website: www.reverbnation.com/stratusrocks
www.facebook.com/stratusrocks
twitter: @StratusR0cks
Email us at stratusrocks@hotmail.co.uk

STRATUS ROCKS! Ring any bells? Well that’s about to change! After many years of building their solid foundations in the secretive shadows, Stratus Rocks is claiming centre stage. With their unique outlook on classic rock and 90’s grunge mixed with that something different, the band play the music that they want to hear!

Stratus Rocks from Southend-on-Sea, Essex, UK, was started by a chance meeting between Stu (Guitar) and Lee (Vocals) during a football match at the pub. Although their opinions on the beautiful game differed substantially it wasn't too long before talk moved onto music, a subject they definitely saw eye to eye on. Both with a love for classic heavy rock and a feeling of deep dissatisfaction about the current musical scene they decided to get together for a jam. This proved difficult because of commitments with other bands. However, when they did finally get together in Lee’s hallway, it was clear that the chemistry was definitely there.

For two years Stratus Rocks (or Stratus as they were known at the time) grew from strength to strength wowing audiences with their explosive and passionate performances mixed with exquisite musicianship and talented song writing. They won new fans at every event leading to their first independent EP release of "Society's Leper". With hundreds of copies and downloads sold the forth track "The Medicine" appeared on BBC Essex's "introducing" radio show. Then just as Stratus Rocks' success had reached a point for them to head back into the studio to work on their second EP,” Hindsight Beyond Hindsight”, a clash of personalities led to their bass player and drummer leaving the band. Stu the bands’ guitarist, co-songwriter and co-producer, stepped in and played bass guitar so that "Hindsight Beyond Hindsight" actually happened.

Promoting the EP was helped by the addition of Lee's sister on bass and her boyfriend on drums. With a complete line up, Stratus smashed every gig they had with truly memorable performances. Unfortunately, they left the band in early 2012 to seek lifetime ambitions to travel.

Lee's distinctive voice, on/off stage charisma and ability to captivate his audience knows no bounds, especially when combined with Stu’s electrifying solos and mind shattering riffs. As a duo, Lee and Stu were noticed, talked about, and full of promise, the only hindrance was finding other permanent band members that shared their chemistry.

Then the strangest of things happened…
An old mutual friend (who knew of Stratus Rocks’ predicament with the impending departure of their bass player and drummer) bumped into Alex (Bass) and thought this was too good a combination to miss! He re-introduced the incredible bass player Alex to Stu. Alex and Stu first met in 1997 via an advert for a band in the local music shop window. They went on to learn their craft and hone their skills playing together as teenagers in their successful Southend band Backlash, who most notably had air play on Radio Caroline.
A jam was then arranged with Lee at a local studio. It had been 7 years since Alex and Stu had played together, it was like a missing piece of the puzzle and Alex joined the band.

Stratus Rocks went on to write and perform new acoustic material whilst they looked for the drummer that would tie them all together. Dan was recommended by an old school friend of Stu’s, and was put through his paces facing some tough competition during auditions. Having played since he was 13, Dan has developed a style that is both classic yet modern, fitting in with and completing Stratus Rocks’ diverse and talented background.

The band decided to change its name from Stratus to STRATUS ROCKS in January 2013, feeling that the new band members signified a new approach and era in the bands history. With new material having airplay on the MTM Rock Show with Jaspa, and a live appearance on Phoenix98Fm’s Musical Meanderings show STRATUS ROCKS are set to rise and rise.

This extremely talented quartet are writing their most exciting material to date!!


In Colour is a new band with heart and history, created by acclaimed UK Producer Dan Weller and fronted by Weller’s co-writers Ciaran Cahill (synth) and Dan Tompkins (lead vocals). Having been the talk of the British underground for some time, In Colour is finally ready for its introduction to the world with debut video, 'Listen For The Rain’.
 
Weller states “This has been bubbling away for years. Ciaran and I first started writing together in '07. Along with our rock roots we all share a love of 80's and 90's pop music. We want to create something ambitious and unique that fuses it all into a massive sound. Finding Pete Skipper (bass) and Darren Baxter (drums) completed the sound we were after on record and in the live band”
 
Recordings of initial demos at Karma Sound in Thailand confirmed that the band had something very special. Spending every spare moment of 2013 recording tracks for their debut album - they now have  Jeremy Wheatley (Moby, Pet Shop Boys, Empire Of The Sun) at the mix desk. In Colour is in motion.

contact:

weareincolour@gmail.com

www.weareincolour.com

www.facebook.com/weareincolour

www.twitter.com/weareincolour

www.youtube.com/weareincolour

AWARDS and HONOURS:

Prog Award - Male Vocalist Of The Year 2015 - Nomination
Rolling Stone - Best Album 2015 (Critics Choice) Skyharbor
Rolling Stone - Best Song 2015 ‘Evolution’ (Critics Choice) Skyharbor
Prog Award (2014) – Artist of the year Nomination – TesseracT
Prog Award (2014) – Breakthrough Nomination – Skyharbor
Prog Award (2014) – Limelight Nomination – White Moth Black Butterfly
Metal Hammer (2014) – Golden God Nomination ‘Global Metal Band’ Skyharbor 
Jack Daniel’s (2013) - Band of the year – Skyharbor
Rolling Stone (2013) - Band Of The Year (Critics Choice) – Skyharbor
Rolling Stone (2013) - Best Album (Critics Choice) – Skyharbor
Rolling Stone (2013) - Best Song ‘Dots’ (Critics Choice) – Skyharbor
Rolling Stone (2013) - Band Of The Year (Popular Vote) – Skyharbor
Rolling Stone (2013) - Best Album (Popular Vote) – Skyharbor
Rolling Stone (2013) - Best Song ‘Dots’ (Popular Vote) – Skyharbor
Rolling Stone (2012) - Best Song ‘Maeva’ – Skyharbor
Rolling Stone (2012) - Best Emerging Artist – Skyharbor
Prog Award (2012) - New Blood Award – TesseracT (One)
Kerrang! (2011) –  5K Live Review @Sonisphere Festival – TesseracT
Metal Hammer (2011) - Golden God Nomination – Best New Band – TesseracT

BIOGRAPHY:

Daniel Tompkins is an award winning and innovative British singer / songwriter from Nottinghamshire in The East Midlands. More widely recognised as the singer for TesseracT with his unique live performances and unmistakable dramatic soundscapes on the highly acclaimed albums ‘One’ and 'Polaris'. Since 2009 Daniel has established himself as a highly respected vocalist with a dedicated worldwide fan base. Arguably one of the busiest collaborative vocalists, Daniel’s voice has been celebrated as one of the best in modern progressive rock and metal.
 
Daniel has released a diverse catalogue of records to date and in doing so demonstrated a natural ability to marry his distinct voice to various genres and yet remain in mesmerising control of his audience. However, much more than a recording artist, he is an accomplished performer who has earned a host of awards and honours having toured the world, sharing the stage with artists such as Iron Maiden, Gojira, Lamb of God, Devin Townsend, Meshuggah, Senses Fail, Animals As Leaders, No Use For A Name, Periphery and Protest The Hero
 
Looking to the future Daniel now balances his time between TesseracT and White Moth Black Butterfly and his various collaborations continuing to create a strong impression within the music industry. 
 
PEER AND PRESS QUOTES:

“Dan has a hell of a voice!!!” – DEVIN TOWNSEND 
 
“Check out the awesome vocals of Dan Tompkins, the man can sing YEAH!!’ – JON GOMM
 
“The dramatic soundscapes Dan Tompkins creates really are on another level, standing above the current crop of vocalists out there. Tesseract are destined for great things with a frontman leading the charge like this…one of the best vocals in modern metal” – SCUZZ TV (UK)
 
“An exceptional album from (White Moth Black Butterfly) Dan Tompkins. An absolutely essential work. Experimental, accessible and quite brilliant. This ranks high amongst this year’s progressive releases.” – Classic Rock Presents Prog Magazine
 
“There are so many musicians out there who jump from genre to genre and experiment with different kinds of sound but not all of them are able to pull it off. Out there, a bunch of them have the ability to make things so awkward, you’d just want to question what they were thinking. But then again, there are the special ones, the ones who shine in the dark and shine even brighter against the sun. The One’s who fully understand and are able to control their capabilities and of course the ones who actually know how to take things to the next level. They have this gift in whatever they do, it just works. One man who’s got this gift is UK-based vocalist, Daniel Tompkins – PULP MAGAZINE (MANILA)

London Road Studios is a recording space for musicians based in Leigh-on-Sea. Please have a listen to our latest work!

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