Merry Hell tickets and listings

MERRY HELL is the essence of blistering Folk/Rock:
Launched on the world in 2011, Merry Hell is an 8-piece band combining male and female vocals with mandolin, electric guitars, bass, drums and keyboards plus the intention to revolutionise the genre.

The roots of Merry Hell are in The Tansads for the many who knew them, possibly the finest band never to have made it BIG. From their early 90s origins, this 9-piece quasi folk-punk-rock orchestra enjoyed a career that spanned 5 albums and countless tours. Though they went their separate ways for some 10 years, The Tansads were again brought together, in 2010, for 3 triumphant reunion gigs at their spiritual home of The Citadel, St Helens, the venue for their celebratory live album, Drag Down the Moon.

As the dust settled on the reunion shows, the decision had already been made that a revitalized band should take the spirit of The Tansads forward into a new era. So Merry Hell was raised.

The Kettle brothers, John, Bob, and Andrew are back, joined by Johns wife, Virginia, who brings both acoustic guitar and the perfect vocal foil to Andrews gravelly delivery to complete the Kettle quaternary. Former Tansads members, Lee Goulding on keyboards, drummer Phill Knight, and guitarist, Tim Howard, consolidate the line-up, which is completed by new boy Andrew Dawson on bass.

Known for their original, emotionally charged and anthemic songs, this band are just as much at home producing exquisitely crafted recordings in the studio as they are in their high-energy assaults on the souls of live audiences.

If you ever loved The Tansads, then your heart has been crying out for MERRY HELL.