The Curst Sons

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Started in 1998 by three Brighton UK music veterans The Curst Sons play a mixture of original compositions and their distinctive arrangements of vintage songs. The inspiration is the pre-Rock & Roll world of Blues, Gospel, and Old Time and their sound has been described as Hillbilly Blues, Country Punk, or even Thrash Skiffle. Call it what you like, it’s infectious good-time party music, leavened with the occasional dark ballad or wistful waltz.

Band members have played in many Brighton groups over the years, including the short lived but wonderfully named Cow Division. Dave Simner and Willi Kerr (along with international blues stomper John Crampton) were members of Brighton legends Daddy Yum Yum -who imperiously turned down a record deal with Pete Waterman in the before slouching back into obscurity. In one guise or another, the boys have shared the stage with artists as diverse as Ian Dury, George Melly, Hayseed Dixie, Billy Joe Shaver, Alexi Sayle, Spear of Destiny, The Saw Doctors, Lee “Scratch” Perry, The Clash and Arthur Brown (the God of Hell Fire!)

Willi Kerr (vocals, percussion). Born on Mersea Island on the marshy fringes of Essex, Willi abandoned his farming roots and took to the sinful ways of the city. Diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma (an incurable cancer of the bone marrow) in 1998 he was given 5 days to live. Being a cantankerous old cuss he decided that this was the perfect time to re-launch his musical career, and The Curst Sons were born. Thanks to the healing power of hillbilly music he is now in the rudest of health.

Dave (Specky) Simner (banjo, lead guitar, vocals). Raised in the Black Country on a diet of heavy metal and motorbikes Dave fled South till he hit the coast. He lost the long hair and leather jacket and soon became entangled in the Brighton music scene. He has played in more bands than he can remember and somehow took up the banjo. He also plays with his own 60’s R&B outfit The Spectones, and leads music sessions for adults with learning disabilities.

Tim Dunkerley (slide guitar, mandolin, vocals). Tim’s interest in music was first awakened by his father’s lurid tales of wild living in a harmonica band on the minesweeper HMS Hound. Loath to leave his nautical upbringing Tim coast-hopped east from his Portsmouth home and eventually washed up on the beach at Brighton. He is a teacher/ facilitator with Unified Rhythm a samba/fusion marching band for young adults, including those with learning difficulties

The Curst Sons have released three CDs on their own Curst Mountain label Hey Moon 2007, Hell Awaits You 2005, and A Day Late and a Dollar Short 2003, which have been played on UK, US, Belgian, and Danish radio and have recorded two live sessions for The Mark Lamarr God’s Jukebox show on BBC Radio 2.

They wrote and recorded the soundtrack for a video piece by artist Jack Strange exhibited at Tanya Bonakdar Gallery in New York.
They also supplied the soundtrack for the short film Horseboy Gets a Gun by Jane Couldrey and can be heard on the downhill skateboarding film Road Buzz.

The Curst Sons play venues ranging from small pubs to large festivals and have been both Time Out magazines critic’s choice and recommended gig.

The Curst Sons are a powerful live band, but don’t take our word for it…

…absolutely fantastic. Mark Lamarr BBC RADIO 2

Got everybody jumpin’…a great band. Jonnie Walker BBC Radio 2

...awesome Brighton-based trio. Now Nick Cave, he don't have a washboard! Bella Todd TIME OUT

Their biggest appeal is that they manage to stay true to American folk music’s rich lineage, while throwing in enough curve balls to piss off the folk puritanicals. AMERICANA UK

…play the songs with more power & intensity than I have ever seen from a full band. MAVERICK

their unique rugged version of American roots music … has a delightfully dirt-road quality to it. ROCK ‘n’ REEL

Up on the JC stage, The Curst Sons blended all manner of pre-1960s trad influences and added a kick-ass stomp to the sound; another unexpected treat. BH ONE

Full of energy. Bryan Burnett BBC RADIO SCOTLAND

…once you latch onto the Curst Sons groove you never quite want to clamber on out of it: NET RHYTHMS

"Little Notebook "

"Graveyard Dirt"

"Hobo"