Billy Bibby & The Wry Smiles

Billy Bibby & The Wry Smiles
Band members Billy Bibby, Matt Bassy, Rob Jones and Mike Pearce at Telford's Warehouse
Background information
Origin	Llandudno, North Wales, United Kingdom
Genres	Rock
Years active	2015–present
Labels	Unsigned
Associated acts	Catfish and the Bottlemen Sustinere Modern King
Members	Billy Bibby Rob Jones Matt Bassy Mike Pearce

Billy Bibby & The Wry Smiles are a British indie rock band formed in the autumn of 2015 in the area around Llandudno, North Wales and Chester, UK. The band is fronted by former lead guitarist and founding member of the British indie rock band Catfish and the Bottlemen who parted ways with the band in the summer of 2014. Soon thereafter, Billy Bibby began writing songs and playing acoustic shows in various UK cities in order to test public response to his new music. In the spring of 2015, Billy Bibby began seeking musicians to form a new band. Auditions were conducted with the help of Simon Jones, formerly of The Verve. Band members Rob Jones (lead guitar), Matt Bassy (bass), and Michael Pearce (drums) were selected to form the four-piece ensemble.

Billy Bibby & The Wry Smiles released their debut single "Waitin’ for You" on 3 November 2015. The song has received radio play on BBC Radio Wales, Radio X, UIC Radio Chicago, RKC, and other independent radio stations. The band played their first live show at Telford's Warehouse in Chester, UK on 28 November 2015 and toured extensively throughout the UK playing more than 20 shows from January–March 2016. Billy Bibby & The Wry Smiles released their debut EP Bide Your Time on 5 February 2016. It was recorded at Orange Sound Recording Studio in Penmaenmawr, North Wales with record producer Russ Hayes who had previously worked with Bibby on two EPs released by Catfish and the Bottlemen. All songs on the debut EP are written by Billy Bibby. On 17 June 2016, the band released another single produced by Hayes called "Are You Ready?" the song received advance radio play by Adam Walton of BBC Radio Wales and Jo Good of Radio X as well as coverage by NME^[1] and emerging music websites such as XS Noize^[2] and Best New Bands.^[3]

On 9 November 2016 it was announced by BBC Music that Billy Bibby & The Wry Smiles had been awarded Horizons Launchpad 2016 funding for new music development. Billy Bibby and Matt Bassy were interviewed by Eleri Siôn of BBC Radio Wales about the award the same day.^[4][5]

Billy Bibby names Elvis Presley, Fleetwood Mac, Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits, Noel Gallagher, and George Harrison of The Beatles as key musical influences. Bibby's music was described by Radio X DJ Clint Boon as "That classic sort of British songwriting with a strong nod to Americana".

Discography

EPs

Singles

^[6]

External links

• Official website
• Billy Bibby Soundcloud
• Billy Bibby Spotify
• Billy Bibby Facebook
• Billy Bibby Twitter

References

1. ↑ http://www.nme.com/news/catfish-the-bottlemen/94378
2. ↑ http://www.xsnoize.com/track-of-the-day-billy-bibby-the-wry-smiles-are-you-ready/
3. ↑ http://www.bestnewbands.com/interviews/billy-bibby-life-catfish/
4. ↑ http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p04fmj5s/p04fmggg
5. ↑ http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0812lq0
6. ↑ http://www.dailypost.co.uk/whats-on/music-nightlife-news/listen-billy-bibby-wry-smiles-11416774

^{[1][2][3] [4][5] [6]}

1. ↑ Blore-Bizot, Julie. "Billy Bibby is Back – Former Catfish and the Bottlemen Lead Guitarist Embarks Upon a New Musical Journey". Retrieved 18 March 2016. 
2. ↑ Seaman, Duncan. "Gig Preview – Billy Bibby at Milo Leeds". Retrieved 18 March 2016. 
3. ↑ Castle, Jill. "Billy Bibby on Catfish and the Bottlemen, Fresh Starts, and 'Mental' Scottish Crowd Antics". Retrieved 19 March 2016. 
4. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-03-24. Retrieved 2016-03-19. 
5. ↑ Blore-Bizot, Julie. "The Name of the Band is Billy Bibby & The Wry Smiles". Retrieved 18 March 2016. 
6. ↑ http://www.eventhestars.co.uk/2016/02/billy-bibby-interview.html