Band Info
The wRants is a young, gifted band with a passion for contemporary folk-rock music, the wRants are quickly building up an impressive fan-base throughout Oxfordshire and neighbouring counties. Such is their increasing popularity, it could well be that nationwide fame is just around the corner for these ten highly accomplished musicians, ranging in age from 15 to 18.
In Summer 2005, five of the founder group members left the Warriner School in Bloxham and formed the wRants - with a silent 'w' to signify their roots. As tender-aged school leavers it would be easy to assume that they're just another school band, but don't be deceived by their relative youth...
Already this semi-professional outfit has played at the Oxford and Banbury Folk Festivals Including 'Fairports Cropresy Convention' And the nationally acclaimed Cornbury Music Festival. Show director Hugh Philmore said he 'loved the band's vibe' and invited them to appear at the festival alongside a truly impressive roll-call of musical talent, including the legendary Joe Cocker, Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel and Elvis Costello, plus latter-day stars Amy Winehouse and Lucy Silvas. This undoubtable accolade to the North Oxfordshire band's musicianship, enthusiasm and commitment to their craft has sealed the wRants' reputation for excellence.
Using an array of traditional and contemporary instruments - ranging from a washboard and bodhran to electric guitar and a full drum kit – the wRants also employ a distinctive vocal style, featuring three singers and some beautiful harmony-led arrangements. The band acknowledges Fairport Convention as a strong influence and inspiration, with similar local roots at the heart of the UK's established folk scene.
wRants: Sustaining Banbury's rich heritage of folk music
Banbury is an established centre of excellence for contemporary English folk music. The village of Cropredy hosts the annual Fairport Cropredy Convention festival and members of Fairport Convention - one of the UK's best known and longest established folk rock bands - live in the area. Banbury also has a thriving Folk Club, based at the Mill Arts Centre and hosts the annual Banbury Folk Festival. These and other aspects of Banbury's live music scene influence the style of music that the wRants play and their determination to sustain Banbury's prominence in the folk music world.
Member |
Tools |
Anna |
Vox |
History
wRants has its origins at the Warriner School, Bloxham where in the Autumn 2002, former music teacher Kate Fletcher encouraged the band to improvise around some of the traditional folk songs she had introduced to them. Their first public performance as the Warriner Folk Rock Band was in February 2003 at the Art T Centre in Oxford. Since then they have performed at a wide range of events - from charity fund raising, school tours abroad, farmer's market, folk club and local arts events to pubs and professional music festivals.In the Summer, 2005 five of the founder group members left the Warriner and formed the wRants - with a silent 'w' to signify their roots.
Click here to view a slideshow from the bands past.