Over the Wall (band)
Encyclopedia
Over The Wall are a pop-rock-folk band based in Glasgow
, Scotland
. The outfit consists of Ben Hillman (vocals/keyboards/trumpet/electronics/guitar) and Gavin Prentice (vocals/guitar/keyboards), a lineup that has remained unaltered since forming in 2006. The band released their debut album Treacherous in the United Kingdom
on 22 November 2010, on Motive Sounds Recordings. The album received positive initial reviews, with This Is Fake DIY
describing it as "...one of the more stunning albums of the year". The Skinny hailed the album's "...impressively imaginitive variety", and awarded it a 4-out-of-5 rating.
, Prentice and Hillman ran a regular evening called 'Over The Wall' at the now-defunct Stereo bar, on the city's Kelvinhaugh Street. Having performed both individually and with various friends at these events, the pair soon began collaborating as a duo, and quickly found their idiosyncratic-yet-natural niche: euphoric, folk-tinged pop music.
In 2007 Over The Wall performed at Scotland's largest music festival, T In The Park
, having been selected from over 1,200 unsigned bands. In 2008 they beat off competition from 800 entrants to secure a slot at the End Of The Road Festival
in Dorset
, England
. The band have played numerous shows with close friends We Were Promised Jetpacks
, and continue to tour across the United Kingdom
on a regular basis.
Since their early days, praise and support have come from broadcaster and DJ Vic Galloway
, leading to frequent airplay on his BBC Radio 1
and BBC Radio Scotland
shows. BBC Radio 6 Music presenters Steve Lamacq
and Tom Robinson
have also given regular exposure to the band's music, the latter having hosted live sessions and interviews with the band on his show.
In the early part of 2011, the band embarked on a lengthy tour across the UK and Ireland. In mid-March, 'Shifts' (the opening track from Treacherous) was featured in the finale of the 5th series of Skins
on Channel 4
in the United Kingdom
. Also that month, the second series of critically acclaimed BBC 1 Scotland comedy series Burnistoun
aired with a new theme tune: 'Thurso', the closing track from Treacherous.
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. The outfit consists of Ben Hillman (vocals/keyboards/trumpet/electronics/guitar) and Gavin Prentice (vocals/guitar/keyboards), a lineup that has remained unaltered since forming in 2006. The band released their debut album Treacherous in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
on 22 November 2010, on Motive Sounds Recordings. The album received positive initial reviews, with This Is Fake DIY
This Is Fake DIY
This Is Fake DIY is a United Kingdom-based music webzine dedicated to alternative music. It is named after a song by the Scottish alternative rock group Bis....
describing it as "...one of the more stunning albums of the year". The Skinny hailed the album's "...impressively imaginitive variety", and awarded it a 4-out-of-5 rating.
History
Having met while studying at the University of GlasgowUniversity of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland's four ancient universities. Located in Glasgow, the university was founded in 1451 and is presently one of seventeen British higher education institutions ranked amongst the top 100 of the...
, Prentice and Hillman ran a regular evening called 'Over The Wall' at the now-defunct Stereo bar, on the city's Kelvinhaugh Street. Having performed both individually and with various friends at these events, the pair soon began collaborating as a duo, and quickly found their idiosyncratic-yet-natural niche: euphoric, folk-tinged pop music.
In 2007 Over The Wall performed at Scotland's largest music festival, T In The Park
T in the Park
T in the Park is a major British music festival that has been held annually since 1994. It is named after its main sponsor, the brewing company Tennents. It was originally held at Strathclyde Park, Lanarkshire but since 1997 has been held at a disused airfield in Balado, Kinross-shire...
, having been selected from over 1,200 unsigned bands. In 2008 they beat off competition from 800 entrants to secure a slot at the End Of The Road Festival
End Of The Road Festival
End of the Road Festival is an annual music festival in England which focuses on alternative music, mostly folk, alt.country and Americana. It is hosted at the Larmer Tree Gardens, on the border of north Dorset and Wiltshire, and usually takes place over the first or second full weekend in...
in Dorset
Dorset
Dorset , is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The county town is Dorchester which is situated in the south. The Hampshire towns of Bournemouth and Christchurch joined the county with the reorganisation of local government in 1974...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. The band have played numerous shows with close friends We Were Promised Jetpacks
We Were Promised Jetpacks
We Were Promised Jetpacks is an indie rock band from Edinburgh, Scotland, comprising Adam Thompson , Michael Palmer , Sean Smith and Darren Lackie...
, and continue to tour across the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
on a regular basis.
Since their early days, praise and support have come from broadcaster and DJ Vic Galloway
Vic Galloway
Michael "Vic" Galloway is a DJ on BBC Radio Scotland and BBC Radio 1, Vic presents a self-titled show on Radio Scotland every Monday from 8:05pm-10pm and does the BBC Introducing Scotland Radio 1 programme Wednesday evenings/Thursday mornings from 12:00-2:00am...
, leading to frequent airplay on his BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
and BBC Radio Scotland
BBC Radio Scotland
BBC Radio Scotland is BBC Scotland's national English-language radio network. It broadcasts a wide variety of programming, including news, sport, light entertainment, music, the arts, comedy, drama, history and lifestyle...
shows. BBC Radio 6 Music presenters Steve Lamacq
Steve Lamacq
Steve Lamacq , sometimes known by his nicknames Lammo or "The Cat" is an English disc jockey, currently working with the BBC radio stations BBC 6 Music and BBC Radio 2.-Early career:He was born in Basingstoke, Hampshire...
and Tom Robinson
Tom Robinson
Tom Robinson is an English singer-songwriter, bassist and radio presenter, better known for the hits "Glad to Be Gay", "2-4-6-8 Motorway", and "Don't Take No for an Answer", with his Tom Robinson Band...
have also given regular exposure to the band's music, the latter having hosted live sessions and interviews with the band on his show.
In the early part of 2011, the band embarked on a lengthy tour across the UK and Ireland. In mid-March, 'Shifts' (the opening track from Treacherous) was featured in the finale of the 5th series of Skins
Skins (TV series)
Skins is a BAFTA award-winning British teen drama that follows a group of teenagers in Bristol, South West England, through the two years of college. The controversial plot line explores issues such as dysfunctional families, mental illness , adolescent sexuality, substance abuse and death...
on Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. Also that month, the second series of critically acclaimed BBC 1 Scotland comedy series Burnistoun
Burnistoun
Burnistoun is a sketch show for BBC Scotland by the Scottish comedians Iain Connell and Robert Florence. The show is produced by The Comedy Unit....
aired with a new theme tune: 'Thurso', the closing track from Treacherous.