Radiotones - biography

ALT.BLUES terrorists RADIOTONES is a four piece band based in Perth Scotland playing original material that owes as much to trash country, rockabilly and punk as it does pre-war Delta blues.

RADIOTONES was formed in by National steel guitar player Dave Arcari in 1997 as a three-piece acoustic trio and released two internationally acclaimed albums on Buzz Records - Gravel Road (BRS0198) in 1998 and Whiskey'd Up (BRS012000) in 2000. As well as attracting mainstream radio airplay in the UK, these albums are still given heavy airplay by blues and roots radio around the world.

In late 2001 RADIOTONES decided to 'go electric' and added a drummer to bring a whole new perspective to the music which is showcased on the band's single, Bring My Baby Back (BRS012002) and latest album Bound to Ride (BRS012003).

RADIOTONES contributed a track to Eagle Records' tribute to Frankie Miller CD. Selecting a demo track from the legendary Glasgow songwriter's huge back catalogue, Radiotones took the six-minute ballad One More Heartbreak and turned it into the band's trademark two-and-a-half minute thrash to become one of the most well-received tracks on he compilation. In 2004, Troubled Mind – from the Bound to Ride album - was selected for the Big Issue's Mindset compilation.

Contrary to popular belief, RADIOTONES' name is not a combination of Radiohead and The Bluetones - it comes from a National guitar model called the 'Radiotone'.

To date, Radiotones has appeared live on digital, cable and mainstream terrestrial TV and played more than a dozen live sessions for BBC and independent radio including Dougie Vipond's Blues & Soul show (BBC Radio Scotland), TGIF (BBC Radio Scotland), The Scottish Connection (BBC Radio Scotland) and Jazz Waves (Radio Tay).

RADIOTONES played to 15,000 people at Perth's Heart of Scotland millenium hogmanay event. Other highlight gigs include two sell out shows at Martin Taylor's Kirkmichael International Guitar Festival; Fibbers (York); Glasgow Barrowlands; The 12 Bar Club (London); The Lemon Tree (Aberdeen); Dundee Blues Bonanza; The Studio (Hartlepool); The Twa Tams (Perth); Walsall Town Hall (Walsall); Renfrew Ferry(Glasgow); Window on the World festival (North Shields). Other festival appearances have included the West End festival (Glasgow), Spin (Paisley), Summer in the City (Dundee), Edinburgh International Festival Fringe.

RADIOTONES' website is at www.radiotones.com and features online shop, repro-quality hi-res photos, gig guide, reviews, free mail list submission and more.

RADIOTONES is:
Dave Arcari - National guitars/vocals
Jim Harcus - harmonica
Adrian Paterson - bass
Don Mackinnon- drums