Ex-pat Wanganui musician Leo Francis (centre) plays acoustic guitar in Melbourne-based The Rechords with Felix Potier (left) and Tyron Shaw, who have been nominated in the Roots/Country genre of the EP category in the 13th annual Independent Music Awards.
Ex-pat Wanganui musician Leo Francis (centre) plays acoustic guitar in Melbourne-based The Rechords with Felix Potier (left) and Tyron Shaw, who have been nominated in the Roots/Country genre of the EP category in the 13th annual Independent Music Awards.
Ex-pat Wanganui musician Leo Francis' band The Rechords have been nominated in the EP category of the 13th annual Independent Music Awards.
Based in Melbourne, The Rechord's nomination is in the roots/country genre with their EP I Don't Know Myself off the self-released album It Won't be Long.
The Rechords- Tyron Shaw on double bass, Felix Potier electric guitar and Francis acoustic guitar - are up against Twin Peaks (Canada), Mike Beach (USA) and Lindsay Brandt (USA).
"It is interesting that we, as an Antipodean act, have been nominated. There is one other that I'm aware of, The Nymphs, also of Melbourne."
Francis said The Rechords formed their three-piece country/hillbilly rock 'n' roll group in 2009 through a mutual love of early '50s American music.
Most of their songs feature two- or three-part harmonies.
"After we managed to get our heads around that hillbilly sound in the first year or so we began writing more of our own material which naturally has brought our sound a little more into the present."
In 2011, Rechords played at Rockabilly Day in Belgium and High Rockabilly near Barcelona, Spain.
"Getting on the bill at these events just about covered our airfares. We made up the difference by touring across Belgium, Holland and Germany on our way to Spain, playing various pub nights and car shows along the way.
"We thoroughly enjoyed the hospitality of the Europeans and really caught the bug bad."
In 2013, Rechords went back and played more of Germany, Austria, Belgium and Holland.
They finished off with another Spanish beachside town, Callela's Screamin' Festival, near Barcelona.
Folks can vote for The Rechords at http://www.independentmusicawards.com/imanominee/13th/EP/Roots-Country
