Former Lead Guitarist of Catfish and the Bottlemen, Announces Winter Tour 2016 with New Band: Billy Bibby & The Wry Smiles. Debut EP to Release in February 2016.
Billy Bibby, former lead guitarist and co-founder of the Llandudno, Wales working-class quartet, Catfish and the Bottlemen, entered the British music scene in 2007, at the age of 17. From humble beginnings, Catfish and the Bottlemen relentlessly gigged their way across the UK and abroad, building a loyal fan base, selling out increasingly larger venues, and ultimately securing a recording deal in 2014 that would lead to the release of a top 10 debut album certified gold in the UK.
Bibby and the band then ushered out 2015 by playing three very well-received UK shows at Telford’s Warehouse in Chester, The Drawing Room in Barrow-in-Furness, and Milo Bar in Leeds.
Recently christened Billy Bibby & The Wry Smiles, the four-piece band are poised to play a series of about 20 tour dates throughout the UK from January-March 2016.
Billy Bibby & The Wry Smiles are:
Billy Bibby, age 25 – lead vocals, guitar
Rob Jones, 21 – lead guitar, backing vocals
Matt Thomas, 21 – bass, backing vocals
Mike Pearce, 21 – drums
According to Justine Whitehead of JustMusic Bookings, “We had an overwhelming response from promoters as soon as we announced we were booking Billy Bibby’s debut band tour. The response isn’t surprising given Billy’s excellent songwriting talent, and of course his prior contributions to Catfish and the Bottlemen. Billy Bibby is going to go far and this is going to be a tour not to be missed!”
The Winter Tour 2016 coincides with the release of Billy Bibby & The Wry Smiles’ debut EP in February 2016. The show in Manchester at Night & Day Café will serve to launch this new record, celebrating the culmination of an 18-month process of stepping back, taking stock, and starting afresh.
Night & Day Café Promoter Gareth Butterworth expresses, “It will be great to see Billy return to the venue with his new project. We’re excited to be part of his UK tour and very much looking forward to the show.”
Speaking openly, with his characteristic frankness, Billy Bibby elaborates, “The three gigs before Christmas were the perfect way to end the year. The year was all about getting to that point and finally looking over my shoulder and seeing a band behind me playing songs I’ve written, and be like ‘Fuck me, these guys are good!’ Playing Chester, Leeds, and Barrow made me feel that, and I wasn’t sure if I’d get that feeling ever again with a band. Well I did… I just didn’t know when that’d happen. It’s here. It happened. The EP is gunna blow your mind and I’m more excited for this tour than any other I’ve ever done before.“
BILLY BIBBY & THE WRY SMILES WINTER TOUR 2015 DATES
Additional dates may be added. Please check Billy Bibby’s Facebook page for updates.
JANUARY
15 Bradford | Glyde House
28 London | 229 The Venue
30 Talgarth | Tabernacle (acoustic)
FEBRUARY
04 Winsford | De Bees
05 Manchester | Night & Day Café
06 Stoke | The Underground
11 Liverpool | Studio 2
12 Edinburgh | Sneaky Pete’s
13 Inverness | Ironworks
18 London | The Garage
19 Doncaster | The Leopard
20 Preston | The Ferret
24 Brighton | The Prince Albert
26 Stroud | The Prince Albert
27 Exeter | The Cavern
MARCH
17 Crewe | The Box
18 Chester | The Live Rooms
20 Leeds | Milo Bar
26 Gravesend | Middle Eight (acoustic)
MORE INFORMATION