
Genre = Indie pop Indie rock
Years_active = 2006 – present
Label = Wichita
Arts & Crafts
Associated_acts =
URL = http://www.loscampesinos.com
Current_members = Aleksandra Campesinos!
Ellen Campesinos!
Gareth Campesinos!
Harriet Campesinos!
Neil Campesinos!
Ollie Campesinos!
Tom Campesinos!
Past_members =

Los Campesinos! are a seven piece indie pop band from Cardiff, Wales that formed in early 2006 at Cardiff University. "Los Campesinos" roughly translates as "The Farmers" (or "The Peasants") in Spanish. They released their debut album, Hold on Now, Youngster..., in February 2008 and have recently announced a second album, entitled 'We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed' and a major UK tour in October 2008, to coincide with the release of the new album on October 27th.

Formation and signing to Wichita: 2006

The group came together at Cardiff University in 2006, originally consisting of Neil on guitar, Ellen on bass guitar, and Ollie on drums. In March 2006, Tom joined the band, assuming the role of lead guitarist and songwriter, later followed by Gareth on vocals and glockenspiel, Harriet on violin and keyboard, and finally Aleksandra on vocals, keyboards, and melody horn.

The band performed their first gig on 8 May 2006 at a student union club night; they went on to play a number of increasingly well-received gigs around Cardiff. An early demo was recorded featuring the songs "Death To Los Campesinos!", "It Started With A Mixx", "Sweet Dreams Sweet Cheeks", and live favourite "You! Me! Dancing!". The songs were posted on the internet, bolstering the popularity established by their energetic live shows and earning them airplay on Beth & Huw's evening show on BBC Radio 1 Wales. The band's reputation continued to grow, and in August 2006 landed them a slot supporting Canadian supergroup Broken Social Scene.

Debut singles and "Sticking Fingers Into Sockets": 2007

In November 2006, the band were signed by Wichita Recordings, who put out their first single on 26 February 2007, a double A-side featuring new songs "We Throw Parties, You Throw Knives" and "Don't Tell Me To Do The Math(s)". In April the band signed to Canadian label Arts & Crafts for Canadian and North American releases. In June 2007 the band released "You! Me! Dancing!" on limited edition 7" coloured vinyl, accompanied by a handful of dates playing Bath, Newport, Cardiff and London. Both singles (produced by Broken Social Scene collaborator Dave Newfeld) were compiled for North American release as "Sticking Fingers Into Sockets", which was released on 3 July on Arts & Crafts. The band embarked on their first full UK tour in October, preceded by the "The International Tweexcore Underground" single (released October 15 2007).

"Hold On Now, Youngster..." and "We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed": 2008

Their debut album, titled "Hold on Now, Youngster..." was released in the UK on February 25, 2008 and in the US on April 1, 2008. [ [http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/news/47653-los-campesinos-reveal-album-tracklist-release-date Pitchfork: Los Campesinos! Reveal Album Tracklist, Release Date ] ] They have also embarked on a European and North American tour in support of their debut album. The NME have rated the album 6/10, praising its musicality but criticising its cohesiveness as an album, but other sources, such as Pitchfork Media and Drowned in Sound, have lauded it. They made their TV debut on Tubridy Tonight on February 9, 2008.

On August 1, 2008, the band announced that a second album entitled "We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed" would be released before the end of the year. The band explained: "This is no post-album cash in. It's no B-Sides and rarities or 'songs that weren't good enough to be on the album cobbled together with some remixes and field recordings of Cardiff's indie scene'; it's ten all-new tracks that none of you have ever heard before." [cite web
publisher=Strange Glue
title=Los Campesinos Are Doomed
date=2008-08-01
accessdate = 2008-08-01
url = http://www.strangeglue.com/news/los-campesinos-are-doomed/2437]

The band also announced tour dates of the U.K for October 2008 with support from No Age and Times New Viking.

Discography

Albums

February 2008: "Hold on Now, Youngster..."

October 2008: "We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed"

EPs

2007: "Sticking Fingers into Sockets"

Demos

2006: "Hold on Now, Youngster"

ingles

References

External links

* [http://www.loscampesinos.com Official Website]
* [http://www.myspace.com/loscampesinos Official MySpace page]
*Last.fm
* [http://www.wichita-recordings.com/artist.php/loscampesinos/ Los Campesinos! on Wichita Recordings]
* [http://www.arts-crafts.ca/releases_spotlight.php?search=AC025 Los Campesinos! on Arts & Crafts]
* [http://www.musicomh.com/interviews/los-campesinos_0408.htm Los Campesinos! interview with musicOMH.com]