Red Sky July
| Red Sky July | |
|---|---|
| Genres | Alternative, Country |
| Years active | 2009 – present |
| Labels | Proper Records |
Red Sky July are husband and wife duo Ally Mcerlaine (ex-Texas) and Shelly Poole (ex-Alisha’s Attic) along with Charity Hair (The Alice Band and The Ailerons). They are influenced by alt.country and americana while they have released three albums since their formation in 2009.
Career
Prior to the band entering the studio to record their debut album, the project was put on standby as Ally suffered a major brain aneurysm. After his recovery, the band reconvened to record the self-titled album. Throughout 2012 the band raised their profile while 2013 marked a return to the live performance. They embarked on their own UK wide tour while supporting Deacon Blue, James Walsh (Starsailor) and Jools Holland.
Their achievements so far were recognised at the Scottish Music Awards, where they were presented with the Tartan Clef award by Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy.
Red Sky July returned to the studio to record their highly anticipated follow up album entitled ‘Shadowbirds’ which was released in September 2014. The album entered the official UK charts country album chart at number 3 and featured a collaboration with Jack Savoretti. The band toured in support of the album after its release while supporting Sheryl Crow and 10cc. Red Sky July were presented with a prestigious Tartan Clef award at the Scottish Music Awards by Nordoff-Robbins music therapy.[1] In 2016, they appeared at the C2C festival.
Following their appearance at C2C, the band released their third studio album The Truth and the Lie on 25th March which reached number 3 on the official UK country chart. This album featured guest musicians such as Mark Neary (pedal steel) who has worked with the likes of Willie Nelson, Dave Etherington (piano), Ross Hamilton (drums/bass) and celebrated songwriter Beth Nielsen Chapman who features on the track "Strathconon". The track "In Black" is an autobiographical account of Red Sky July member Ally McErlaine's battle with a brain aneurism told through the eyes of a fictional character.[2]
Discography
- September 2011 - Morning Song (digital single)
- October 2011 - Red Sky July (debut album)
- September 2014 - Shadowbirds
- March 2016 - The Truth and the Lie
Awards and Nominations
| Year | Association | Award | Nominated Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | British Country Music Association | Group of the Year | Red Sky July | Pending |
| UK Album of the Year | The Truth and the Lie | Pending |
Media appearances
Red Sky July featured on BBC Radio 2's Wake up to Wogan on 15 April 2012
Red Sky July @ The BBC Ricky Ross has an interview and session with Red Sky July - Sept 2014