The Family Rain

The Family Rain
Live Brooklyn Bowl, London 2015
Background information
Origin	Bath, England
Genres	Alternative rock, indie rock, blues rock
Years active	2011 (2011)–2016, 2019-Present
Labels	Bigger Splash Records (2012) Mercury Records/Virgin EMI (Universal) (2013–2014)
Past members	William Robert Walter Oliver "Ollie" Philip Walter Timothy Michael Walter

The Family Rain are an English blues rock band, formed in Bath in 2011 by brothers William, Ollie and Timothy Walter. The band released three EPs, several singles and debut album “Under The Volcano”,^[1] before splitting up in 2016. The band announced their return in November 2019 via social media.^[2]

History

Before The Family Rain, the three brothers were originally in a Darkness-influenced Rock Pirates, formed in 2004^[3][4][5] with guitarist Tom Johnson,^[6] who were described as an "irony-free Darkness with bare torsos and blond highlights".^[7] The band had "a repertoire of over 10 self-written classics and can also play over 3 hours worth of rock covers".^[8] The band changed their name to Dark Horse when they reached 20 and decided to take the band more seriously^[6] and released their self-titled debut EP in February 2010.^{[9][10][11][12]} The band initially denied all knowledge of Rock Pirates/Dark Horse,^[13] before dismissing their previous incarnation as a "shit covers band" and being formed "when we were learning our instruments".^[14]

In 2011 the three brothers regrouped by themselves to form The Family Rain and released their debut single "Trust Me... I'm a Genius" on Bigger Splash Records in November 2012.^[15] The band then signed to Universal Music Group subsidiary Mercury Records and began work on their debut album with producer Jim Abbiss at Hansa Studios in Berlin.^[16] The band released "Carnival", their first single for Mercury, in March 2013^[17] and followed it up with the Pushing It EP in May 2013^[18] and digital releases "Reason to Die" in July^[19] and "Feel Better (FRANK)" in October 2013.^[20] The band's debut album Under the Volcano is set for release on 3 February 2014.^[21] Following Universal's acquisition of EMI and dissolution of Mercury Records, the band were moved to the label's newly launched Virgin EMI Records.^[22][23] The band also supported Thirty Seconds to Mars at the iTunes Festival in London in September 2013.^[24][25]

The band toured the UK and Europe supporting The Courteeners and Willy Moon throughout March and April 2013^[26] before embarking on their first ever headline tour throughout May and June 2013 in support of the Pushing It EP.^[27] Throughout the summer, the band made appearances at several UK festivals including supporting The Rolling Stones at Hyde Park,^[28] playing the Festival Republic stage at Reading and Leeds festivals^[29][30] and the Alcove stage at Latitude festival.^[31] They also made appearances at festivals throughout Europe, including Sumerwell festival in Buftea, Romania,^[32] Pukkelpop festival in Belgium^[33] and supported Biffy Clyro at Mallorca Rocks and Ibiza Rocks.^[34][35] From September to November, the band supported Miles Kane and Jake Bugg across the UK before embarking on their second headline tour of the UK in November 2013.^[36]

The video for the band's single "Reason to Die", was filmed at the Waterats in London. It was a world first interactive experience created by the Powster agency that allows viewers to manipulate the view of the band's performance via 16 different GoPro cameras as the video plays. The video was nominated for an award in the Interactive Video category at the 2013 UK Music Video Awards, and it won an FWA (Favourite Website Award).^[37][38][39]

Following their departure from the Virgin EMI roster in 2014,^[40] the band self-released their second EP, Hunger Sauce, on 28 July digitally with the aid of the Kobalt Music Group label service AWAL. A limited edition 10" vinyl edition was released exclusively through the band's website on 18 August.^[41][42][43] The band played at The Nest nightclub in Bath on 12 December 2014 under the pseudonym Vulpicides.^[44]

According to the band’s social media accounts, they have so far spent 2015 at Rockfield Studios in Wales, recording their next album with producer Tom Dalgety.^[45][46]

On 18 March 2016, the band released the digital only Every So Often EP via their own Matterhorn Records.^[47][48]

The band broke up in 2016, with the brothers going on to form Voyages who released their debut EP New Year’s Day in February 2018.^[49][50]

Band members

• William Robert Walter – lead vocals, bass guitar
• Oliver "Ollie" Philip Walter – lead guitar, backing vocals
• Timothy Michael Walter – drums, backing vocals^[51]

Discography

Albums

• Under the Volcano (February 2014), Virgin EMI Records/Universal

EPs

• Pushing It (May 2013), Mercury/Universal
• Hunger Sauce (July 2014), AWAL
• Every So Often (March 2016), Matterhorn Records

Singles

• "Trust Me... I'm a Genius" (November 2012), Bigger Splash Records
• "Carnival" (March 2013), Mercury/Universal
• "Reason to Die" (July 2013), Mercury/Universal
• "Feel Better (FRANK)" (October 2013), Mercury/Universal

References

1. "The Family Rain". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
2. @thefamilyrain (22 November 2019). "A storm is coming...The Family Rain are playing: Crofters Rights. Bristol - Friday 6th March the Lexington. London - Tuesday 10th March Bristol tickets here: T.co/RK4RjrvpuV London tickets here: T.co/1MbJkKc43T New music on its way soon, ears to the ground. X…T.co/JLBWSTXKXP"" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 22 November 2019. Retrieved 17 January 2022 – via Twitter.
3. Rick Fulton (9 August 2013). "New indie blues rockers The Family Rain hope to follow in the footsteps of Biffy Clyro". Daily Record. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
4. Mark Beaumont. "The Family Rain – review | Music". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
5. Michael Cragg (21 November 2013). "The Family Rain – Feel Better (FRANK) – FTSE slays it mix: New music | Music". Theguardian.com. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
6. "High voltage: meet Bath's hottest rockers". The Bath Chronicle. 10 February 2010. Archived from the original on 18 July 2013. Retrieved 9 August 2013.
7. "Battle of the Bands Final". Venue Publishing. 11 December 2006. Retrieved 8 August 2013.
8. "Rock Pirates – Free listening, concerts, stats, & pictures at". Last.fm. 26 November 2013. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
9. "Darkhorse: Darkhorse: Amazon.co.uk: MP3 Downloads". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
10. "Classic Rock » The Archive » February 2010 » Page 48 » dark horse". Archive.classicrockmagazine.com. Archived from the original on 18 July 2013. Retrieved 25 November 2013.
11. "Classic Rock » The Archive » February 2010 » Page 48 » dark horse". Archive.is. 18 August 2012. Archived from the original on 18 July 2013. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
12. "New indie blues rockers The Family Rain hope to follow in the footsteps of Biffy Clyro". Daily Record. 9 August 2013. Retrieved 21 August 2013.
13. Polly (22 November 2013). "Polly's Journal: Interviewing The Family Rain". Pollys-journal.blogspot.co.uk. Archived from the original on 6 December 2013. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
14. Michael Anderson (2 December 2013). "'It's kind of always been the plan to get as big as we can': An Interview with The Family Rain | The Edge". Theedgesusu.co.uk. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
15. "The Family Rain – Trust Me…I'M A Genius | Sexbeat". Sexbeatlondon.com. 21 October 2012. Retrieved 4 November 2013.
16. Paul Lester (23 May 2013). "New band of the day (The Family Rain No 1,518) | Music". Theguardian.com. London. Retrieved 4 November 2013.
17. "Independent purveyors of great music, since 1976". Roughtrade.com. Archived from the original on 22 August 2010. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
18. "The Family Rain". 4 March 2016. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016.
19. "Reason To Die: The Family Rain: Amazon.co.uk: MP3 Downloads". Amazon.co.uk. 19 July 2013. Retrieved 25 November 2013.
20. "Feel Better (Frank) by The Family Rain on MP3 and WAV at Juno Download". Junodownload.com. 21 October 2013. Archived from the original on 2 December 2013. Retrieved 25 November 2013.
21. "The Family Rain announce debut album | News". Nme.com. 22 October 2013. Retrieved 25 November 2013.
22. Peter Kandunias (14 November 2013). "Interview: The Family Rain- "We're never trying to chase any sort of scene or fit into any category..."". Fortitude Magazine. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
23. "Universal Music UK launches Virgin EMI Records". EMI Music. 18 March 2013. Archived from the original on 22 December 2013. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
24. "ITUNES FESTIVAL: Thirty Seconds To Mars + The Family Rain | Festivals | Time Out London". Timeout.com. 30 May 2013. Retrieved 29 January 2014.
25. "iTunes – Music – iTunes Festival: London 2013 – EP by The Family Rain". Itunes.apple.com. 11 October 2013. Retrieved 29 January 2014.
26. "The Family Rain Announce New Single 'Carnival' Plus Spring 2013 Tour Dates". Contactmusic.com. 7 February 2013. Retrieved 4 November 2013.
27. "The Family Rain // UK Tour". Rhythm Circus. Archived from the original on 2 December 2013. Retrieved 25 November 2013.
28. "The Family Rain | Barclaycard British Summer Time Hyde Park". BST Hyde Park. 13 July 2013. Archived from the original on 12 December 2013. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
29. "The Family Rain". Reading Festival. 25 August 2013. Archived from the original on 11 December 2013. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
30. "The Family Rain". Leeds Festival. 23 August 2013. Archived from the original on 10 July 2013. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
31. "The Family Rain". Latitude Festival. 21 July 2013. Archived from the original on 11 December 2013. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
32. "Summer Well – 2013". Summerwell.ro. 14 August 2011. Archived from the original on 16 January 2014. Retrieved 29 January 2014.
33. "The Family Rain – Pukkelpop". Pukkelpop.be. Archived from the original on 13 December 2013. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
34. "with Biffy Clyro / The Family Rain". Mallorca Rocks. 23 July 2013. Archived from the original on 13 December 2013. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
35. "with Biffy Clyro / The Family Rain". Ibiza Rocks. 24 July 2013. Archived from the original on 11 December 2013. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
36. "The Family Rain Announce October 2013 Jake Bugg Support". Contactmusic.com. Retrieved 25 November 2013.
37. "UK 2013 Interactive Music Video Award". Inventing Interactive. 8 November 2013. Archived from the original on 2 February 2014. Retrieved 29 January 2014.
38. "FWA winner | Reason To Die – Orbital Video". Thefwa.com. Retrieved 29 January 2014.
39. "The Family Rain – "Reason To Die" – New interactive video!". Rogue Mag. 6 August 2013. Retrieved 29 January 2014.
40. "The Family Rain // Virgin EMI Records". www.virginemirecords.com. Archived from the original on 14 October 2013. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
41. "The Family Rain Announce 'Hunger Sauce' EP". Stereoboard.com. 29 May 2014. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
42. "Download Hunger Sauce by the Family Rain | eMusic". www.emusic.com. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
43. "Hunger Sauce Ltd Edn 10" Vinyl - Merchandise". kontrabandstores.com. Archived from the original on 14 August 2014. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
44. The Family Rain [@thefamilyrain] (27 November 2014). "😜" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
45. "The Family Rain - We're still in the studio working on..." Facebook.com. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
46. "Instagram". www.instagram.com. Archived from the original on 9 March 2016. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
47. The Family Rain [@thefamilyrain] (18 March 2016). "Check out our new video for 'A GIRL IS A GUN' from the 'EVERY SO OFTEN EP' out today 🌴✌️" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
48. "ZYNC Music / The Family Rain "Every So Often EP"". zyncmusic.com. Archived from the original on 5 April 2016. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
49. "Voyages Share Video for 'Godspeed' Taken from their Debut 'New Year's Day' EP | @voyages_music". Themusicsite.com. 14 February 2018. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
50. "Interview | Voyages – Clunk Magazine". clunkmag.com. Archived from the original on 6 March 2018. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
51. "Universal Music Publishing Group | UK". www.umusicpub.co.uk. Archived from the original on 5 July 2015. Retrieved 17 January 2022.

External links

• Official website