Location
Leicester
Genre
Indie
Influences
The Stone Roses, The Libertines
Biography
The Utopians are a four member indie band based in Leicester. They play their own songs and are prolific song writers. They formed under their current name in February 2007. Previously, two of the current members played in a band called Nocturnal and both have been giving public performances since they were 13. The Utopians compose catchy, memorable songs that have proved to be popular with their fans and audiences.
Band Members
Jason Westall, 19, lead singer
James Shaw, 18, Rhythm Guitarist and backing vocals
Jay d'Mellow, 21, Bassist
Neal Gray, 23, Drummer
Recorded Songs
There's a train, 2007 (on the band's Myspace)
I can see it, 2007 (on the band's Myspace)
The band will be recording new demo songs in January 2008
Composed Songs
Diadora (2007)
I can see it (2007)
Pissed up in Prague (2007)
There's a train (2007)
Don't drag him down (2007)
Jason only knows (2008)
Sort your rates out (2008)
Love letters from Leicester (2007)
Road to Utopia (written in 2006)
They'll lever know (2008)
Web Sites
The Utopians on MySpace
The Utopians official website
Utopians Facebook
Utopians Facebook Tours
Gigs
2007
The band has played in many parts of the UK, including Birmingham and Cambridge.
The band performed on the New Acts Stage at the Glastonbudget Festival in May.
21 Feb - Utopians EP Launch Night - The Shed, Leicester
7 March - with The Screening and this Party Melts - The Shed
12 March - The Shed
18 March - The Shed - Glaston budget Showcase
29 March - Leicester High School for Girls
20th April - Sruffy Murphys, Birmingham
26th April - The Alchemist, Leicester
28th April - The Shed, Leicester, Mermaid Cafe Promotions Night
29th May - The Carlotte, Leicester supporting the Wombats
15th June - The Shed, Leicester, Original Bands Showcase
23rd June - The Shed, Pride Rock
4th July - The Sun Bar, with Quarternary Limit
9th October - The Shed, Leicester
28th October - The Shed, Leicester, Glastonbudget Showcase
3rd November - Maddisons, Leicester
4th December - Man on the Moon, Cambridge
20th December - The Shed, Charity Fundraiser
28th December - the Charlotte, Leicester, PORKED night supporting EGO ARMALDE
2008
Upcoming shows include Mono Bar (Birmingham), Venue 45 (Manchester), The Cavern Club (Liverpool), The Dublin Castle (London), The Voodoo Lounge (Plymouth) and the Nuneaton Music Festival.
Click on MySpace link above for latest details
Notable achievements
One of the band's tracks was played by Zane Lowe on his BBC Radio1 show; he commented "This stuff's not bad, not bad at all"
Jason Westall and James Shaw sang live on BBC Radio Leicester's Jo Bostok Show; Jo commented "a band with the potential to make into the big time"
Reviews
"Upbeat indie rockers from The Midlands, The Utopians deserve to be mentioned in the same breath as some of Leicester's more established unsigned bands. Certainly, if ever there was a cross between The Screening and Ego Armalade, it might sound something like this.
Breezy, likeable, enjoyable opener 'There's A Train' is good work, and has a Dirty Pretty Things ring to it at times, with The Kooks' Naive a track that is measurable in terms of its catchy appeal. The lyrics and vocals are something else, though, and impress in a style of geezer rock.
'I Can See It' is a rockier affair, and the guitar work especially is impressive here, before their BBC Radio Leicester airing of There's A Train' taking pride of place on their MySpace player. I really like this band".
- Demo's Reviewed Magazine
Management
The band is managed by Trevor Locke of Get Your Band On.
Fan Base Organisation
There is a mailing list linked to the band's official web site. This has 25 users.
The band's MySpace has 2,741 friends (January 2008)
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