The Great Escape 2007

From Mike Bones: "I grew up in New Jersey, in the same city as the talented and critically-acclaimed songwriter and performer Ted Leo. May I suggest then, that I am proof that even in a vast cesspool like New Jersey, there is nothing in the water. I taught myself to play the guitar and I achieved a Catholic high school education. At first chance, I moved across the river to New York City where I still live.

Wonderswan was conceived early in 2008 in a dark, damp basement in Leeds and incubated in a warm pouch by the radiant glow of a shared love for scuzzy 90s lo-fi slacker bands. The fledgling creature hatched in April with the addition of drummer G.E.D who heard the youngster crying out with hunger as he floated by attached to some helium balloons. With the additional nourishment of his frantic c86 style drummings, Wonderswan quickly matured and soon found itself performing alongside some of its own favourite bands, including Times New Viking, No Age, Copy Haho and Lovvers to name just a few.

Originally birthing in 2006, South Shields sextet Minotaurs have been all too quiet for the past year or so. Luckily the bulk of that time has been spent writing, honing and recording their long-awaited debut album 'Eat yr Hate' in deepest Northumberland with Woodpigeon producer, Arran Fisher. Giving weight to their choice of name, as performances by the band became less frequent their mythology seemed to grow.