Thrill Collins
Encyclopedia
Thrill Collins are a British
acoustic
trio
, that specialise in 1980s and 1990s cover version
s and are part of the nu-skiffle movement and of the larger Cheltenham
folk music
scene. The band played their debut gig before their first rehearsal, stepping in at the last minute to fill an empty slot at a local event.
The band are most noted for their application of the skiffle
genre to modern music. Taking inspiration from the DIY ethics of the movement and artists such as Lonnie Donegan
, The Vipers
and The Quarrymen
, the band have sought to replicate the style and humour that is closely associated with the genre. Using the trio set-up of guitar
, upright bass the band substituted the traditional washboard
percussion for the Peruvian cajon
.
After a hard-working 2010, the band landed an international publishing deal with A&G Sync.
and Cancer Research UK
. They also take no profit from the sale of CDs at events, choosing instead to donate proceeds to charity. This year they will be releasing a cover of Cyndi Lauper
's "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" to raise money for CRUK's annual Race For Life events.
, Eden Festival and 2000 Trees. July 2010 saw them embark on a European tour which took them through some of Europe's capital cities including Paris, Milan, Berlin, Amsterdam, Prague and Budapest along with other dates in Chamonix, Limoges and Hannover. Their North-East US tour in November saw the band perform in Boston, New York and Connecticut. In the past they have enjoyed support slots with artists such as The Wurzels
, Zero 7
, Hey Negrita
, Blackberry Wood
, as well as sharing an after-party show bill with Frank Turner
, and being selected to play the opening night of the Cheltenham Jazz Festival
alongside Joe Stilgoe and Imelda May
.
Introducing program, BBC Points West
and BBC Midlands Today and usually insist on playing live for most appearances. The band recently released their video for "Black or White", a cover of Michael Jackson
's hit single
.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
acoustic
Acoustic music
Acoustic music comprises music that solely or primarily uses instruments which produce sound through entirely acoustic means, as opposed to electric or electronic means...
trio
Trio (music)
Trio is generally used in any of the following ways:* A group of three musicians playing the same or different musical instrument.* The performance of a piece of music by three people.* The contrasting section of a piece in ternary form...
, that specialise in 1980s and 1990s cover version
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
s and are part of the nu-skiffle movement and of the larger Cheltenham
Cheltenham
Cheltenham , also known as Cheltenham Spa, is a large spa town and borough in Gloucestershire, on the edge of the Cotswolds in the South-West region of England. It is the home of the flagship race of British steeplechase horse racing, the Gold Cup, the main event of the Cheltenham Festival held...
folk music
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
scene. The band played their debut gig before their first rehearsal, stepping in at the last minute to fill an empty slot at a local event.
The band are most noted for their application of the skiffle
Skiffle
Skiffle is a type of popular music with jazz, blues, folk, roots and country influences, usually using homemade or improvised instruments. Originating as a term in the United States in the first half of the twentieth century, it became popular again in the UK in the 1950s, where it was mainly...
genre to modern music. Taking inspiration from the DIY ethics of the movement and artists such as Lonnie Donegan
Lonnie Donegan
Anthony James "Lonnie" Donegan MBE was a skiffle musician, with more than 20 UK Top 30 hits to his name. He is known as the "King of Skiffle" and is often cited as a large influence on the generation of British musicians who became famous in the 1960s...
, The Vipers
The Vipers
The Vipers were an Irish new wave group of the late 1970s. An incendiary live act fronted by Paul Boyle and virtuoso guitarist George Sweeney, they built up a loyal following in their home country and toured with the likes of The Clash and The Jam....
and The Quarrymen
The Quarrymen
The Quarrymen are a British skiffle and rock and roll group, initially formed in Liverpool in 1956, that eventually evolved into The Beatles in 1960...
, the band have sought to replicate the style and humour that is closely associated with the genre. Using the trio set-up of guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, upright bass the band substituted the traditional washboard
Washboard
A washboard is a tool designed for hand washing clothing. With mechanized cleaning of clothing becoming more common by the end of the 20th century, the washboard has become better known for its originally subsidiary use as a musical instrument....
percussion for the Peruvian cajon
Cajón
A cajón is a box-shaped percussion instrument originally from Peru, played by slapping the front face with the hands.-Origins and evolution:...
.
After a hard-working 2010, the band landed an international publishing deal with A&G Sync.
Charity work
Thrill Collins have played a number of charity events including national organisations such as OxfamOxfam
Oxfam is an international confederation of 15 organizations working in 98 countries worldwide to find lasting solutions to poverty and related injustice around the world. In all Oxfam’s actions, the ultimate goal is to enable people to exercise their rights and manage their own lives...
and Cancer Research UK
Cancer Research UK
Cancer Research UK is a cancer research and awareness charity in the United Kingdom, formed on 4 February 2002 by the merger of The Cancer Research Campaign and the Imperial Cancer Research Fund. Its aim is to reduce the number of deaths from cancer. As the world's largest independent cancer...
. They also take no profit from the sale of CDs at events, choosing instead to donate proceeds to charity. This year they will be releasing a cover of Cyndi Lauper
Cyndi Lauper
Cynthia Ann Stephanie "Cyndi" Lauper is an American singer, songwriter, actress and LGBT rights activist. She achieved success in the mid-1980s with the release of the album She's So Unusual and became the first female singer to have four top-five singles released from one album...
's "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" to raise money for CRUK's annual Race For Life events.
Notable appearances
In 2010, Thrill Collins played numerous festivals across the UK, including a headline slot on the acoustic stage at Wychwood FestivalWychwood Festival
The Wychwood Festival is an annual music festival held at Cheltenham racecourse in Gloucestershire, UK, the weekend after the late May Bank Holiday...
, Eden Festival and 2000 Trees. July 2010 saw them embark on a European tour which took them through some of Europe's capital cities including Paris, Milan, Berlin, Amsterdam, Prague and Budapest along with other dates in Chamonix, Limoges and Hannover. Their North-East US tour in November saw the band perform in Boston, New York and Connecticut. In the past they have enjoyed support slots with artists such as The Wurzels
The Wurzels
The Wurzels are a British Scrumpy and Western band...
, Zero 7
Zero 7
Zero 7 is a British musical duo consisting of Henry Binns and Sam Hardaker. The group members began their musical careers as studio engineers and in 1997 formed the group Zero 7. Their debut album, Simple Things was released in 2001 and received critical acclaim...
, Hey Negrita
Hey Negrita
Hey Negrita is an English country blues band formed in London in 2002. They were named after the Rolling Stones song "Hey Negrita", from the band's 1976 album Black and Blue....
, Blackberry Wood
Blackberry Wood
Blackberry Wood is a musical group based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It consists of guitar, vocals, stand-up bass, drum-kit, percussion, and horn section. Depending on the event and their line-up, they will also perform with accordion and fiddle....
, as well as sharing an after-party show bill with Frank Turner
Frank Turner
Frank Turner is an English folk/punk singer-songwriter from Meonstoke, Winchester. Initially the vocalist of post-hardcore band Million Dead, Turner embarked upon a primarily acoustic-based solo career following the band's split in 2005. To date, Turner has released four solo albums, two rarities...
, and being selected to play the opening night of the Cheltenham Jazz Festival
Cheltenham Jazz Festival
Cheltenham Jazz Festival is one of the UK’s leading jazz festivals, and is part of Cheltenham Festivals: also responsible for the Science, Music and Literature Festivals that run every year.]-Introduction and history:...
alongside Joe Stilgoe and Imelda May
Imelda May
Imelda Mary Higham, Clabby , known as Imelda May, is an Irish vocalist and musician. She began her career in music at 15 and released her debut album in 2005. She also plays the bodhrán and guitar...
.
Television and radio
The band have appeared numerous times on local radio and television programming, including the BBC Radio GloucestershireBBC Radio Gloucestershire
BBC Radio Gloucestershire is the BBC Local Radio service for the English county of Gloucestershire, which started on 3 October 1988. It broadcasts from its studios in London Rd, Gloucester on 95 , 95.8 , 104.7 FM, 1413 in the Cotswolds & Forest of Dean AM and over the internet.-Transmitters:The...
Introducing program, BBC Points West
BBC Points West
BBC Points West is the BBC's regional news programme for the West of England, covering Bristol, Gloucestershire, Somerset and Wiltshire...
and BBC Midlands Today and usually insist on playing live for most appearances. The band recently released their video for "Black or White", a cover of Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
's hit single
Hit single
A hit single is a recorded song or instrumental released as a single that has become very popular. Although it is sometimes used to describe any widely-played or big-selling song, the term "hit" is usually reserved for a single that has appeared in an official music chart through repeated radio...
.