Ward Thomas (band)
Ward Thomas |
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Ward Thomas are a British modern country music duo, composed of 22 year old twin sisters Catherine and Lizzy Ward Thomas (both born 8 December 1993) from Hampshire.[1] The band has been called "Britain's first country stars". Along with The Shires, they are producing modern country music with a British twist in a genre dominated by American singers and bands.[2] Fellow country singer, Crissie Rhodes of The Shires, describes their music as written "from a British perspective. While people have been able to appreciate the American sound, they can connect with the themes of British lyrics."[3]
Early life
Catherine and Lizzy grew up on a farm in rural Hampshire and started composing songs together when they attended Hurtwood House, a sixth form college in Surrey, England and were introduced to Matt Greaves, with whom - alongside session singer and fellow teacher at the school Ann Bailey.
Career
2014–15: From Where We Stand
They wrote the songs for their debut album From Where We Stand, which was released on 20 July 2014. It peaked at number 41 on the UK Albums Chart, number 1 on the UK Country Chart, number 7 on the UK Indie Chart and number 36 in Scotland. The album won UK Album of the Year at the British Country Music Awards and sold over 25,000 copies.[1] They have toured the UK multiple times, with shows at venues including Islington Assembly Hall and The New Adelphi Club in Hull, East Yorkshire.[4] In 2014, they performed on the BBC Introducing stage at the BBC Radio 2 Live in Hyde Park festival,[5] returning to the festival in 2015 to perform on the main stage alongside The Shires; a performance which was broadcast live on BBC Radio 2.[6]
2016–present: Cartwheels
In June 2016, Ward Thomas announced a joint venture with Sony Music and that their second album, Cartwheels, would be released in September 2016.[7] Lead single "Carry You Home", described by The Times as "chirpy country pop" was released in June, followed by second single "Guilty Flowers", both being added to the Radio 2 playlist. A 16-date UK tour will follow the album release from October 2016. Cartwheels reached number 1 in the UK Albums Chart, making Ward Thomas the first UK country act to top the charts and officially making them the most successful UK country act.[citation needed]
Discography
Albums
| Title | Details | Peak chart positions | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK [8] |
UK Country [9] |
UK Indie [10] |
SCO [11] | ||||||||||||||||
| From Where We Stand |
|
41 | 1 | 7 | 36 | ||||||||||||||
| Cartwheels |
|
1 | 1 | — | 1 | ||||||||||||||
| "—" denotes an album that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | |||||||||||||||||||
Singles
| Year | Title | Peak chart positions | Album | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SCO [12] | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2014 | "Push for the Stride" | — | From Where We Stand | ||||||||||||||||
| "The Good & the Right" | — | ||||||||||||||||||
| "Town Called Ugley" | — | ||||||||||||||||||
| "Guest List" | — | ||||||||||||||||||
| 2016 | "Carry You Home" | 59 | Cartwheels | ||||||||||||||||
| "Guilty Flowers" | 88 | ||||||||||||||||||
| "—" denotes a single that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | |||||||||||||||||||
References
- ^ a b Wilson, Simon (2015-02-04). "Country music stars Ward Thomas head for the Rescue Rooms". Nottingham Post. Retrieved 2016-02-19.
- ^ "Ward Thomas export style from our country to USA". The Northern Echo. 2014-11-19. Retrieved 2016-02-19.
- ^ "'DOLLY AT GLASTONBURY WAS JUST HUGE.' CRISSIE RHODES TALKS TO SO SO GAY". Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 6 March 2015.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ "Under The Influence presents Ward Thomas". Facebook. Retrieved 2016-02-19.
- ^ "Ward Thomas - Push For the Stride at Radio 2 Live in Hyde Park 2014". 2014-09-15. Retrieved 2016-06-12.
- ^ "The Shires & Ward Thomas - Everywhere (Radio 2 Live in Hyde Park 2015)". 2015-09-13. Retrieved 2016-06-12.
- ^ "Ward Thomas on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved 2016-06-12.
- ^ "Ward Thomas". Officialcharts.com/. Official Charts Company.
- ^ Peak positions for albums on the UK Country Chart:
- For From Where We Stand: "Chart Archive > 27 July 2014 - 02 August 2014". Officialcharts.com/. Official Charts Company.
- For Cartwheels: "Chart Archive > 9 September 2016 - 15 September 2016". Officialcharts.com/. Official Charts Company.
- ^ Peak positions for albums on the UK Indie Chart:
- For From Where We Stand: "Chart Archive > 27 July 2014 - 02 August 2014". Officialcharts.com/. Official Charts Company.
- ^ Peak positions for albums in Scotland:
- For From Where We Stand: "Chart Archive > 27 July 2014 - 02 August 2014". Officialcharts.com/. Official Charts Company.
- For Cartwheels: "Chart Archive > 9 September 2016 - 15 September 2016". Officialcharts.com/. Official Charts Company.
- ^ Peak positions for singles in Scotland:
- For "Carry You Home": "Chart Archive > 9 September 2016 - 15 September 2016". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
- For "Guilty Flowers": "Chart Archive > 16 September 2016 - 22 September 2016". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 17 September 2016.
External links
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