Busy year ahead for Escape Act

2011 is shaping up to be a busy year for local band Escape Act, with the release of a new single at the end of this month, as well as an exclusive acoustic gig at the Oh Yeah! Centre in Belfast in February.

Escape Act have come a long way since their humble beginnings in 2006. The Belfast group are gearing up to release their second album 'Balance', and frontman Chris Heaney, who is from Lisburn, is understandably excited.

Recorded during 2009 by the legendary Glaswegian producer Andy Miller (Mogwai, Delgados, Life Without Buildings, The Fratellis), the album marks a departure from their first album, 'Loosely Based on Fiction'.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Escape Act formed as a 3 piece in 2006, swiftly gaining momentum and a swathe of early fans with the release of EP 'Hot Air'. The debut earned them critical acclaim across the blogosphere and garnered them airplay across the UK and Ireland on the likes of BBC Radio 1, Radio Ulster, and RTE 2FM. On recording their first album, 'Loosely Based on Fiction', Escape Act embarked on a partnership with producer Andy Miller that would cultivate their distinctive sound.

Between their stints in the studio, Escape Act have brought their energetic live show to the masses supporting Los Campesinos!, White Stripes, Sky Larkin and Sub Pop's Oxford Collapse among others.

As well as being regulars at Dublin's Hard Working Class Heroes festival, they also landed a spot on the IMRO Showcase Tour in 2009, and are familiar faces on the live circuit in Belfast.

The band, whose style is very melodic, draw their influences from a wide range of artists, including Neil Young, David Bowie, The Smiths, The Pixies, Interpol and Rufus Wainwright.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Chris admits it was hard work making the second album but he and the rest of the band are thrilled with the feedback it has received. "It was hard work making the second album," said Chris. "The music part was fun, we put a lot of time into the recording of it but post production and getting the artwork was hard work."

He went on to say: "Musically we are keen to keep moving forward and it is all worthwhile when you get people's response. We really enjoy creating the music.

"The new single is typical of the album, It is quite upbeat and melodic with a little brass in it to show we are branching out into new instruments.

"It is a nice shapshot of the album in terms of instrumentation and the upbeat nature."

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Chris will also be taking part in this month's Open Music Media Meet Up at the Black Box Cafe in Belfast on January 30. Open to all music lovers, 'So You Want To Make An Album?' is the theme of the evening and will discuss the creative, financial and organisational highs and lows facing bands today pulling together an album. Exclusive extracts will be played from Escape Act's film depicting the making of their second album, Balance. With follow up thoughts from Chris and a panel of local music industry insiders including Big Space Studios.

Tickets for the Oh Yeah Centre gig on February 15 are on sale now from all usual outlets.

For more information on Escape Act log onto their website www.escapeact.com.

Escape Act

Related topics: