Pour les fans de Indé et Alternatif, Pays, et Rock.
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The band takes its name from the street in which the members lived and practiced music and after the original formation in Ontario, Arkells soon themselves travelling all over with their indie rock sound. In 2008 they were given their first touring break when Matt Mays & El Torpedo asked the band to support them on their Canadian tour.
By 2010 Arkells had built up a loyal fan base as well as critical acknowledgement by scooping the Juno Award for Best New Artist. The band has released three albums to date, their first was titled 'Jackson Square' and featured three hit singles on the Canadian Indie and Rock charts. 'Oh, The Boss Is Coming!' charted at #4 and #10 respectively.
The second 'Michigan Left' was released in 2011 through Universal Music, it was nominated for Rock Album of the Year at the 2012 Juno Awards. Their latest LP titled 'High Noon' came out in 2014 and debuted at #3 on the Canadian album charts following strong first week sales. It also featured their highest charting single 'Come To Light' which reached #2 on the Indie charts. The band has continued to tour extensively throughout their career, having supported artists such as Augustines, Billy Talent, British Sea Power, Tokyo Police Club and Lydia on various tours across the globe.
Orignally of Comox, British Columbia, and Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, Half Moon Run consists of Devon Portielje on lead vocals, guitar and percussion, Conner Molander on vocals, guitar and keyboard, Dylan Phillips on vocals, drums and keyboard, and Isaac Symonds on vocals, percussion, mandolin, keyboard and guitar.
Before releasing any material Half Moon Run wowed audiences throughout Montreal, Canada with their raw talent and rich textures with select appearances at Salsa Rossa and M for Montreal festival. The band released their full-length debut album “Dark Eyes” on March 27, 2012 which was co-produced by Daniel Lagaće and Mygel Asselin. The album released on Indica Records revealed the band’s talent for melodic and melancholic harmonies in a similar ilk to Fleet Foxes without the hardy folk sound, mixing in alt-pop atmospherics. “Call Me in the Afternoon” was the band’s highest performing single released in 2013 which peaked at No. 19 in the Canadian Alternative chart.
Following the release, the band received international acclaim and toured extensively, joining the worldwide festival circuit playing SXSW festival, Osgeaga festival, Canadian Music Week, Glastonbury Festival 2013. Half Moon Run have also opened for the likes of Of Monsters and Men, Metric, City and Colour and Mumford & Sons, on their worldwide tour and in June 2014 announced a follow-up album.
Taking inspiration from their surroundings, Canadian indie rock five piece began the Arkells journey in 2006. Signing with independent label Dine Alone Records later that year, the band re-released their first EP ‘Deadlines’ in 2008 providing them with enough material to showcase in their hometown of Ontario, which was just the beginning of their relentless touring schedule. In 2008 they released their highly anticipated debut album ‘Jackson Square’ full of energy and soul, featuring the singles ‘Oh, the Boss Is Coming’ and ‘Ballad of Hugo Chavez’ and earned them a Juno Award for ‘New Band of the Year’.
The band secured a support slot for popular Canadian rock band Matt Mays & EL Torpedo tour which opened many doors for them including playing the half time show at their hometown football championship and better still being hand selected by rock super group Them Crooked Vultures, an honour in itself. In 2011, Arkells signed to major label Universal Music Canada and released their second album ‘Michigan Left’ which was nominated for the Juno Award for album of the year.
With their extensive touring schedule and having played with bands such as: The Maine, Billy Talent, The Postelles and Britsh Sea Power has assisted them in accumulating a vast array of fans. Having reached the level of success that they have, the Arkells are very much a band who thrive on the small intimate shows where they can play to their dedicated fan base and sell out secret shows within a matter of minutes. Playing a good mix of old and new tracks, the crowd sing and dance along emphatically as the band play with all their heart and soul apparent in the glow on each of their faces. With keyboard solos and covers thrown in, the band pull out all the stops.
Arkells have an infectious live energy and musical ingenuity which is mesmerising, there’s no doubt that you’ll fall in love with this band within the first ten seconds of them appearing on stage.
Half Moon Run live was a once in a lifetime experience. Devon sounds just as amazing and sultry in person as he does on a studio recording.
One thing you get to see live is how they build the tracks, both within themselves and also throughout the set, from very intricate individual melodies in to beautiful cohesive songs. The band build up this kind of kaleidoscope of sound from the opening, haunting notes, to the final note that seemed to reverberate forever.
Another thing you get to see live is the band's many musical talents, they must switch between instruments half a dozen times during the set and every time they look like they've been playing that instrument their whole lives. Even the drummer manages to play keyboard at the same time, all the while Devon and Issac are crooning, lilting and harmonising in something that sounds like gold dust.