The Red Velvetines are a new band from North Antrim that combines vintage techniques with modern attitudes to create their own blend of Blues and Euphoria. They are heavily influenced by visionaries like Peter Green, The Rolling Stones and more recently Black Rebel Motorcycle Club and Primal Scream who produced their own spin on blues music to appeal to the wider public. Claire Martin fronts the …band on vocals, delivering every song with passion and power to command total seduction. Mark Blair shapes the sound of the band on guitar. The songwriter has adapted his bluesy sound to be contemporary whilst keeping his roots firmly with the past masters. Uel Taylor offers a punchy edge on the bass. Influenced by such legends as Bootsy Collins, John Entwhistle and Steve Harris, he produces a distinctive sound. Andrew “Corkie” McCorkell is the powerhouse on drums. His aggressive style of playing brings a raw energy to every song, but he can also show his gentler side when needed.
The band’s origins lie with the bedroom sonnets of Mark and the encouragement of Claire and Corkie to provide the needed push to get things off the ground. Uel was later introduced to the band to complete the line up. Since May 2011 the band has supported the best of local talent including A Plastic Rose, Rams Pocket Radio, Intermission, Payola, Swanee River and Lafaro, as well headlining a few of their own gigs. Their track Bang Bang was voted Track of the Week by the BandsNI Community in association with Blast 106 fm, and it has also been selected to appear on ‘Epic Belfast’ – a 5-track compilation of the best of Northern Irish music, to be released in March on LA record label Engine House Music. Their 1st EP was released in December 2011 and has received airplay on Rock Radio NI, Blast 106 and BBC Across The Line. The 2nd EP will bring the blues, rock & roll and euphoria together in one release, just in time for festival season!