One dark night in the dingy upstairs of a London pub, Grundy le Zimbra and Simon Mastrantone conducted an experiment in harmony, handclaps and distortion. By flickering candlelight something melodious and monstrous was created, a handful of spectators the only witnesses to the birth of the beast.

With the echoes of that sinister evening still in the air, the pair stomped and clapped their way around the country, bonding over a love of grunge and ghosts. The pair poured their hearts and limited resources into the Play Dead EP: a collection of four ‘ramshackle tidbits’, wrapped in hand-made sleeves, showcasing their trademark blend of lo-fi experimentalism and pop sensibility. It soon sold out, garnering a wealth of praise and attracting – siren-like – the attentions of the feral Colonel Sexlife. With him, the band metamorphosed. Now a three-piece, The Woe Betides tripled their touring efforts and unleashed an instrument-swapping, energy-soaked mixture of crunch, pop and electronica at whichever haunted house they lighted upon.

In early 2009 The Woe Betides released their limited-edition debut EP Play Dead to critical acclaim, followed by the singles NatWest Tower, Sylvia and This Head, This Heart. Their debut album Never Sleep is out now on Songs in the Dark.

Never Sleep at Amazon
Never Sleep at HMV
Never Sleep on iTunes
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