Rachel & Henry Climb a Hill

Artist Information

Biography

Fremantle's five piece quirk folksters, Rachel & Henry Climb a Hill formed in 2009 from the ashes of local duo Mikael and Michael Mongoose. Drawing on their coastal roots, Irish heritage and rural upbringing, their music tells of lost loves, pirates, pigeons and kite-flying, with the occasional haiku thrown in for good measure.

As a stage act, the group is vibrant and unpredictable, with members often swapping instruments to explore new directions in sound. Together they create a kaleidoscope of music ranging from soothing acoustic folk to reggae-tinged indie-rock.

The band has shared the stage with many great local and national acts such as the Basement Birds, Panda Band, Blue King Brown, Operator Please, Red Jezebel, Cut Off Your Hands and Clare Bowditch & the New Slang. They were a hit at both Southbound and the Nannup Folk Festival and won the Northbridge Festival's Band Comp in 2010. Most recently the music video for their song “The Kite Song” won Best Music Video at the Tupelo Film Festival (USA).

With their debut album ‘All The Little things’ being launched to a sold out Fremantle Arts Centre in November 2011, the band are setting their sights on a national tour in 2012 as well as an extensive run of rural shows throughout Western Australia.

Street Press and Media reviews:

“Rachel & Henry Climb a Hill were next up, first intriguing the audience with their eclectic look and set-up, before proceeding to delight them with an enchanting string of quirky and clever folk-pop offerings, most of which were iced with the gorgeous and eloquent vocal lines of lead singer Rachel. The entire group interacted well with the crowd and emphasised their diversity within the carefully crafted and executed songs.'
~ Mia Roberts, Drum Magazine

“Having forged a steady following in WA, playing gigs at Southbound and various haunts around Perth and Fremantle, Rachel & Henry Climb a Hill have frolicked onto the music scene with their debut EP First of a Few, an infectious pop confection, sure to be loved by indie darlings across the state. Telling tales of leap-frogging, kite-flying and lost loves, the melancholic local trio explore an eclectic mix of musical forms from folk rock to hip hop while still maintaining a strong twee pop sensibility. Sweet, playful, and always charming, First of a Few stands a very good chance of proving itself one of WA’s finest indie-pop releases of the year.”
~ Jennifer Peterson-Ward, X-Press Magazine

Instrumentation

Rachel Gorman - Vocals, Drums, Guitar, keys, glockenspiel, Melodica, Ukelele
Brett Crabtree - Vocals, Guitar, harmonica.
Willem Lieftink - Vocals, Drums, Guitar, Ukelele
Jenny May - Vocals, Cello
Rhian Todhunter - Bass

Discography

First of a Few EP - 2010
The Silver Yacht/Sweet Like Clockwork - Album Pre Release Promo - 2011
The Little Things LP - 2011

Official Website

http://www.rachelandhenryclimbahill.com

Links

• Facebook
• MySpace
• Twitter
• The Kite Song Film Clip on YouTube

Audio

• Jungle Book
  Listen  
• One for the Road
  Listen  
• The Silver Yacht
  Listen  
• The Kite Song
  Listen  
• Les Jambes de Grenouilles (The Frog's Legs)
  Listen  
• Someone Lend a Ladder
  Listen  
• Song for the Distance
  Listen  
• Old Brown Piano
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• Indiana Jones
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• You Wont Know & I Wont Tell You
  Listen  

Lyrics

• The Kite Song
• Les Jambres Grenouilles (The Frog Song)
• One for the Road
• Jungle Book
• Old Brown Piano
• Old Brown Piano
• Indiana Jones
• The Pretty Things
• Indiana Jones
• You Wont Know & I Wont Tell You

Video

Photo Gallery

Press

• Next Big Thing @ Rosemount Hotel [+ Show ]
  

  Act two, Rachel and Henry Climb a Hill. A cute name and a cute female vocalist to boot. Wearing war ...Act two, Rachel and Henry Climb a Hill. A cute name and a cute female vocalist to boot. Wearing war paint and shrouded in pink lighting front woman Rachel Gorman had a quirky lilt to her voice and played guitar, ukulele and shaker with a powerfully vigorous wrist. Contrary to their name neither male in the band is named Henry, Brett Crabtree and Vim Leaf (who just have to be names out of a Brothers Grimm fairy tale) made up the final two parts of the trio that performed a set of pop splashed with reggae and a quick flick of the tongue.
  
  

• Next Big Thing Semi-Final @ Rosemount [+ Show ]
  

  Rachel and Henry Climb A Hill could have been better served with clearer articulation as their folk/...Rachel and Henry Climb A Hill could have been better served with clearer articulation as their folk/reggae blend went over the heads of many present who could not decipher the speedily sung lines. Whisperings that Rachel Gorman does a first-rate Irish folk tune did make many hunger for more and hope to see some diversity in her upcoming sets.
  
  As Gorman bounced around stage enjoying the light the melodic made an appearance with a musical quiz to introduce it. The harmonies of the vocals had a lovely singing in a round formation and on this occasion both Gorman’s male counterparts took time up the front showing what a multi talented group they are.
  
  The final verdict was like comparing apples and oranges. Could the crowd favorites win out over the musically gifted or experienced performers? This reviewer thought the following bands were worthy of a final place: Rhapcity, Rachel and Henry Climb A Hill and Mister & Sunbird.
  
  

• Gignition [+ Show ]
  

  Rachel & Henry Climb a Hill were next up, first intriguing the audience with their eclectic look and...Rachel & Henry Climb a Hill were next up, first intriguing the audience with their eclectic look and set-up, before proceeding to delight them with an enchanting string of quirky and clever folk-pop offerings, most of which were iced with the gorgeous and eloquent vocal lines of lead singer Rachel. The entire group interacted well with the crowd and emphasised their diversity as they took turns on the mic and alternated instruments, although at times there was a slight lack of cohesion and dynamics within the otherwise carefully crafted and executed songs.
  
  MIA ROBERTS

Setlist

SET LIST (~60 mins)

1.Silver Yacht
2.The Kite Song
3.Sweet Like Clockwork
4.Travelling Light
5. Butterflies
6.Little Bit of Something
7.Black Blocks
8.Weight of Words
9.My Shore
10.Les Jambes Grenouille
11.First of a Few Chapters
12.Cruel Joke
13.Simon Says I Think Too Much
14.Pirate’s Gospel
15.Love is a Doing Word

Basic Requirements

Calendar