Terrorbird

Allo Darlin' are many things. They can turn a room in a famous punk venue into a joyous, jumping, sweaty, pop-mosh pit. Or bring a room of 500 to hushed silence with the few strums of a ukulele and a love song about cooking.

Allo Darlin' is the music of Australian-born, London-based songwriter Elizabeth Morris. Originally from a country town in Queensland, Elizabeth moved to London in 2005 and, inspired to write songs by her purchase of a ukulele from the famous Duke of Uke shop in Brick Lane, began to make music. Although Elizabeth has been releasing music under various guises since 2007, it wasn't until 2009 that Elizabeth hooked up with Paul Rains (guitar), Bill Botting (bass) and Michael Collins (drums) and Allo Darlin' was properly born. Elizabeth and Bill are from Australia, Mike and Paul are from Kent, and they all play in other bands too - Elizabeth is in Tender Trap, Paul and Michael are in Hexicon, Bill is one half of Moustache of Insanity and also in Darren Hayman and the Secondary Modern.

Early in 2009, augmented by Terry Edwards of Tindersticks/Gallon Drunk fame on trumpet and sax, Allo Darlin' cut their first single, Henry Rollins Don't Dance, released in 2009 on the cult WeePOP label. Much to their surprise, Henry Rollins started getting airplay on BBC Radio 1, 6 Music and XFM and the like, and received glowing reviews in places such as the Metro, The Fly and The Guardian, the latter calling it "the best indiepop song for years". The band's single that followed, The Polaroid Song, was named as one of Drowned In Sound's Top 50 singles of 2009, while their latest single Dreaming was voted Single Of The Week by Jarvis Cocker, Peter Hook and Huw Stephens on Steve Lamacq's BBC 6music round table (beating MGMT, The Radio Dept and Kate Nash in the process!).

In their brief lifetime Allo Darlin' have been interviewed (three times) by Steve Lamacq on BBC 6 Music and also recorded live session for John Kennedy on XFM and Lauren Laverne on 6 Music. They've played Indietracks Festival, stealing the show with their impromptu station platform performance two years ago and this year playing on Friday's main stage, have toured in Sweden and Germany, and appeared at the prestigious S�-�µn Festival in Cardiff promoted by BBC Radio 1 DJ Huw Stephens. In March of this year they headed out on their first major UK tour as support to The School, followed by trips to the States for SXSW festival, NY Popfestand an East Coast tour, the appearance at NY Popfest leading to a glowing review on the front page of The New York Times website! Steve Lamacq also selected them as his choice for BBC's Introducing week, resulting in a session at Maida Vale and a filmed interview for the BBC website, and they'll shortly be returning to XFM for a full electric session.

Now signed to Fortuna POP!, home of 2009's biggest indie success story The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart, they released their self-titled debut album, recorded at Soup Studios (The Wave Pictures, Let's Wrestle) below the Duke of Uke, in June. The album runs the spectrum from joyous, breezy, punky, jump-around pop with fabulous harmonies to sparse ukulele and steel guitar heartbreakers. They will shortly be making not one but two appearances at this year's End Of The Road festival before another jaunt to America for CMJ festival and a US tour.

PRESS QUOTES

'Terrific, witty and heartfelt, like a less moody Belle & Sebastian.' (The New York Times)

'Effortlessly cool- Allo Darlin' could be 2010's surprise hit' (Loud & Quiet)

'It's clear they've got that ephemeral something that separates the pretty good from the truly magical... and in singer Elizabeth Morris they have something of a star. 100% bouncing pop glee.' (The Fly)

'Taking all the best bits from early Belle & Sebastian combined with Camera Obscura (yes, it is that good) are the amazing Allo Darlin'. Will make stripy jumper wearing indie kids grin from ear to ear.' (The Music Fix)

'Morris' voice is an effortless joy to listen to.' (Artrocker)

'I'm sort of scared at how brilliant Allo Darlin' are, and could be.' (A Layer Of Chips)

'Allo Darlin' will, quite plainly, become, if not huge, then hugely popular with a great many people.' (SoundsXP)