Escape Act

Artist Information

Biography

Escape Act formed in Summer 06 and are based in Belfast, Northern Ireland. They have just signed to '17 Seconds Records' in Edinburgh, Scotland, and are recording their second album.

They recorded their debut album with producer Andy Miller (Mogwai, Sons & Daughters) at Chem19 Studios, Glasgow in late 2007. A 7" single 'God Says' was released in June 2008, and their debut album 'Loosely Based On Fiction' was released on Volte-face Records (Ireland) in November 2008.

John Richard, influential music director at Seattle's KEXP, included 'Cabin Fever' on his 'Music That Matters' - Summer Songs podcast in June 2009 and Steve Lamacq (BBC Radio 1 / 6Music) chose Escape Act as his unsigned band of the week in December 2008.

As the name suggests Escape Act take their musical liberty seriously, tho with influences including The Clash, David Bowie and Neil Young the eclectic sound is riddled with pop hooks and sing-along choruses.

Having earned their stripes supporting acts as diverse as Los Campesinos, White Stripes, Sky Larkin, Stephen Malkmus, Gomez and Oxford Collapse, they present a colourful, energetic and engaging live performance.

Rocksound - 8 out of 10 'genuine, genuinely affecting stuff'!

Hot Press - 4 out of 5 - 'With more hooks than an abattoir and slab upon slab of bristling melodies, most strikingly on Corpses Candle and Kings Have Fallen, Loosely Based On Fiction is indie rock in excelsis.'

AU Magazine - 8 out of 10 - 'These are songs to make your inner indie boy rejoice. The debut album from Belfast's Escape Act, Loosely Based On Fiction drips indie melodies like tears from the sainted eyes of Morrissey.' - Francis Jones

Instrumentation

Chris Heaney - Vocals, Guitar, Keyboard
Alan Beattie - Drums
Richard Dale - Bass, Backing Vocals
Ross Neely - Guitars

Discography

Hot Air EP (April 07) - played on BBC Radio 1, Radio Ulster, RTE 2FM in Ireland

God Says (single - released May 08) - advance copy played on Radio1 Introducing show

Loosely Based on Fiction (album - released Autumn 08) - tracks played on BBC Radio1, KEXP in Seattle, WLUR, BBC Radio Scotland, Radio Ulster, Dublin Phantom FM. Cork FM, Limerick Live FM, M3 New York, KGAR in Lemoore, CA, WDTS in Georgetown, DE, WKKL in W. Barnstable, MA, WNTE, WKKL in W. Barnstable, MA, WDTS in Georgetown, DE, WSRU in Slippery Rock, PA, WMXM in Lake Forest, IL, Riddle Radio in Prescott, AZ, WMBR in Cambridge, MA, KSCR in Los Angeles, WKWZ in Syosset, NY WDWN in Auburn, NY, Cielo Liquido, Spain.

Radio 1 - Introducing Session

God Says (re-release on 17 Seconds Records, Edinburgh) June 2009

Album 2 - currently in production

Audio

• Cabin Fever
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• God Says
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• Laid Open
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• Green
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Video

Photo Gallery

Press

• Indie Rock in Excelsis [+ Show ]
  

  Loosely Based On Fiction 4 out of 5 "These are tales of trampled hearts and souls - its the stuf...Loosely Based On Fiction
  4 out of 5
  
  "These are tales of trampled hearts and souls - its the stuff of all humankind. What's rare and worth cherishing is the poetic flair with which Escape Act navigate these much weathered narratives. Their uncanny knack for creating surging, senses-filling melodies - all shuddering guitars, yearning vocals and racing beyond the speed limits rhythms - further helps illuminate their lyrical manuscript.
  
  With more hooks than an abattoir and slab upon slab of bristling melodies, most strikingly on Corpses Candle and Kings Have Fallen, Loosely Based On Fiction is indie rock in excelsis."

• a beautiful, heart-bursting experience [+ Show ]
  

  Loosely Based on Fiction 8 out of 10 "These are songs to make your inner indie boy rejoice. The ...Loosely Based on Fiction
  8 out of 10
  
  "These are songs to make your inner indie boy rejoice. The debut album from Belfast's Escape Act, Loosely Based On Fiction drips indie melodies like tears from the sainted eyes of Morrissey. It's a beautiful, heart-bursting experience. Hearing 'Kings Have Fallen' is like being impaled on a shaft of sunlight, the guitar and voice racing hand-in-hand like young lovers.
  
  Meanwhile, former single, 'God Says' throws a Pixies freakout before sliding into a chorus as golden sweet as a vat of honey. What's particularly encouraging here is that these songs are as lyrically imaginative as they are tuneful; phrases are bent winningly out of shape and the vocabulary is extended into the poetic. Indeed, the later 'Sullied Behave For The Moon' - all coiled power and evocative atmospherics - and the obscenely catchy final one-two of 'Corpses Candle' and 'Broken Chin' suggest that this is a band deserving of a place amongst the highest echelons of Northern Irish alt. rock."

• Losing Today review of Hot Air [+ Show ]
  

  "Escape Act meld contagious power chord sensibilities with a deliciously contagious song craft that ..."Escape Act meld contagious power chord sensibilities with a deliciously contagious song craft that belies an unsurpassable flair for carving a honey honed hook or three."

• Hot Press review of Hot Air [+ Show ]
  

  "The upbeat and catchy melodies are engaging. This ep will stay in your head for days, but the track..."The upbeat and catchy melodies are engaging. This ep will stay in your head for days, but the tracks are so likeable that you won’t mind at all.” Meg Duffy

• AU review of Hot Air [+ Show ]
  

  "...it's the songs that ultimately impress...driving, spindly indie-pop aesthetic, lyrical bite and ..."...it's the songs that ultimately impress...driving, spindly indie-pop aesthetic, lyrical bite and melodies you'll be humming by the second chorus"

• mp3hugger review of Hot Air [+ Show ]
  

  "Spiralling guitars, neat melodic vocals and pounding rhythms come together to create a burst of exh..."Spiralling guitars, neat melodic vocals and pounding rhythms come together to create a burst of exhilarating noise... Escape Act have initiated their shimmering assault on the masses”

Setlist

Typical set is 25-40 mins long.

Broken Chin
Kings Have Fallen
Folded Arms
God Says
Laid Open
Green
Jupiter Storms
Pressure
Salt In Your Eye
Sullied behave for the Moon
Corpses Candle
Burning Sand
Cabin Fever

Basic Requirements

Calendar