Curst Sons

The Curst Sons are inspired by a pre-rock ‘n’ roll world of blues, gospel, and old-time music, with their sound being 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.

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Biography

Created in 1998 by three Brighton UK music veterans, The Curst Sons play a mixture of original compositions and their own distinctive arrangements of vintage songs. The inspiration is the pre-rock ‘n’ roll world of blues, gospel, and old-time music, with their sound being 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.

In one guise or another, the band members 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 Curst Sons have released three CDs on their own Curst Mountain label 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 perfect for: Weddings, birthdays, country and western-themed events, American-themed events, music events, themed events, festivals, hotel and restaurant entertainment, product launches, private functions

Testimonials

“…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

“Considering that most of the time there are just the three of them on stage, they manage to play the songs with more power & intensity than I have ever seen from a full band.”
MAVERICK

“They sound so damn good – they are awesome”
Barry Marshall -Everitt, House of Mercy

“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