Big John Bates

From edgy rustic punk numbers to songs torn from dark hearts, the match of Bates' guitar and
Brandy Bones' voice distills the sound of un-entitled Americana. Mixed by Robert Ferbrache
(Woven Hand, Slim Cessna, 16 HP, Blood Axis) & recorded by Todd Simko (Pure, Kim Churchill,
Xavier Rudd) the Headless Fowl EP wasn't written as much as witchcrafted and the full-length
Battered Bones LP will complete the band’s musical transition into an intense, brooding mania.

Bates has sold thousands of copies of every record without major label support. They have played over
1000 shows in 17 countries; headlined to 10,000 at Germany's Stemwede festival; a federal prison in
Belgium and topped the bill at the first Stag-o-lee Festival. They've performed at the oldest theatre in
Germany, were banned by Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas and awed festival crowds in Palermo, Sicily. They
played the Raalte Festival in Holland with the and the Ink & Iron Festival in Long Beach. They’ve even been
featured on Battlestar Galactica (Season 3, Episode 14 – The Pleasure Planet). Bates' version of "Tainted
Love" from their Mystiki album (2003) was part of the soundtrack of the French film ""Un singe sur le clos".

The band is based in Vancouver, Canada but is constantly touring Europe and North America. They have
shared stages with notable and varied performers such as Andre Williams, Wayne Hancock, the Fuzztones,
Dex Romweber, Corb Lund, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, the Supersuckers, Solomon Burke, the Blasters, Eric
Sardinas, Southern Culture on the Skids, Los Straitjackets, Jay Munley, Koko Taylor; Jooles Holland, T-
Model Ford, the Bellrays, US Bombs, New Bomb Turks.

All BJB recordings are in Library and Archives Canada "dedicated to providing the best possible account of
Canadian life through acquiring, preserving and making Canada's documentary heritage accessible."

 

Availability:


Fall 2012: Full U.S. tour. Open for package/support and accepting inquiries.

Want to book Big John Bates? Fill out the booking form.