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Originally assembled in 2016, and coming at you from Sunderland in the North East of England, Gwailo have been ripping up the live scene since 2017. Dispatching edgy swagger, fiery energy, and filthy rock ‘n’ roll riffs, Gwailo take in the early potency of Guns ‘N’ Roses, the guile of Led Zeppelin, and the high voltage vibes of AC/DC. The end result is breathtaking and unmissable.
Fronted by vocalist, Michael Curry, with David Henry on lead guitar, Kyle Dickinson handling rhythm guitar, Steve Crosby on bass, and Adrian Marczyk pounding on the drums, the five-piece have an accomplished line-up of true players and real characters that are unwavering in creating killer rock cuts. Connect with the band, below:
What are the origins of Gwailo, how long have you been playing together?
Gwailo as a band has been around since 2016 but with different lineups. When the band first started it was a four-piece and as time went on members changed as they do, and the current lineup you see today has been around for about two years now.
What should people expect when they check the band out? How would you describe Gwailo?
Gwailo definitely gives a nod back to the classic rock bands of the 70s and 80s but with each member having slightly different personal influences you’ll find a few more modern twists. Our songs have their own personality meaning you won’t find two songs sounding the same which keeps an audience on their toes and ears perked.
How did you feel performing your first gig as a band, and how was it?!
Performing with new people has its challenges but we were well-rehearsed for the show so that helps kill some nerves. We are a professional bunch of lads so we know once the music is tight you can have fun after that. Overall, the gig was great, and we had a killer response.
What are you working on at the minute that people can check out?
We have just released our new single called ‘Rock n Roll Seduction’ which is the second single with the new lineup so check the video out on YouTube or your preferred streaming service.
Regarding a similar audience, which band at the minute do you feel that Gwailo would be best suited to open for?
Kyle- Dirty Honey are a cool band we keep an eye on. They have a good classic rock vibe and good live energy that I think is similar to our shows.
Excluding yourself, which new band would you like to see break out and become a success?
Michael- We all like These Wicked Rivers. They are doing well at the moment, and they have started touring in Europe so to see them play bigger shows would be awesome.
What frustrates you about the music business?
Kyle- When looking into taking that next step traditionally a band would seek the coveted record deal but, in this day and age that’s changed. Albums don’t sell as well as they used to, and record companies want more than the finished article when signing a band so we have to build the band by ourselves.
What are your first musical memories? And what lightbulb moment made you say “I want to do that”?
David- I Remember hearing rock music for the first time in my dad’s car, it was Guns N Roses- Sweet Child O Mine. From then I was hooked on Guns N Roses and rock music. From then as I learned about different bands, it sparked a passion to learn guitar and be a musician.
What was the last gig that you attended as a fan?
David- The last gig I saw was the mighty AC/DC at Wembley Stadium. Absolutely awesome gig and a lesson in stagecraft.
What current social issues are you particularly passionate about?
Climate change is big with us because we are all lovers of the natural world and don’t want to see harm come to the world. We all grew up watching David Attenborough shows and it would be terrible to see so many amazing things disappear.
The album that you have in your album collection/Spotify playlist that would surprise most people?
David- No surprise albums but I have a few singles I listen to like Billy Joel’s ‘Piano Man’, and ‘Vienna’, bits of Country music, and some real classic stuff like Little Richard.
Everybody is a fan of something, who or what are you a fan of?
David- Outside of music I’m a fan of motorcycles, I have a Harley Davidson so I enjoy riding as much as I can. I’m currently planning a Route 66 trip with my partner who also rides Harleys.
What new music have you been enjoying so far this year?
Steve- I’m really into Civic Green at the moment I love the no-frills, gritty vibes and every song is a summer banger.
What does the remainder of 2024 hold for Gwailo?
It’s going to be a great year for us as far as music releases. At the moment we have ‘Rock N Roll Seduction’, but we’ve already started recording our next set of singles and possibly an EP.
How active are you on social media and where can people connect with you?
We stay very active on Facebook and Instagram so we can keep everyone up to date and keep new content flowing. We have our website www.Gwailo.co.uk which gets updated with all our gig dates.
