Ratty Little Fingers
Liverpool, England, United Kingdom | SELF
Music
Press
Translation.
Here they are stacked, separated from their boxes, media scratched some, others no longer read. Disks are received as a gift this 2011 all the bands I met in the last 12 months. Each bill a good deal of time living in British rock, not just as a scene but also as an example of the effort made ??by the same musicians to record a demo that sounds good, to come out to play, save for a good recording, running from their work or studies to join his band mates to rehearse or perform for 5, 10 or 100 people. It is the very air we breathe in Liverpool, Concepcion, Buenos Aires or Mexico, are the same arms that load vans or taxis provided with amps that go out at night putting up posters or freezing rain. The same laughter that comply with 2 beers and play. Some more determined and organized going to get an acoustic session on a radio, get a stamp on them is set out curtains or others with more luck, and others that they care little mainstream.
And here are all of them, they left me a taste and feel can cause something similar on PC:
SHEEP STEALING DINOSAUR PILE-UP + + ratty + THE BEES LITTLE FINGERS + + JEZ Fenlon LUKE THE KERR + RIALTO STREET BURNS + THE TEA THE BAND + THE cubical Heartbreaks + + THE Correspondents
THE BOOK CLUB + + + STEPHEN HUDSON THE WICKED WHISPERS POLARSETS +
Say no more ... - Adictos Ruido
Ok, the next band – Ratty Little Fingers, are THE highlight of the night. Setting the stage up, three large, helium filled balloons in the shape of an R, an L and an F are the first things to catch your eye. Then you spot an old tea chest and a Cadburys Roses tin upside down and taped to a snare drum stand, and you realise that you are looking at the drum kit. Now I have never heard of this band and so didn’t know what to expect. I have to say they blew me away. Think quirky, Mumford and Sons clashing with Yeah Yeah Yeahs and you’re somewhere close to Ratty Little Fingers. I have heard them described as gypsy folk pop jazz, and I wouldn’t be able to argue that point. Their songs make you want to move and the crowd responded immediately by getting on the dance floor which, up until this point had stayed mainly vacant. Katy Mcgrath, the acoustic wielding lead singer is a delight to watch jumping around the stage. She has a ‘’fairy’’ aura thing going on, and her passion and creativity are infectious to watch, as is the rest of the band. The drummer, at times swaps drums for bass guitar and a keyboard device which is played by blowing through it. The banjo playing sidekick also swaps his rhythmic ting a ling for a violin which is very Mumford and Sons-ey. All very makeshift, all very entertaining. Get to see this band, you will love them, I promise.
- Man Gone Music
Discography
EP's
Eat With Your Fingers EP (Nov 2011)
1. My Lesson
2. By Any Stretch
3. Captain Hook
4. Eagle Song
5. Clove Hitch
Ratty Little Pre-P (Jan 2011)
1. Leftovers
2. Crystal Ball
3. Via Negativa
Photos
Bio
Ratty little fingers charm and captivate their audiences with a diverse pool of beautiful and varied songs ranging from bizarre whimsy to deep and heart felt war-cries of songs as well as indulging in the occasional raucous and chaotic pop song. The songs engage listeners imaginations with stories drawn from personal experience and with variations of textures, from busy mean crescendos to stripped down, often very touching moments of exposed and vulnerable sincerity.
The trio came together in 2010, and consists of Katy McGrath, Austin Ray and Christian Sandford, since forming have strived to avoid the conventional traits of popular rock bands and folk artists. The band take inspiration from the live shows of artists such as The Flaming Lips and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and use Katys background in performance art to help deliver spectacular stage performances. Amongst their arsenal are a self-made light show, various visual and tactile effects such as bubbles and confetti explosions. These are all aimed at making the most of the live experience, including their audience by surrounding them with colour and light.
None of the members of Ratty Little Fingers came from a traditional folk background, growing up of a steady diet of grunge, pop punk, acoustic artists and Brit pop. The band also took influence from vocal techniques from other cultures, such as Eastern European folk singing. Their sound grew as the group experimented with instruments traditionally associated with folk music, often using them in unconventional ways. Alongside their home-made or found instruments, this added an eclectic and interesting twist to their music. Ratty Little Fingers push the folk genre, which they are frequently labelled with. With wonderfully quirky vocal lines, infectious chants, driving banjo rolls as well as an onslaught of instrumentation from violins and flutes within the tapestry of the music, Ratty Little Fingers have an almost unhealthy desire to steer away from anything that could be considered clichéd. Biscuit tins, bins, tea chests and handclaps show how this band is really without worry about how, or what they use to make music.
The band has honed their skills and musical values playing close to 100 shows in 2011, playing throughout the UK and Europe. As well as typical music venues, they have played shows on a Ferry, in a tropical Palm house, in shop windows, storage rooms, and art galleries. The will bring their music to wherever there are ears to listen.
Over the course of the year the band have scored support slots with various touring artists including Kitty Daisy and Lewis, San-Fransisco based Or, the Whale, Belle and Sebastien produced Zoey Van Goey, and folkster Martha Tilston.
Summer 2011 saw the Rattys play a host of festivals including European festival "Envol des Cites", Belgian festival "Fech'tiwall", and English festivals Southport Rocks (feat. The Futureheads) and Ravenstonedale Festival. They were subsequently tipped on music blogs and reviews as "festival highlights" due to the lively upbeat performance and unusual stage show. A successful headline slot on the acoustic stage at Manchester's "N4 Loves You", which saw artists such as Mr.Scruff, The Travelling Band and The Paris Riots take to its stages, finished off the summer for the trio.
Home recorded tracks have gained BBC radio airplay, and on various internet blogs and podcasts throughout the year, notably landing the band a live session on Dave Monks' BBC Introducing show in September.
Ratty Little Fingers have tours planned for November 2011 and February 2011 to promote their first studio EP, which will be released mid November 2011.
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