London, United Kingdom

John and the Beanstalk starts with Tom Hill and John McIvor, and a record player, in a conservatory in Acton, London, 2008. Long nights were spent listening to records, drinking red wine and playing music. The influence of this period, the consideration and patience that it fostered, is at the heart of the band. With the aim of injecting something new to the sound that was already starting to solidify, the two recruited drummer Boris Baumeister. Boris brought a voice all of his own, a dynamic range and rhythmic playfulness, taking the music to new territory (though one entirely sympathetic to the sound already defined by Tom and John). With the addition of Baumeister, hard work began on the first EP. The EP was released to an eager public in Whelan's, Dublin, in March 2010. Extensive gigging followed throughout the summer, including appearances at the Isle of Wight Festival, Manchester's MAPS, and the Flowerpot in Camden. The band were aired on various radio broadcasts, including Tom Robinson's Introducing... on BBC Radio 6Music. Throughout the proceedings, new songs were being written, and a tour of the UK and Ireland planned. In order to fulfill what had become a pressing need, current bassist Dónal Sweeney was brought into the fold in September 2010, a week before leaving for the first tour dates. In their white transit van, they covered 12 dates in three weeks, sowing their music where it would take root, John and the Beanstalk entered Windmill Lane Studios for an intensive recording session, resulting in their second EP, Institutionalised (to be released in April 2011). 2011 is set to be a big year for John and the Beanstalk, with the release of Institutionalised; a song featured on the new Communion Records compilation (released May 2nd 2011, also featuring Lissie, The Staves, Angus and Julia Stone, Alan Pownall).

"John McIvor & The Tizzlettes" - released 31st Dec. 2009, Homesick Records. "Institutionalised" EP - released 1st April 2011, Homesick Records.

2009

Tom Hill - guitar / vocals John McIvor - vocals / guitar Boris Baumeister - drums Donal Sweeney - bass / vocals

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