Butcher the Bar

Butcher the Bar began as a solo project for U.K. indie folk songwriter Joel Nicholson but expanded to a duo and then to a five-piece band as the project went on. Albums evolved from hushed solo fare early on to more fully orchestrated songs with 2019's III.

Rotherham, U.K. singer/songwriter Joel Nicholson began writing songs for Butcher the Bar in 2007 with thoughtfully crafted melodies and gentle vocals, reminiscent of a more hopeful <a href="spotify:artist:2ApaG60P4r0yhBoDCGD8YG">Elliott Smith</a>. He debuted that year with a 7" including the song "Get Away," later featured in an episode of the action-comedy TV series Chuck. Full-length debut Sleep at Your Own Speed arrived in 2008, finding Nicholson on guitar, melodica, banjo, and accordion to address coming-of-age themes. For sophomore recording For Each a Future Tethered, released in 2011, the addition of horns, reeds, and piano culminated in lush arrangements in the vein of Australian indie pop trio <a href="spotify:artist:2VS0tRcCbiMkelzGoZo9XP">the Lucksmiths</a>. Nicholson toured in support of his records, eventually expanding the project to include a full touring band. Between 2013 and 2015, this iteration of Butcher the Bar recorded on and off for a new album. The resultant album, III, didn't see release until 2019 when it was released on Spanish label <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Bobo+Integral%22">Bobo Integral</a>. ~ Chrysta Cherrie, Rovi