The Zephyrs

The Zephyrs are an Edinburgh, Scotland-based indie band. They have released five albums and two EPs containing their shoegazing folk-rock style.

The Zephyrs
OriginEdinburgh, Scotland
GenresIndie, shoegaze, folk rock
LabelsClub AC30, Acuarela, Setanta, Rock Action
MembersStuart Nicol
David Nicol
Robert Dillam
Richard Hamill
Will Bates
Past membersEmily Hall
Marcus MacKay
Charlie Clark
Eric Lindsay
Malcolm Cochrane
David Jeans
Stewart Campbell
Jonathan Kilgour
Gordon Kilgour

Band history

Brothers Stuart (vocals, guitar) and David Nicol (bass) had been playing music together for many years before forming The Zephyrs. Adopting the band moniker used by their father 25 years before, they released their first album in 1999.

It's OK Not to Say Anything was released on the Edinburgh indie label Evol and 700 copies were printed. Small as this release was, it garnered the attention of Scottish post-rock band Mogwai who signed The Zephyrs to their own imprint Rock Action, which was then owned by SouthPaw Records.

In 2001 the band released their second album When the Sky Comes Down It Comes Down on Your Head (which included guest vocals from Mojave 3's Rachel Goswell) through SouthPaw Records to excellent reviews. AllMusic.com gave the album 4.5 stars out of 5, exclaiming "[The Zephyrs] manage to combine the epic grandeur of Mogwai with the country-rock of Gram Parsons". Unfortunately for the band, SouthPaw Records folded the week the album came out. Their publishing deal evaporated, as did the funding for the album's promotion and the band's tour. In spite of the album's critical success and a well received performance at the Reading Festival, the band were forced to concede temporary defeat and return to their day jobs.

The Nicol brothers were determined not to let the setback destroy the band. In early 2002 The Zephyrs began work on a new album. At around this time, the Madrid-based record label Acuarela approached the band. They had loved When the Sky... and invited The Zephyrs to play at the Primavera Sound music festival in Barcelona. Play they did, and in June of that year Acuarela released a four-song EP called The Love That Will Guide You Back Home.

By this time the band's line-up had gone through many changes. Only Stuart and David Nicol had remained in the band throughout. Malcolm Cochrane, the band's original lead guitarist who had left after the release of their first album, returned. David Jeans, a schoolfriend of the Nicol brothers, joined the band to play drums. Robert Dillam, formerly of Adorable, joined to play guitar. It was this five piece line-up that set off for Spain to embark on a two-week tour arranged by Acuarela.

Throughout this rocky period in the band's history Keith Cullen, of Setanta Records, had been offering managerial advice. Impressed with the new line-up, and the new demos that were emerging from them, he signed The Zephyrs to Setanta.

Working with long-time friend and producer Michael Brennan, the band completed their third album A Year to the Day which was released on 2 September 2003. Prior to the album release, in the summer of 2003, The Zephyrs performed at the Benicàssim Festival in Spain. Following a short tour of the UK in support of A Year To The Day, the band's live schedule lightened considerably. They played just five shows during 2004.

Much of 2004 was spent recording fourth album Bright Yellow Flowers on a Dark Double Bed which was released in June 2005 on Acuarela. The band appeared at the Benicàssim Festival again in the summer of 2005 and toured both Spain and Italy.

2006 through to 2009 were quiet years for The Zephyrs, although not completely inactive. A three-piece version of the band (Stuart and David Nicol with Robert Dillam on drums) appeared at the Triku Festival in Spain in October 2008. The band also teamed up with producer Michael Brennan for the first time since 2003 to record and mix songs for a fifth album. Fool of Regrets was released in September 2010 on London-based label Club AC30 preceded by the single Creative Faith and a short tour of the UK. The band, joined by singer/guitarist Emily Hall and keyboardist Will Bates, recorded sessions for Radio Scotland's Vic Galloway show and Marc Riley's BBC Radio 6 Music show in September and October 2010. The album was Vic Galloway's album of the week for 06/09/2010.

In mid 2014 The Zephyrs began preparations for a sixth album and a new gigging schedule. The current line-up is Stuart Nicol (vocals/guitar), David Nicol (bass), Robert Dillam (drums), Richard Hamill (guitar) and Will Bates (keyboards).

Discography

Albums

EPs
  • Stargazer EP (2001, Rock Action)
  • The Love That Will Guide You Back Home (2002, Acuarela)

Singles
  • Creative Faith (2010, Club AC30)

Compilations
  • A Quiet Riot (2002, Play It Again Sam) song: "Setting Sun"
  • HomesleepHome 2 (2002, Homesleep) song: "Greyhound Going Somewhere"
  • Acuarela Songs 2 (2003, Acuarela) song: "Make Me Lonely"
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References
  1. Fool Of Regrets reviewed
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