Music
Press
It's hard to square this Northern Ireland band's name with their sound – a joyous, uplifting, harmony driven breath of fresh air. At times it's the spikey, angular pop of Supergrass, as on the amazing Start it Again, at others it's fragile and subtle with nods to Paul Simon and even macca at his Blackbird –picking acoustic best. Just listen to Chasing the Sun and you'll hear these reference points.
One thing that is constant throughout the band's contrasting styles however is the quality of the songwriting which they say is "complex in structure, yet appealing to the average melody fan". I don't think they do themselves justice – the tunes Ultimate listened to (www.myspace.com/sparksflyni - and soon) are anything but average. The five piece are scheduled to play next at Common Grounds Café on University Avenue on June 27 – a free show – but keep an eye out and an ear to the ground because they are bound to play somewhere before then. Seek them out – and then watch the Sparks Fly.
- The Daily Mirror
Effortlessly bridging the musical gap between the epic and the intimate - Belfast Telegraph
More people should hear this music - Tom Robinson
Compelling, driven and annoyingly hooky - Wired Up
Impressively diverse but uniformly catchy - Bruised Fruit
It's quite a trick to write songs that sound simultaneously new- fangled and reassuringly familiar, but somehow Sparks Fly have managed to do just that. The three tracks on their EP are pleasingly varied, the bee-in-the-bonnet of the opening 'Start It Again' recalling The Jam. After that vigorous opening thrust, the pace slows considerably for 'Save Some For Me' and 'Chasing The Sun.' The former is a pathos- addled indie-rocker the like of which Elbow or Doves would be proud of, the latter an obscenely mellow soirée that evokes the stoner lounge act of Adam Green. Reminiscent of other acts at times, Sparks Fly is nonetheless an impressive first offering. - Alternative Ulster
...Next stop was Eamonn Dorans for Belfast's SPARKS FLY. I'm told this was their first show ever in Dublin but it made little difference to those in the building as they brought their HOLLIES meets THEM era-Van Mo. Singer Rory has an incredible voice, and this band has raw talent in excess. The right producer working with the songwriting duo in the band could make sparks fly. - Future Sounds
Discography
Start It Again ep. 2008 - Airplay on BBC Radio 1, BBC 6Music, Dublin Phantom FM.
Photos
Bio
A year is a short time for a band to be together, however in that time Sparks Fly have managed go from five slightly nervous guys playing together for the first time to appearing at Ireland's largest unsigned industry event, Dublin's Hard Working Class Heroes Festival. Along the way they have gathered praise from ex-Killers manager Larry Little and Snow Patrol agent Steve Strange, have been playlisted multiple times on BBC Radio 1, BBC6 Music and Irelands Phantom FM and have supported up and coming US act Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin.
The charm of Sparks Flys music is its accessibility and broad appeal. The tracks on their recently released EP 'Save Some for Me' are a diverse set of songs that showcase the band's musical breadth, ranging from quirky sunkissed acoustic performances, through the title track's reflective but powerful slow burn, to driving indie rock. Their three guitar/three part harmony combination backed up by a powerful rhythm section enable them to create vintage wall of sound rock music and reflective, subtle confessionals and has seen them compared to such artist as Elbow, Doves and Adam Green.
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