The Voluntary Butler Scheme

Joining <a href="spotify:artist:76x0C9paLCrLEiGSVVcC1m">Liam Finn</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:5GLo25ImbpNcxCPWAtuyL9">Lewis Floyd Henry</a>, and <a href="spotify:artist:247AfC9pLuqwgpH8Mo96oA">Connan Mockasin</a> on the list of musicians attempting to revive the neglected tradition of the one-man band, the Voluntary Butler Scheme is essentially a solo vehicle for multi-instrumentalist Rob Jones. Born in Stourbridge, near Birmingham, in 1985, he first began making music in his bedroom as a teenager and after several years as a jobbing musician, he decided he could go it alone with the use of live looping and his versatile musical skills. After touring with <a href="spotify:artist:4rPGB8TvljplPZDjpLAdAF">Duke Special</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:22lcA8Nrz6BQ98IisRDFcm">Joe Lean & the Jing Jang Jong</a>, and <a href="spotify:artist:3W4xM5XYtUp4ifYYPVKVdk">Grandaddy</a>'s <a href="spotify:artist:2BqjUvq3HLFWNi1buGVxem">Jason Lytle</a>, he recorded his debut album, At Breakfast, Dinner, Tea with <a href="spotify:artist:4KWTAlx2RvbpseOGMEmROg">R.E.M.</a> producer Charlie Francis, which was released through <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Split+Records%22">Split Records</a> in 2009. Jones was also invited to remix tracks for the likes of <a href="spotify:artist:6veTV9sF06FBf2KN0xAdvo">the Go! Team</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:3jZVl4D7F5F4IwAJd8FeXM">Kid Carpet</a>, and produced material for former <a href="spotify:artist:0yqz4riftDWnVL6BFHBj94">David Devant & His Spirit Wife</a> frontman Mr. Solo and Welsh singer/songwriter <a href="spotify:artist:6cOAzWunacT10kthrJ4Oet">Sweet Baboo</a>. After recruiting two musicians in order to perform his more expansive sound live, he signed a U.S. deal with influential indie label <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Park+the+Van%22">Park the Van</a> and released the Chevruel EP in 2011. His songs ended up on commercials and TV shows but further US success eluded him. <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Split+Records%22">Split Records</a> released his next two charmingly odd albums, 2011's Granddad Galaxy and 2014's A Million Ways to Make Gold.~ Jon O'Brien