The Holidays are an Australian four piece pop rock band. Formed in Sydney in 2006, the band consists of Simon Jones (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Will Magnus (lead guitar), Alex Kortt (bass guitar) and Andrew Kerridge (drums).

[edit] Biography

Emerging in late 2006, The Holidays quickly established themselves and developed a growing buzz in the Sydney music scene. The Holidays are described as "a band that has perfectly distilled the sound of the best part of the decade into perfect pop song sized pieces."^[1] "The Holidays grab a wide mix of influences, all along the (long-listed) indie/alt/garage/pop/trad rock line, and put it together in a way that is unique yet familiar". ^[2]

Within their first year as a band together, The Holidays played at the first Playground Weekender Festival, toured with Jamie T,^[3] toured with The View,^[4] toured with Ben Kweller,^[5] and recorded an EP of demos which quickly sold out at gigs and received regular airplay on radio stations both in Australia ^[6] and in the USA.^[7]

In November 2007, The Holidays were featured on the Next Crop segment of national youth radio station Triple J.^[8]

A classic guitar rock band with pop melodies that recall bands such as Teenage Fanclub and Television,^[9] The Holidays announced their signing with independent Australian record label Liberation Music in early 2008.

The Holidays released their debut EP on 19 April 2008 to positive reviews ^[10], which was followed by a substantial national tour to promote the release.

They released their second EP "When The Ship Goes Down" in October 2008, which showed the bands natural progression with song-writing. Recorded with Wayne Connolly of The Vines and Josh Pyke fame, "When The Ship Goes Down" is essentially a concept EP "about the decline of relationships and the thrill when one catches you by surprise"^[11]. The release of this EP was followed by a 20 date national tour, co-headlining with Brisbane band Yves Klein Blue.

"Moonlight Hours", the first single from their debut album was added to radio in November 2009, and included on rotation on national radio station Triple J with the rest of the album set to be released in early 2010.

[edit] Members

• Simon Jones - vocals, Guitar
• Will Magnus - Lead Guitar
• Alex Kortt - Bass Guitar
• Andrew Kerridge - drums, percussion

[edit] Touring

• Toured with Jamie T on his first Australian tour, in May 2007
• Toured with The View on their first Australian tour, in June 2007
• Toured with Ben Kweller on part of his national tour of Australia in October 2007
• Toured with Damn Arms on part of their national tour in November 2007
• Played nationally at the 2008 St Jerome's Laneway Festival
• Toured with The Wombats on their first Australian Tour in March 2008
• Toured with Wolf & Cub in June/July 2008
• Toured with Lightspeed Champion on his first Australian tour in July 2008
• Toured with Little Red in August/September 2008 on their Listen to Little Red album tour
• Completed a 20 date co-headline tour of Australia with Yves Klein Blue in October 2008
• Played at Homebake 2008
• Played at Falls Festival over New Years 2008/2009

[edit] Discography

• The Holidays EP (release date 19 April 2008)
• When The Ship Goes Down EP (release date 11 October 2008)

[edit] Further information

• The Holidays song 'Telephone' was featured on an Australian television advertising campaign for Clearasil in late 2007.

[edit] References