Biog

The Bitter Springs are one of the most enduring and unpredictable independent rock groups this country (England) has ever produced,
much preferring to go unnoticed rather than be diluted by compromise


Working in the stubborn single minded tradition of groups like Dexy’s Midnight runners, The Fall and The Smiths always prepared go
where the Song takes them

They hail from the London suburbs of Hampton and Teddington
Which is often reflected in the songs?

The band evolved from Last Party, who had formed in 1982 and eventually created their own Harvey records label and enjoyed cult success
with 2 Albums and countless singles and ep’s, among them melody maker and NME singles of the week and
2 very influential John Peel sessions


They changed their name in 1996 to The Bitter Springs and on their debut LP From the Parish of Arthritis even managed to coax Vic Godard
out of retirement for a country duet with Simon  

Always changing musical styles from one song to the next, the only constant being the distinctive voice and lyrics of Simon Rivers,
who is often cited as one of England’s finest wordsmiths


‘’arguably the greatest British lyricist of the last 30 years’’  Tony Naylor (observer /guardian)
 
The band played the Tanned Tin festival in Spain on Jan the 27th 2011 with Faust and Thurston Moore -
proud of having never played the same live set twice
every gig is a Unique and memorable night

Other notable Spanish outings have been to Frontera Circulo in Madrid and
the Primavera Festival in Barcelona in 2011 with Darren Hayman and the Secondary Modern

They have continued to release many more singles and albums to date (always receiving great acclaim and accolades).

As well as 2 NME singles of the week, they’ve had A Mojo album of the month and even appeared in a
‘great lost albums’ feature in of all places ...Vogue magazine

The Band released 5 very different singles in 2010/11:
AND EVEN NOW / MY LIFE AS ADOG IN A PIGSTY / TV TEARS / GARY GLITTER FAN CONVENTION / SNOWFLAKES IN JUNE

All appearing on their 7th album the Double CD

Everyone’s Cup of Tea (Harvey CD004)
Relased on 11 February 2013 (Cargo/Acuarela) (click HERE for reviews so far)

26 songs across 2 CD’S
CD1 featuring some great trumpet and sax from Terry Edwards (Tindersticks ,Robyn Hitchcock, scapegoats)
Holy Joy’s Johny Brown Guests as the Birdman of Wormwood Scrubs on the epic 'Don’t write a song about it.'
and Julian Wilson (Grand Drive) plays his beautiful Hammond on the bands update of Jim Fords Harry Hippy

CD 2 has a more electronic/acoustic feel and along with the 4 part album Diary that is POWERLESS
You’ll find the Band adopting other lovely Ollie Cherer (Dollboy) Instrumentals and giving them words from the house of Springs

‘’Fucking glorious bittersweet iridescent shining glowing
Inspirational pop music’"

-Everett True-

‘’Shane MacGowan trading lines with Ian Dury and Jarvis Cocker’"
-Uncut-

‘’A compelling tragic-comic world that’s part Steptoe and son part Joe Orton"
-Mojo-

‘’Electrifying and life affirming’’
-Pennyblack music-

’Such raw Emotion will make your heart explode’’
-Morning Star-

"as truculent as The Fall with song's as fine as Felt's"
-Select-

The Bitter Springs are:

Simon Rivers
Andy Deevey
Nick Cima Brown
Paul ‘Wizard’ Baker
Paul ‘mini-bar’ McGrath
Phil Martin