Coast (folk rock band)

History

Coast was formed in the winter of 2007 by Stockport born singer-songwriter Paul Eastham. Classically trained pianist Eastham had previously co-written and co-produced the first EP by Welsh singer Duffy, the eponymously titled Aimée Duffy (EP) which was released in 2004 under the Welsh Awen Records label. Eastham also played keyboards, synths and guitar on the EP.

Coast's first EP was entitled The Great Crowd and released in January 2008, also on Awen Records. The EP featured original lead guitarist Phil Marshall. Coast followed up this release with their first live show at the Storm Club in Leicester Square, London on 12 March 2008. The line-up featured Chris Lappage (who by this time had replaced Phil Marshall on lead guitar) along with Phil Langman (Drums) and Ray Drury (Keyboards). Both Phil and Ray left the band soon after, Phil being replaced on drums by Mark Mongan.

In May 2009 Coast were asked to record the official single for 'Saints Aid' - a charity event organised by Southampton Football Club fans to raise funds to keep the club from going into liquidation. The single 'Colours' was subsequently released on 18 May 2009 and the band appeared at the 'Saints Aid' music festival at St Mary's Stadium in Southampton on 23 May 2009.

In September 2009 "Colours" hit the top of the German Web Radio Charts.

Coast released their eponymously titled debut album on 21 November 2009. The band held a sell-out album launch show at the Talking Heads in Southampton on the same date. The album was first previewed on the Karin Ingram Show on Radio Borders on 15 November 2009. Karin Ingram is manager of ex-Runrig lead singer Donnie Munro. One song from the album - To The Windward - was reviewed live on air by current Runrig lead singer Bruce Guthro

Coast appeared on the Sally Taylor Show on BBC Radio Solent on 23 January 2010 ahead of their appearance at the Danny Kyle Open Stage of Glasgow's Celtic Connections music festival on 24 January 2010.

Whilst on tour in Scotland at the end of February 2010 it was announced that Runrig's drummer Iain Bayne was to become the band's new manager. Iain Bayne introduced the band at their show at Hootananny's in Inverness on 27 February 2010. The band's show at Oban on 26 February was reviewed by The Oban Times.

On 8 March 2010 Glasgow's Celtic Music Radio Station selected Coast as their Album of the Week

On 16 March 2010 it was announced that Coast would appear on the same bill as Donnie Munro, Steve Harley, Status Quo and the Sugababes at the Rock4Life music festival near Inverness in May 2010. However, the festival was eventually cancelled by the organisers due to financial problems.

On 9 April 2010 it was announced that Coast would play their first non-UK show at the annual Danish Tonder Music Festival at the end of August 2010. Coast played on the same stage as Scottish folk rock bands Wolfstone and The Chair.

In May 2010, Eastham and Bowden collaborated with Kent based musician Trevor Osborne to record and produce the England World Cup song Go Win for England. The track was recorded under the pseudonym 'The Bulldog Brothers' and released on the Awen Records label.

Coast were runners-up in a competition run by Southampton-based radio station Wave 105.2 to support Bon Jovi at the O2 arena in London in June 2010.

On 1 July 2010, Chris Lappage (lead guitar) and Adam Bowden (bass) left the band. They were replaced by Russ Barnes and Hamish Ferguson respectively.

Coast played at the Tønder Festival on 27 August 2010 and 29 August 2010. Award winning Scottish fiddler Duncan Chisholm from Wolfstone joined Coast onstage to play fiddle on the song "The Beat of You" which is co-written by Coast lead singer Paul Eastham and Runrig's drummer Iain Bayne.

On 7 September 2010 Charlie Goodall joined Coast replacing lead guitarist Russ Barnes who had joined the band on a temporary basis to fulfill the band's commitment at the Tønder Festival. At the same time it was announced that Alec Stone was leaving the band.

On 6 October 2010 Coast announced that Steve Picken had joined the band, replacing Alec Stone on acoustic guitar.

On 6 October 2010 it was announced that Coast would be appearing at The Ironworks in Inverness, Scotland, on 3 December 2010 alongside Bruce and Jamie Watson from Scottish-based rock band Big Country.

On 7 November 2010 Radio Borders gave Coast's forthcoming new single "The Beat of You" its first radio airplay. The single features Iain Bayne from Runrig and Duncan Chisholm from Wolfstone.

On 19 November 2010 the single "The Beat of You" was released in download format only.

On 15 March 2011 it was announced that Charlie Goodall had left Coast who will now continue as a five piece band.

On 7 May 2011 Coast released their second album 'The Turning Stone' on their own 'Ruabhal Records' label. The band performed an album launch show at The Ironworks in Inverness, Scotland on the same date. They were supported by Donald MacDonald and The Islands and The Gritters. Donald MacDonald is the son of Calum MacDonald from Runrig. Eddie Jordan from the Scottish new wave band Fiction Factory joined Coast on stage, playing the accordion on the song Oceanos.

In May 2010 Coast announced that they had signed a CD distribution deal in Denmark with RecArt Entertainment Group.

On 12 June 2011 Coast played at the 50th Anniversary Concert for German retail giant Saturn. The concert was attended by over 10,000 Saturn employees from across Germany. Also playing at the event was Canadian singer/songwriter Bryan Adams and chart topping German acts Unheilig and Die Fantastischen Vier.

On 21 Jun 2011 Coast front man Paul Eastham released 'An Cuan Siar', a solo album of piano instrumentals.

On 25 September 2011 and 26 September 2011 Coast manager and Runrig drummer Iain Bayne played drums on the Coast song 'Docks of my Hometown' at the Tønder Festival in Denmark. At the same festival Coast's Paul Eastham and Steve Picken performed Bob Dylan's 'Like a Rolling Stone' with Runrig's Bruce Guthro and his son Dylan Guthro.

In September 2011 drummer Mark "Mongo" Mongan left the band.

On 17 September 2011 Iain Bayne played drums on all songs during Coast's set at the Odda Music Festival in Norway.

On 14 December 2011 it was announced that Andrej Chernjavskij had joined Coast as their new drummer. Andrej was born in Russia and raised in Latvia. He previously played drums for the popular Latvian group 'Mitrokhin's Master Band'

On 28 October 2012 Coast released the 3 track EP 'Believe'. The CD included the new song 'Believe' in addition to a radio edit version of 'The Caller' and the original version of 'Keep Loving'.

On 21 November 2012 it was announced that Andy Davey had joined the band as their new lead guitarist. Davey replaced Steve Picken who decided to leave the band for personal reasons. Davey played his first Coast gig at The Railway in Winchester, UK on 15 December 2012.

Eastham released the solo single 'Feel' on 14 Feb 2013.

Nick Tann joined the band on 9 July 2013 replacing Hamish Ferguson on bass.

Andy Davey played his last gig with the band on 25 October 2013 at The Waterside in Chelsea, London. Andy Davey was replaced by former Wolfstone lead guitarist Andy Murray.

On 1 December 2013, Eastham released the solo EP 'Something and Nothing'.

Coast released a Bruce Springsteen tribute song on 2 February 2014. The track 'I Wanna Sing with the Boss' was released on the band's official YouTube channel only.

In March 2014 it was announced that Keyboard player Chris Greer had joined Coast. It was also announced that drummer Andrej Chernjavskij had left the band and replaced by Steve Lawrence.

In April 2014 the band completed the recording of a new 4 track EP "Dancing with Satellites". The EP was produced and mixed by James Sanger at Vibey Studios in France. Sanger has previously worked on recordings by artists such as Dido, Keane, Pet Shop Boys and Phil Collins.

In May 2014 Eastham released the solo album 'PoW' (Prisoner of War). The album was released on CD format and download formats.

During their tour of Denmark in July 2014, Finlay Wells joined the band as bass player.

The EP "Dancing With Satellites" was released on 21 July 2014.

In 2014, Eastham collaborated with opera singer Tony Henry to compose, record and produce the EP Percosi.

In 2015, Eastham released the solo album 'Iron Horse'. The album was released on CD format only.

On 6 March 2016, the band announced that they had started work on their 3rd studio album, to be called Windmills in the Sky. The album is planned for release in early 2017. At the same time, the band announced a new line-up. Chris Greer and Steve Lawrence have left the band. Lawrence has been replaced by ex-Wolfstone drummer Graeme "Mop" Youngson. The band also announced that they were relocating their base from Southampton to Oban.

In August 2016, Andy Murray left the band to concentrate on other musical projects. Murray was not replaced and as such Coast became a four piece band with Finlay Wells picking up lead guitar recording duties in addition to bass.

On 3rd January 2017, Coast released a radio edit of the track River for radio airplay only, from their forthcoming album Windmills in the Sky.

On 31st January 2017, Coast's 3rd studio album, entitled Windmills in the Sky, was pre-released to their fan base who had signed up for pre-order. An official public release is planned for later in 2017.

Coast embarked on a tour of Denmark in January and February 2017 with Dave Williamson joining the band on bass guitar. Williamson has played bass in Midge Ure's band since 1998.

Albums

Singles & EPs

Guest Artists

The following guest artists have appeared on Coast releases and/or in live shows:

Tam Stewart - Bagpipes (Coast debut album; Various live shows)
Georgette Cullum - Backing vocals (Coast debut album; Album launch show)
Duncan Chisholm (Wolfstone) - Fiddle (Tønder Festival 2010; "The Beat of You" single; Folk im Schlosshof Festival 2011)
Iain Bayne (Runrig) - Lyrics and Drums ("The Beat of You" single); Also played drums at Tønder Festival 2011 and Odda Festival 2011
Arnie Cottrell - Mandolin (The Turning Stone album)
Emily Keohan - Backing vocals (The Turning Stone album)
Eddie Jordan (Fiction Factory) - Accordion (The Turning Stone album launch show)
Dave Williamson (Midge Ure band) - Bass (Coast Danish tour January/February 2017)