Willkommen Collective
Encyclopedia
The Willkommen Collective is a Brighton based community of musicians, promoters and artists. The collective includes the bands Sons of Noel and Adrian
, The Leisure Society
, The Climbers
, The Miserable Rich
, Shoreline and many more. They also run a record label, Willkommen Records, and put on monthly gigs in Brighton
, England
.
The bands share many members and often work collectively. In May 2009, the Willkommen Collective ran three shows as part of a residency at the Brighton Festival. In June, July and August 2009 the collective ran a series of special shows dubbed the "Willkommen takeover..." series including a special event at the Union Chapel
, Stanmer House
and De La Warr Pavilion. The Stanmer House
show has become an annual festival known as Foxtrot and featured Laura Marling
and Anna Calvi
in 2010 and Herman Dune
and Sam Amidon
in 2011.
In February 2010 the Collective performed en masse as "The Willkommen Orchestra" at King's Place, London and Brighton Unitarian Church. The set included selections from the repertoire of The Miserable Rich
, Shoreline, Sons of Noel and Adrian
and the new 'studio supergroup' The Climbers
. In the past they have performed showcases at End Of The Road Festival
, The Big Chill
, Brighton Festival
and The Great Escape. In 2010 the Collective took five bands to Positivus festival in Latvia and seven bands to The Big Chill in the UK.
Sons of Noel and Adrian
Sons of Noel and Adrian is a twelve piece experimental folk band based in Brighton, England. It features Nick Hemming from The Leisure Society, Mike Siddell from Hope of the States and Lightspeed Champion, Will Calderbank from The Miserable Rich and many other musicians from the Willkommen...
, The Leisure Society
The Leisure Society
The Leisure Society is a band formed by Nick Hemming, formerly of early 1990s indie band She Talks To Angels which included actor Paddy Considine, film director Shane Meadows and bassist Richard Eaton. Hemming wrote and performed music for the films A Room for Romeo Brass and Dead Man's Shoes...
, The Climbers
The Climbers
The Climbers is a band formed by Nick Hemming and Christian Hardy of The Leisure Society with their childhood friend, Tim West. West actually introduced Hemming and Hardy to one another and for a period the three lived together in South London....
, The Miserable Rich
The Miserable Rich
The Miserable Rich are a chamber pop band, formed in 2007 and based in Brighton, England. The band is known for its distinctive, chamber orchestra sound, created using cello and violin as the primary lead instruments, augmented by double bass, acoustic guitar and occasionally piano...
, Shoreline and many more. They also run a record label, Willkommen Records, and put on monthly gigs in Brighton
Brighton
Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
The bands share many members and often work collectively. In May 2009, the Willkommen Collective ran three shows as part of a residency at the Brighton Festival. In June, July and August 2009 the collective ran a series of special shows dubbed the "Willkommen takeover..." series including a special event at the Union Chapel
Union Chapel, Brighton
The Union Chapel, also known as the Union Street Chapel, Elim Free Church, Four Square Gospel Tabernacle or Elim Tabernacle of the Four Square Gospel, is a former chapel in the centre of Brighton, a constituent part of the city of Brighton and Hove, England...
, Stanmer House
Stanmer House
Stanmer House is a Grade I listed mansion west of the village of Falmer and north-east of the city of Brighton and Hove.It stands very close to Stanmer village and Church, within the Stanmer Park...
and De La Warr Pavilion. The Stanmer House
Stanmer House
Stanmer House is a Grade I listed mansion west of the village of Falmer and north-east of the city of Brighton and Hove.It stands very close to Stanmer village and Church, within the Stanmer Park...
show has become an annual festival known as Foxtrot and featured Laura Marling
Laura Marling
Laura Beatrice Marling is an English folk musician from Eversley, Hampshire.Initially prominent within the London folk scene, she has also toured with a number of well-known indie artists in the UK. Her debut album Alas, I Cannot Swim and her second album I Speak Because I Can were nominated for...
and Anna Calvi
Anna Calvi
Anna Calvi is an English musician who plays in the band of the same name. On 6 December 2010, Calvi was announced as a nominee for the BBC's Sound of 2011 poll. Her self-titled debut album was released in the UK on 17 January 2011, where it debuted at number 40 on 23 January...
in 2010 and Herman Dune
Herman Düne
Herman Düne is a French duo, formed in 1999. Originally a trio, the band now consists of David-Ivar Herman Düne and Néman Herman Düne . Néman, who is from Switzerland, replaced former drummer Omé in early 2001...
and Sam Amidon
Sam Amidon
Sam Amidon is an American independent folk artist born in Brattleboro, Vermont, June 3, 1981. His parents are folk artists Peter and Mary Alice Amidon. His younger brother, Stefan Amidon, is a professional drummer who performs with The Sweetback Sisters among other groups. Sam attended The Putney...
in 2011.
In February 2010 the Collective performed en masse as "The Willkommen Orchestra" at King's Place, London and Brighton Unitarian Church. The set included selections from the repertoire of The Miserable Rich
The Miserable Rich
The Miserable Rich are a chamber pop band, formed in 2007 and based in Brighton, England. The band is known for its distinctive, chamber orchestra sound, created using cello and violin as the primary lead instruments, augmented by double bass, acoustic guitar and occasionally piano...
, Shoreline, Sons of Noel and Adrian
Sons of Noel and Adrian
Sons of Noel and Adrian is a twelve piece experimental folk band based in Brighton, England. It features Nick Hemming from The Leisure Society, Mike Siddell from Hope of the States and Lightspeed Champion, Will Calderbank from The Miserable Rich and many other musicians from the Willkommen...
and the new 'studio supergroup' The Climbers
The Climbers
The Climbers is a band formed by Nick Hemming and Christian Hardy of The Leisure Society with their childhood friend, Tim West. West actually introduced Hemming and Hardy to one another and for a period the three lived together in South London....
. In the past they have performed showcases at End Of The Road Festival
End Of The Road Festival
End of the Road Festival is an annual music festival in England which focuses on alternative music, mostly folk, alt.country and Americana. It is hosted at the Larmer Tree Gardens, on the border of north Dorset and Wiltshire, and usually takes place over the first or second full weekend in...
, The Big Chill
The Big Chill (music festival)
The Big Chill is an annual festival of alternative, dance and chill-out music and comedy, held in the grounds of Eastnor Castle during early August...
, Brighton Festival
Brighton Festival
The Brighton Festival is an annual arts festival which takes place in the city of Brighton and Hove in England each May. It was founded in 1966, and is the largest multi-art form festival in England...
and The Great Escape. In 2010 the Collective took five bands to Positivus festival in Latvia and seven bands to The Big Chill in the UK.
Members of the Collective
The Collective is a sprawling group of individuals with no fixed membership, but these are some key members and some of the bands they have performed with, live and on record:- Will Calderbank - cello and piano with The Miserable RichThe Miserable RichThe Miserable Rich are a chamber pop band, formed in 2007 and based in Brighton, England. The band is known for its distinctive, chamber orchestra sound, created using cello and violin as the primary lead instruments, augmented by double bass, acoustic guitar and occasionally piano...
, The Leisure SocietyThe Leisure SocietyThe Leisure Society is a band formed by Nick Hemming, formerly of early 1990s indie band She Talks To Angels which included actor Paddy Considine, film director Shane Meadows and bassist Richard Eaton. Hemming wrote and performed music for the films A Room for Romeo Brass and Dead Man's Shoes...
, Sons of Noel and AdrianSons of Noel and AdrianSons of Noel and Adrian is a twelve piece experimental folk band based in Brighton, England. It features Nick Hemming from The Leisure Society, Mike Siddell from Hope of the States and Lightspeed Champion, Will Calderbank from The Miserable Rich and many other musicians from the Willkommen...
, Shoreline, The ClimbersThe ClimbersThe Climbers is a band formed by Nick Hemming and Christian Hardy of The Leisure Society with their childhood friend, Tim West. West actually introduced Hemming and Hardy to one another and for a period the three lived together in South London....
, Atlas Crease, Gambol, Django Spears and more. He has also played live with David Thomas BroughtonDavid Thomas BroughtonDavid Thomas Broughton is a London-based folk singer and guitarist. Born in Otley, West Yorkshire, he creates the sound of a large ensemble by sampling himself singing, playing acoustic guitar, and making an assortment of other sounds through a Boss loop pedal...
, Mumford & SonsMumford & SonsMumford & Sons are a British folk rock band. The band consists of Marcus Mumford , Ben Lovett , Country Winston Marshall , and Ted Dwane...
, Laura MarlingLaura MarlingLaura Beatrice Marling is an English folk musician from Eversley, Hampshire.Initially prominent within the London folk scene, she has also toured with a number of well-known indie artists in the UK. Her debut album Alas, I Cannot Swim and her second album I Speak Because I Can were nominated for...
, My Little Problem and more in the past. The name of the Collective is inspired by his name due to his ubiquity. - Jacob Richardson - guitar and vocals with Sons of Noel and AdrianSons of Noel and AdrianSons of Noel and Adrian is a twelve piece experimental folk band based in Brighton, England. It features Nick Hemming from The Leisure Society, Mike Siddell from Hope of the States and Lightspeed Champion, Will Calderbank from The Miserable Rich and many other musicians from the Willkommen...
, Shoreline and The ClimbersThe ClimbersThe Climbers is a band formed by Nick Hemming and Christian Hardy of The Leisure Society with their childhood friend, Tim West. West actually introduced Hemming and Hardy to one another and for a period the three lived together in South London.... - Mike Siddell - violin with The Miserable RichThe Miserable RichThe Miserable Rich are a chamber pop band, formed in 2007 and based in Brighton, England. The band is known for its distinctive, chamber orchestra sound, created using cello and violin as the primary lead instruments, augmented by double bass, acoustic guitar and occasionally piano...
, The Leisure SocietyThe Leisure SocietyThe Leisure Society is a band formed by Nick Hemming, formerly of early 1990s indie band She Talks To Angels which included actor Paddy Considine, film director Shane Meadows and bassist Richard Eaton. Hemming wrote and performed music for the films A Room for Romeo Brass and Dead Man's Shoes...
, Sons of Noel and AdrianSons of Noel and AdrianSons of Noel and Adrian is a twelve piece experimental folk band based in Brighton, England. It features Nick Hemming from The Leisure Society, Mike Siddell from Hope of the States and Lightspeed Champion, Will Calderbank from The Miserable Rich and many other musicians from the Willkommen...
, Shoreline, The ClimbersThe ClimbersThe Climbers is a band formed by Nick Hemming and Christian Hardy of The Leisure Society with their childhood friend, Tim West. West actually introduced Hemming and Hardy to one another and for a period the three lived together in South London....
and more. He was a member of Hope of the StatesHope of the StatesHope of the States were an English post rock-influenced indie band from Chichester.-Members:* Sam Herlihy - vocals, guitar, piano, music boxes, glockenspiels, mellotron, sampler, celeste, harmonium* Michael Hibbert - guitar, harmonica, backing vocals...
as well as playing live with BonoboBonoboThe bonobo , Pan paniscus, previously called the pygmy chimpanzee and less often, the dwarf or gracile chimpanzee, is a great ape and one of the two species making up the genus Pan. The other species in genus Pan is Pan troglodytes, or the common chimpanzee...
, Lightspeed ChampionLightspeed ChampionDevonté Hynes , better known as Lightspeed Champion or Blood Orange, is a British composer, songwriter, producer and author, who has written for artists such as Florence and the Machine, Diana Vickers and The Chemical Brothers on their 2007 Grammy award winning album We Are The Night...
, Mumford and Sons, Laura MarlingLaura MarlingLaura Beatrice Marling is an English folk musician from Eversley, Hampshire.Initially prominent within the London folk scene, she has also toured with a number of well-known indie artists in the UK. Her debut album Alas, I Cannot Swim and her second album I Speak Because I Can were nominated for...
and more. - Tom Cowan - guitar with Shoreline, Sons of Noel and AdrianSons of Noel and AdrianSons of Noel and Adrian is a twelve piece experimental folk band based in Brighton, England. It features Nick Hemming from The Leisure Society, Mike Siddell from Hope of the States and Lightspeed Champion, Will Calderbank from The Miserable Rich and many other musicians from the Willkommen...
and Katapults - Nick HemmingNick HemmingNicholas 'Nick' Hemming is a British musician and guitarist, formerly of early 1990s indie band She Talks To Angels with actor Paddy Considine, film director Shane Meadows and bassist Richard Eaton....
- vocals, guitar, banjo, ukulele and mandolin with The Leisure SocietyThe Leisure SocietyThe Leisure Society is a band formed by Nick Hemming, formerly of early 1990s indie band She Talks To Angels which included actor Paddy Considine, film director Shane Meadows and bassist Richard Eaton. Hemming wrote and performed music for the films A Room for Romeo Brass and Dead Man's Shoes...
, The ClimbersThe ClimbersThe Climbers is a band formed by Nick Hemming and Christian Hardy of The Leisure Society with their childhood friend, Tim West. West actually introduced Hemming and Hardy to one another and for a period the three lived together in South London....
, Shoreline, Sons of Noel and AdrianSons of Noel and AdrianSons of Noel and Adrian is a twelve piece experimental folk band based in Brighton, England. It features Nick Hemming from The Leisure Society, Mike Siddell from Hope of the States and Lightspeed Champion, Will Calderbank from The Miserable Rich and many other musicians from the Willkommen...
and more. He is a former member of She Talks To AngelsShe Talks To AngelsShe Talks to Angels was a short-lived, early 1990s indie band from Burton upon Trent in East Staffordshire, formed at Burton Technical College....
and many more. Hemming also composed music for the Shane MeadowsShane MeadowsShane Meadows is an English film director, screenwriter, occasional actor and BAFTA winner.-Background:Meadows grew up in the Westlands Road area of Uttoxeter, Staffordshire. His father was a long distance lorry driver and his mother worked in a fish and chip shop...
films A Room for Romeo BrassA Room for Romeo BrassA Room for Romeo Brass is a 1999 comedy drama film directed and written by Shane Meadows. It was co-written by frequent Meadows collaborator Paul Fraser....
and Dead Man's Shoes, with whom he played with in She Talks To AngelsShe Talks To AngelsShe Talks to Angels was a short-lived, early 1990s indie band from Burton upon Trent in East Staffordshire, formed at Burton Technical College.... - Alistair Strachan - trumpet, cornet, flugelhorn and piano with Sons of Noel and AdrianSons of Noel and AdrianSons of Noel and Adrian is a twelve piece experimental folk band based in Brighton, England. It features Nick Hemming from The Leisure Society, Mike Siddell from Hope of the States and Lightspeed Champion, Will Calderbank from The Miserable Rich and many other musicians from the Willkommen...
, Mary HamptonMary HamptonMary Hampton is a folk singer, songwriter and guitarist from Brighton, England.Hampton has released two self-produced CD-Rs, Book One and Book Two , containing a mix of original and traditional songs. In 2008 she released My Mother's Children, her first commercially available album, on Navigator...
, Hamilton Yarns, Shoreline and many more. - Catherine Cardin - vocals and percussion with Sons of Noel and AdrianSons of Noel and AdrianSons of Noel and Adrian is a twelve piece experimental folk band based in Brighton, England. It features Nick Hemming from The Leisure Society, Mike Siddell from Hope of the States and Lightspeed Champion, Will Calderbank from The Miserable Rich and many other musicians from the Willkommen...
, Redwood Red, Laish and The ClimbersThe ClimbersThe Climbers is a band formed by Nick Hemming and Christian Hardy of The Leisure Society with their childhood friend, Tim West. West actually introduced Hemming and Hardy to one another and for a period the three lived together in South London.... - Marcus Hamblett - guitar/mandolin/banjo/tenor horn with Laura MarlingLaura MarlingLaura Beatrice Marling is an English folk musician from Eversley, Hampshire.Initially prominent within the London folk scene, she has also toured with a number of well-known indie artists in the UK. Her debut album Alas, I Cannot Swim and her second album I Speak Because I Can were nominated for...
, as well as playing various instruments live and/or on record with the likes of Sons of Noel and AdrianSons of Noel and AdrianSons of Noel and Adrian is a twelve piece experimental folk band based in Brighton, England. It features Nick Hemming from The Leisure Society, Mike Siddell from Hope of the States and Lightspeed Champion, Will Calderbank from The Miserable Rich and many other musicians from the Willkommen...
, Shoreline, Alessi's ArkAlessi's ArkAlessi's Ark is the musical project of Alessi Laurent-Marke , a singer-songwriter from Hammersmith in West London.-Career:...
, Tristram, The Mariner's Children, Peggy Sue, The Leisure SocietyThe Leisure SocietyThe Leisure Society is a band formed by Nick Hemming, formerly of early 1990s indie band She Talks To Angels which included actor Paddy Considine, film director Shane Meadows and bassist Richard Eaton. Hemming wrote and performed music for the films A Room for Romeo Brass and Dead Man's Shoes...
, Redwood Red, The ClimbersThe ClimbersThe Climbers is a band formed by Nick Hemming and Christian Hardy of The Leisure Society with their childhood friend, Tim West. West actually introduced Hemming and Hardy to one another and for a period the three lived together in South London....
, The Unthanks; Broken Social SceneBroken Social SceneBroken Social Scene is a Canadian indie rock band, a musical collective including as few as six and as many as nineteen members, formed in 1999 by Kevin Drew and Brendan Canning. Most of its members currently play in various other groups and solo projects, mainly based around the city of Toronto...
, Dan ManganDan ManganDaniel Mangan is a Canadian indie folk-rock singer-songwriter.-Early life:Mangan was born in Smithers, British Columbia. His family moved a fair amount, residing in both the provinces of Ontario and British Columbia - and primarily in his current home town of Vancouver...
, Curly Hair, Lulu and The Lampshades, Damo SuzukiDamo Suzuki, universally known as Damo Suzuki , is a singer best known for his membership in the German krautrock group Can.-Biography:As a teenager, Suzuki spent the late 1960s wandering around Europe, often busking....
and Rachael DaddRachael DaddRachael Dadd is a folk musician based in Bristol, England and Tokyo, Japan.Rachael has played alongside a wide range of notable UK bands and artists including Laura Marling, Sons of Noel and Adrian, and Curly Hair. In February 2009 and again in July 2009, Rachael toured the UK with Alessi's Ark...
. - Emma Gatrill - clarinet, bass clarinet, harp, accordion and vocals with the likes of Sons of Noel and AdrianSons of Noel and AdrianSons of Noel and Adrian is a twelve piece experimental folk band based in Brighton, England. It features Nick Hemming from The Leisure Society, Mike Siddell from Hope of the States and Lightspeed Champion, Will Calderbank from The Miserable Rich and many other musicians from the Willkommen...
, Laura MarlingLaura MarlingLaura Beatrice Marling is an English folk musician from Eversley, Hampshire.Initially prominent within the London folk scene, she has also toured with a number of well-known indie artists in the UK. Her debut album Alas, I Cannot Swim and her second album I Speak Because I Can were nominated for...
, Rachael DaddRachael DaddRachael Dadd is a folk musician based in Bristol, England and Tokyo, Japan.Rachael has played alongside a wide range of notable UK bands and artists including Laura Marling, Sons of Noel and Adrian, and Curly Hair. In February 2009 and again in July 2009, Rachael toured the UK with Alessi's Ark...
, Rozi Plain, Broken Social SceneBroken Social SceneBroken Social Scene is a Canadian indie rock band, a musical collective including as few as six and as many as nineteen members, formed in 1999 by Kevin Drew and Brendan Canning. Most of its members currently play in various other groups and solo projects, mainly based around the city of Toronto...
, The Mariner's Children, Alessi's ArkAlessi's ArkAlessi's Ark is the musical project of Alessi Laurent-Marke , a singer-songwriter from Hammersmith in West London.-Career:...
, Tristram and Laish. - Daniel Green - drums and vocals with Sons of Noel and AdrianSons of Noel and AdrianSons of Noel and Adrian is a twelve piece experimental folk band based in Brighton, England. It features Nick Hemming from The Leisure Society, Mike Siddell from Hope of the States and Lightspeed Champion, Will Calderbank from The Miserable Rich and many other musicians from the Willkommen...
, guitar and vocals with Laish, has also played live with Laura MarlingLaura MarlingLaura Beatrice Marling is an English folk musician from Eversley, Hampshire.Initially prominent within the London folk scene, she has also toured with a number of well-known indie artists in the UK. Her debut album Alas, I Cannot Swim and her second album I Speak Because I Can were nominated for...
, Shoreline, Curly Hair and more. - Helen Whitaker - flute and vocals with The Leisure SocietyThe Leisure SocietyThe Leisure Society is a band formed by Nick Hemming, formerly of early 1990s indie band She Talks To Angels which included actor Paddy Considine, film director Shane Meadows and bassist Richard Eaton. Hemming wrote and performed music for the films A Room for Romeo Brass and Dead Man's Shoes...
, Sons of Noel and AdrianSons of Noel and AdrianSons of Noel and Adrian is a twelve piece experimental folk band based in Brighton, England. It features Nick Hemming from The Leisure Society, Mike Siddell from Hope of the States and Lightspeed Champion, Will Calderbank from The Miserable Rich and many other musicians from the Willkommen...
, Laura MarlingLaura MarlingLaura Beatrice Marling is an English folk musician from Eversley, Hampshire.Initially prominent within the London folk scene, she has also toured with a number of well-known indie artists in the UK. Her debut album Alas, I Cannot Swim and her second album I Speak Because I Can were nominated for...
and more.