La Rocca is an Irish rock band, formed in Dublin, Ireland

Republic of Ireland

Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...

 in 2000.

The band formed when college friends Nick Haworth and Alan Redmond met Bjorn Baillie in Cardiff

Cardiff

Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...

, they were later joined by Bjorn’s older brother Simon. Three of the four members of La Rocca Bjorn Baillie, his brother, bassist Simon Baillie, and drummer Alan Redmond, hail from small towns near Dublin, Ireland. Keyboardist Nick Haworth, is from Lancashire

Lancashire

Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...

, England.

The band is named after a dive bar

Dive bar

A dive bar is a type of bar or pub. Dive bars generally have a relaxed and informal atmosphere—they are often referred to by local residents as "neighborhood bars," where people in the neighborhood gather to drink and socialize...

 in the city of Bristol

Bristol

Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...

 where the group played an early gig. After a few independent single releases in the early 2000's, in 2003, La Rocca released a self-titled EP on the tiny Irish indie Wet Clay, bringing them to the attention of both the Los Angeles

Los Ángeles

Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...

-based indie label Dangerbird Records

Dangerbird Records

Dangerbird Records is an independent record label located in Los Angeles, California. Founded by Jeff Castelaz and Peter Walker in 2004, the label is home to artists across the globe, as well as part of the burgeoning Silver Lake music scene. Their small roster of artists has enjoyed international...

, which signed them in 2004, and producer Tony Hoffer

Tony Hoffer

Tony Hoffer is an American producer, guitarist, and music mixer who is credited for his work on multiple platinum-selling albums including The Kooks, The Thrills, Beck, Supergrass, Turin Brakes and Air...

 (Beck

Beck

Beck Hansen is an American musician, singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, known by the stage name Beck...

, Belle & Sebastian

Belle & Sebastian

Belle and Sebastian are an indie pop band formed in Glasgow in January 1996. Belle and Sebastian are often compared with influential indie bands such as The Smiths, as well as classic acts such as Love, Bob Dylan and Nick Drake. The name Belle & Sebastian comes from Belle et Sébastien, a 1965...

, etc.), whose interest in the group helped persuade them to leave Ireland and move to Los Angeles.

They recorded their debut record with Hoffer in the early months of 2006, finally releasing The Truth in August of the same year.
The band have had numerous successes to date, touring internationally with French band Phoenix

Phoenix (band)

Phoenix is a Grammy Award winning French indie rock band from Versailles, founded by Thomas Mars, Deck d'Arcy, Christian Mazzalai and Laurent Brancowitz.-Formation and early years:...

, as well as numerous TV outings on One Tree Hill

One Tree Hill (TV series)

One Tree Hill is an American television drama created by Mark Schwahn, which premiered on September 23, 2003, on The WB Television Network. After its third season, The WB merged with UPN to form The CW Television Network, and, since September 27, 2006, the network has been the official broadcaster...

.

The band's second full-length record, OK Okay, was released September 30, 2008. The songs "Half Speed" and "Paris" have already been featured in the fifth season of One Tree Hill. The song 'Sketches (Twenty Something Life)" was featured in the EA Sports

EA Sports

EA Sports is a brand of Electronic Arts that creates and develops sports video games. Formerly a marketing gimmick of Electronic Arts, in which they tried to mimic real-life sports networks by calling themselves "EA Sports Network" with pictures or endorsements of real commentators such as John...

 game FIFA 2008.

Discography

• Dependence Theme/Waiting In The Wings (Single) (2000)
• 1902 (Single) (2002)
• Sing Song Sung EP (2006)
• The Truth (2006)
• OK Okay (2008)