To put it bluntly, if you haven’t seen The Rising Souls yet then you must be a poor unfortunate type who lives in a dark cave somewhere on the outskirts of nowhere. For the last year this Edinburgh based 3 piece have swept through the Central Belt of Scotland leaving no ear unprovoked. Not to mention universal praise at the 2013 Edinburgh Festival and gigs in London, Essex, Prague and the momentous siege of Larkhall! No gig is too big, no gig too small. Their catchy soulful tunes never fail to impress and their presence on stage is infectiously beautiful.

These lads LOVE what they do and this is evident when you watch them live. They have a subconscious chemistry between them, a melding of minds and spirit. When you watch them it feels like you are a part of something special. Their well-rehearsed set feels fresh yet established. This is most likely due to the fact that they often throw in an improvised jam amongst their already rock solid set of tunes.

Their front man (Dave Archibald) is a powerhouse. His voice floats like a butterfly yet stings like a bee. His vocal is so mean it makes medicine sick . . . . Ok, that’s enough from Ali! Seriously though, this young mans exceptional voice has literally brought grown men and women to tears. Described as a cross between Paul Rodgers and Paulo Nutini, this undiscovered talent has a fierce roar against soft tonal intricacies and heart warming melodies. His voice is unique. His talent immense. In fact, his voice is that good it should be on your bucket list.

Alongside Dave is the incomparable Tom Reed on percussion and box. This multi-instrumentalist has paid his dues on the Edinburgh open mic and busking circuits. His musicality and timing are impeccable. The captain of the ship, he navigates the audience through a sea of ever changing rhythm and powerful dynamic. This man is the embodiment of ambidexterity and each of his limbs work in harmony to provide the percussive backdrop for the band. He is most definitely a sight to behold and a spectacle in his own right.

Joining Dave and Tom is Roy ‘Kelso’ Laing on bass. A soul man by trade, this actual real life giant has extraordinary feel and affinity with his instrument. Weaving out grooves to complement the musical tapestry created by the band. He is the master of the jam and the missing piece of the puzzle.

So there you have it folks, The Rising Souls are a band you simply MUST see. Like them on Facebook and get yourself along to their next gig. Immerse yourself in their music. Buy their new album. Buy them a pint. Be a legend…

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