Solabeat Alliance

Solabeat Alliance was a UK Ska Punk band formed late in 1998 under the name Spankboy. They drew influences from Caribbean culture through to Calypso, Ska and Punk Rock.

Biography
Solabeat Alliance (then Spankboy) began by playing gigs in and around the local area, most notably Salisbury Arts Centre, where they often sold-out the venue. In 2000 they released the self-financed album Adventures In Blue Flash, which sold over 1000 copies. In 2001 they booked themselves into Channel House Studios in Bristol to record what would become the Medication EP which sold thousands at gigs and at shops nationwide.

In the summer of 2002 the band undertook a headline tour that saw them play over 70 shows in 3 months, including playing at the Sound Club in Leicester Square and Wolverhampton Civic Hall where they won the National Battle of the Bands. It was after these dates the band signed to Moon Ska Europe.

To coincide with their support on the November-December 2002 tour, Solabeat Alliance, then known as Spankboy, released the 'Rise on Up' EP, featuring two re-recorded favourites from the now sold out 'Adventures in Blue Flash' - 'Tongue Tied' and 'Perfect Day' - and two newer cuts 'Set it Off' and 'Summer Nights'. This 'Rise On Up' EP went down well on the 'Over The Moon Tour 2003', a tour featuring Solabeat Alliance as main support for Whitmore - a tour which ended with 2 performances on a party boat on the Thames.

After the tour, the band mutually parted company with bassist Joe Cleaver. In summer 2003 they headed down to Exeter to record their first "proper" full length album with legendary rock producer Phil Johnstone. The band spent a good 2 months in Phil's studio, with the album finally getting released in March 2004.

The end of 2003 saw Solabeat Alliance supporting New York Ska legends The Toasters, and American Acoustic-Ska artist Chris Murray, on tour in the UK, followed shortly by the Moon Ska Europe all-day gig "Lift Off Into 2004" at the London Carling Academy Islington.

Early in 2004 the band headed down to Exeter to shoot a video for the song 'All Or Nothing' with production company Pangaea. This video received regular rotation on music channel Scuzz TV.

Early in 2004, the band again did a headline tour of the UK with friends Route 215 as main support. This was to be the band's final headline tour. After May 2004 the band's touring schedule slowed down slightly, but they played what fans consider to be a memorable set on the main stage at Beautiful Days Festival in August, which is organised by friends The Levellers.

After the band decided to split at the end of 2004, they headed out on a final tour of the UK with , Whitmore and Phinius Gage, finishing with a sold-out show at London's Mean Fiddler.

Band members
*Tim Moore (Vocals)
*Oliver Tooze (Drums)
*Paul Fields (Guitars)
*Daniel Cole (Bass)
*Jeremy Dunham (Trumpet)
*John Jenkins (Trombone/Vocals)
*Richard la Velle (Saxophone/Vocals)

Ex Members
*Joe Cleaver (Bass Guitar)

Discography
EPs
* Medication (as Spankboy) - 2001
* Rise On Up (as Spankboy) - 2002

Albums
* Adventures In Blue Flash (as Spankboy) - 2000
* Island Fire - 2004

Videos
* All Or Nothing (taken from Island Fire) - 2004

Trivia

*Trumpet player, Jeremy Dunham now plays bass guitar in Bristol-based rock band Turbowolf. They recently recorded a CD produced by former Solabeat Alliance trombonist John Jenkins.
*Guitarist Paul Fields now plays Guitar in Salisbury-based rock band Mitchell Devastation (formerly Dirty Pretty Things), and was awarded Best Salisbury Guitarist at the 2005/2006 Salisbury Rock Awards.
*Tim Moore, John Jenkins and Paul Fields performed together at the 2006 "10BC" concert at Salisbury City Hall, which celebrated 10 years of local youth/music project Bass Connection. Among covers of Pink Floyd, Ben Harper and Bedouin Soundclash, they performed the Solabeat Alliance track 'Dusk 'til Dawn'.
*Richard la Velle is now studying osteopathic medicine with a view to working within the music industry focusing on mechanical injuries sustained by musicians.

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