Grand Western

Kirsten France

 vocals

Adam Wolters

bass

Simon Oakes

 guitar

Rob Havis

drums

Jane Watkins

keyboards

Adam and Simon met at a Tortoise gig sometime towards the end of the last century and formed the band Geyser (with Andy Prestige from Cortizone and also Al Murray sharing the drum stool). In 1999 Kirsten France started to guest on vocals for recording (Simon and Kirsten grew up together in Southport). The demos featuring Kirsten quickly secured a publishing deal with Chrysalis and by the end of the year she was  lead vocalist for the band.

With the name now changed to Grand Western, Rob Havis (from cult band Jetboy) joined on drums. At the start of 2000 the band released their first limited edition single, Just Whistle, becoming Mark and Lard's single of the week on Radio One. Meanwhile, Xfm added the B-side, Drive Your Car, to their A-list. 

Writing and recording a new album's worth of material the band also found time during 2000 to recruit a new manager, Steve Lowes from Retaliate First (who also manages Ian Brown), and a keyboard player, Jane Watkins. Jane's first gig was at the Reading Festival in August - a baptism of fire, playing to nearly 1,000 festival-goers on the hottest afternoon of the year. The band also played at the Carling festival in Leeds and the Mersea Island festival (with Dodgy) in late Summer.

In 2000, Grand Western also wrote and performed the music for Al Murray's TV vehicle Time, Gentlemen, Please. They were voted a Top 10 act by NME at In The City in Manchester in late September (reviewed as the 'band most likely to have a massive hit'). Firm favourites of the Barfly Club, Grand Western ended the year with their first live Webcast for Channel Fly, filmed upstairs at the Monarch. 

During 2001 they have toured extensively throughout England and have recently finished recording two singles, Radio Caroline and Complicated, for release this Summer.

Frequently asked questions

[*Reading Festival, August 2000, filmed for Channelfly.com]