“And I suddenly have one of those moments of clarity where I think “music has brought me here.” If you’re gonna try, go all the way, you know?” - Daniel Hopewell (The Crookes)
A poetic lining tinges every note and word of The Crookes’ music with a resonant feeling. Nostalgia, melancholy, and Romance are all adjectives that in one way or another have shaped the band’s persona to date. For George Waite (vocals/bass guitar), Daniel Hopewell (lyrics/guitar), Tom Dakin (guitar), and Adam Crofts (drums), a hard-working and determined ethos is just as familiar and pertinent.
Since their inception during their Sheffield college years, The Crookes dedicated themselves to working hard, writing hard and touring even harder. Addicted to the ‘old school’ way of doing things, the band have recorded three full length albums, an eight track EP, and countless stand alone 7” singles in their six year lifespan. They have travelled the globe, from the North of England via Europe, Tokyo and the U.S, finding their true soul reflected in the fellow outsiders and travellers they meet on their way.
The band has developed loyal and valued support from print, online and radio media around the world, extending to fashion brands such as Burberry and Ben Sherman. BBC Radio’s Steve Lamacq called them “one of the most hardworking and prolific bands of the underground.” Nylon Magazine labelled them “potential leaders of England's smart, taut ‘New-Pop’ movement" and Popmatters simply insisted they make “near-perfect guitar pop.”
They have played live sessions on BBC Radio stations 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6, and in the U.S. scooped a highly prized KEXP session on their first headline trip to the States. Other U.S. sessions have come from KUTX and KCRW - amongst others - culminating in their third record, ‘Soapbox’, reaching #3 in the FMQB SubModern charts and the top 100 in the CMJ College radio chart.
Their fan base, collectively known around the world as the Bright Young Things, has grown in number and devotion over a six year period of extensive touring, as they often play over 200 shows a year. This work has culminated in sold out concerts around the world, including Amsterdam’s Paradiso, London’s Scala, and Popscene in San Francisco.
The band is looking forward to releasing new material later this year, after experimenting with a purer, more focussed style of songwriting, and paying more attention to its sonic aspects and production values. The Crookes upcoming fourth record ‘Lucky Ones’ follows previous releases ‘Dreams of Another Day’ EP (2010), ‘Chasing After Ghosts’ (2011), ‘Hold Fast’ (2012), and ‘Soapbox’ (2014).