Big Strides

Big Strides
Background information
Origin	London, England
Genres	Indie Blues-rock Funk rock
Years active	2003–present
Labels	Tall Order Records EMI (Japan) India/Rough Trade (Germany)
Associated acts	Marcus O'Neill
Website	Official website
Members	Lewis Kirk Marcus O'Neill Chris Kelly
Past members	Tom Pi

Big Strides is a London-based 3-piece band that plays an original mix of blues, rock, jazz and funk. With an original lineup consisting of Marcus O'Neill (vocals, guitar, harmonica), Lewis Kirk (drums) and Tom Pi (double bass), Chris Kelly replaced Tom Pi as double bassist in 2006.

Their first album Small Town, Big Strides was released in 2005 on their own label, Tall Order Records. The first single "Suicidal" notched up 300,000 downloads in the US and prompted Jonathan Ross on BBC Radio 2 to comment "I can't decide if I love it or if it upsets me".

After regular appearances at Ronnie Scott's, tours of the UK and performances at Glastonbury, they first went to Japan in 2006 to play at Summer Sonic, following a sudden rush of import album sales. Their second album "Cry It All Out" was picked up for release in Japan (EMI) and Germany (India/ Rough Trade).

The breadth and variety of Big Strides' influences has seen them support a wide range of artists including Roy Ayers, Horace Andy, Damien Rice, Bloc Party and Arctic Monkeys.^[1]

Discography

Albums

Album information
Small Town, Big Strides Released: 6 June 2005 (UK) 4 April 2007 (Japan) Produced by Dan Swift Singles: "Suicidal", "I Do Not Fear Jazz"
Cry It All Out Released: 25 September 2006 (UK) 4 October 2006 (Japan) Produced by Dan Swift Singles: "Let's Get Nice", "Smiling", "Always Together", "Whisky"
Super Custom Limited Released: 17 November 2008 (UK) Produced by Dan Swift Singles: "Hen Night Limousine (Digital Only)",

Singles

Single information
Suicidal Released: Radiotone 29 November 2004 (UK) Other Tracks: "Carfire", "Back To The Lemon"
I Do Not Fear Jazz Released: Tall Order Records 19 September 2005 (UK) Other Tracks: "Cookies — Donald's Theme ", "Better (Live At Shepherds Bush Empire)", "Bob Weissfeldner's Album Trailer "
Let's Get Nice Released: Tall Order Records 27 March 2006 (UK) Other Tracks: "Brudenell Groove", "Sad Songs"
Smiling (Big Strides song)|Smiling Released: Tall Order Records 11 September 2006 (UK) Other Tracks: "Seeya Then", "1000 Sleeps"
Always Together Released: Tall Order Records 26 February 2007 (UK) Other Tracks: "What's Wrong With Lucy", "Soundcheck Bitch"
She Drinks Whisky Released: Tall Order Records 9 July 2007 (UK) Other Tracks: "Winter Sunlight", "Sour Cream"
Hen Night Limousine Released: Tall Order Records 17 November 2008 (UK)

References