Carlis Star: Simon Cowan - Guitar and Vocals, Alf Cowan - Bass, Shona Melvin - Vocals, Kris Keep - Keys and Vocals, Joel Sloan - Guitar, Nick Cooke - Drums Carlis Star are already one of Manchester music 2007's great, inspiring success stories, the one no one saw coming. Ten months ago, they hadn't played a gig. Now, they're selling out shows at 400 capacity venues and grabbing reviews in the NME. They have also been aired on XFM, and more recently received airplay on Steve Lamacq's and Huw Stephens BBC Radio One shows. Before long, there won't be a single music fan that won't have been seduced by their luscious summer pop sound. 'Carlis Star and their glorious girl-boy Grandaddy-like sun-pop, is rooted a million miles away from Manchester’s grey climes. It was well worth the wait' - NME There's something filmic about a Carlis Star gig. With three singers on stage, all harmonising to perfection, plus the odd stage embellishment (their last Academy 4 gig featured hundreds of balloons being released into the crowd), there's a glowing bonhomie here that you wouldn't find at other unsigned band gigs. Bassist Alf: "That's the thing to this band - it's about making people smile. So much effort goes into our live shows. If the audience can see how much you're enjoying it, then they will too. I love the way The Flaming Lips do it. You never leave a show of theirs without a huge grin on your face. I'd like to think we do the same." 'Carlis Star make the kind of music that is simply addictive' – BBC Manchester Back in their hometown of Cambridge, the young Cowan brothers came up with the name Carlis Star when they were just 13. They had the cool band name, and even rough ideas for songs. It only took them another decade before they actually played a gig. Chief Songwriter Simon recalls: "This band has taken a long time to come together. But it was all a matter of finding the right members." Having played this year's Topman Unsigned Stage at the Carling Weekend Leeds Festival and Dpercussion Festival, Carlis Star now seem destined for success with their debut single planned for release in early 2008. 'I can’t imagine it will be long before Carlis Star have an agent and a label, so enjoy listening… if only to say, “I heard them first” – Glasswerk.co.uk
http://2008.sxsw.com/music/showcases/band/54696.html
