Merrymouth was a folk-oriented band founded by Ocean Colour Scene songwriter and vocalist

Simon Fowler Simon Geoffrey Fowler (born 25 May 1965 in Meriden, Warwickshire) is an English singer and acoustic guitarist, best known as the frontman of Ocean Colour Scene. The Fanatics Simon Fowler commenced his music career as the lead singer and songwr ...

(guitar/vocals),

Dan Sealey Dan Sealey is the former session bass guitarist for the rock group Ocean Colour Scene. He was drafted in by the band after Damon Minchella left the band in 2003. Sealey is also in Merrymouth, a folk band with Ocean Colour Scene bandmate Sim ...

(guitar/piano/vocals), Mike McNamara (Bass/Piano/Organ/Guitar/Percussion) and later Adam Barry (piano/organ/accordion/harmonica/vocals).

History

Merrymouth released their debut album as

Simon Fowler's Merrymouth ''Simon Fowler's Merrymouth'' is the debut solo album by Simon Fowler (the singer/songwriter from Ocean Colour Scene) it contains six original Fowler compositions, one of those ("Over My Head") being an OCS re-working. Released on 26 March 2012 ...

on 26 March 2012. Recorded at Gospel Oak Studio, Warwickshire, they were joined in the studio by award winning folk musicians John McCusker and Andy Cutting. They toured the album throughout 2012 and 2013, and performed at BBC Radio 2’s CarFest for champion of the band Chris Evans, The Mosely Folk Festival, and The Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Founding Merrymouth bassist/songwriter Mike McNamara introduced Simon to John McCusker and subsequently Simon presented John with the ‘Musician Of The Year’ accolade at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards. They later became close friends, and McCusker appeared on Ocean Colour Scene's '' A Hyperactive Workout For The Flying Squad'' album in 2005, and joined them on numerous occasions at live shows. Simon subsequently went on to record backing vocals for McCusker's then-wife Kate Rusby's ''Underneath The Stars'' album.

Recent years

Founding member Mike McNamara left to form The Little Ships (with Happy Chichester of

The Afghan Whigs The Afghan Whigs are an American rock band from Cincinnati, Ohio. They were active from 1986 to 2001 and have since reformed as a band. The group – with core members Greg Dulli (vocals, rhythm guitar), Rick McCollum (lead guitar), and John Cur ...

and Stone Gossard of

Pearl Jam Pearl Jam is an American rock band formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1990. The band's lineup consists of founding members Jeff Ament (bass guitar), Stone Gossard (rhythm guitar), Mike McCready (lead guitar), and Eddie Vedder (lead vocals, guita ...

) and Merrymouth released their second album, ''

Wenlock Hill ''Wenlock Hill'' is the second album by Merrymouth, a folk band featuring Simon Fowler and Dan Sealey from Ocean Colour Scene, and Adam Barry. It was released in May 2014 and entered the UK Official Album Charts at #71. Track listing All son ...

'', recorded at

Rockfield Studios Rockfield Studios is a residential recording studio located in the Wye Valley just outside the village of Rockfield, Monmouthshire, Wales. It was originally founded in 1963 by brothers Kingsley and Charles Ward. Facilities Rockfield is a two- ...

. A collection of new songs, ''Wenlock Hill'' again features McCusker (violin), and includes a special guest appearance from Chas Hodges of

Chas and Dave Chas & Dave (often billed as Chas 'n' Dave) were a British pop rock duo, formed in London by Chas Hodges and Dave Peacock. Hodges died in 2018. They were most notable as creators and performers of a musical style labelled ''rockney'' (a port ...

. The album charted a
#69
in the UK Official Album Charts. In 2016 Merrymouth announced that Sealey and Barry would be returning with a new project called Merrymaker, a follow-up from Merrymouth, now joined by Oxfordshire-based singer Nikki Petherick.

Discography

* ''

'' (2012) * ''

'' (2014)

References

External links

Official Merrymouth WebsiteThe Little Ships Website
{{Authority control 2012 establishments in the United Kingdom Musical groups established in 2012 British folk rock groups