CRAIG ERIKSSON

BANDS

Over the years I have had the pleasure of working with some great bands. To be able to travel around the world playing music and meeting such wonderful people has been fantastic. I have strived to keep the bands I play in diverse by combining a mix of my taste and passion for each area of music I enjoy. From playing a festival in California to playing at weddings in the South of France I am thankful for the experience and knowledge my journey has taken me so far. I can only thank the people I have worked with as it is truly a privilege to be doing this for a living. Here are some of the projects I have been a part of:

Blitz Vega

Blitz Vega is a new band ft Andy Rourke (Former The Smiths Bass Player) & KAV (Former Guitarist for The Happy Mondays). Live Studio session at Abbey Road Studio 2 coming out soon. The band are currently signed to United Talent and have a two Single deal with Sony Records. Stay tuned for material releases and international tour dates.

Robson

Robson is a new music project, the brainchild of keyboardist & producer Asa Brown who has been a part of the London music scene for years, touring & working with bands. Kav Blaggers (Ex-Happy Mondays) helped co-write a lot of the material and we had our debut gigs this summer. Good things to come! For more information head over to their facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/robsonmusicuk/

Alexander’s Palace

Upon moving back up north at the start of February 2018 I was lucky to land a spot in one of the busiest club bands in the northern circuit. This band is held in high regard all over the north east and is one of the Dixon Agency’s best and busiest bands. It is a pleasure working with all of them and playing the songs in the set as authentically as possible. Alexander, the leader and singer of the band, has put over 30 years in to establishing his presence in the clubs. He has earned the well deserved respect it requires to maintain his position as one of, if not THE best club band around. He really has one of the best voices I’ve ever heard come out of a man.

For booking info you can visit the band’s website here.

The Moonshine Stalkers

This band was my introduction into the Psychobilly scene. Upon joining the band I recorded my first album with them ‘Splatter House’ which has had some great reviews. The Stalkers have been dubbed one of the best up-and-coming UK Psychobilly bands to watch out for. The second album ‘Last Day on Earth’ was also well received as well as the merchandise designs. We had the pleasure of being booked to play the Pyschobilly Psyclone in Long Beach California as well as performing at the biggest Psychobilly festival in the world at Pineda de Mar, Spain. This band is endorsed by Gretsch Guitars.

Jenny & The Slingers

I recorded for this project in the summer of 2014. The album was co-written by The Guitar Slingers and Jennie Matthias (The Belle Stars) with guest appearances from Boz Boorer (Morrissey), Chris Foreman and Lee Thompson (Madness). It was great to work on this project and to play on an album with such high profile artists!

Donna Dunne & the Mystery Men

I was drafted in to this project to lay the drums down for Donna Dunne’s new album through Diablo Records. Once the album was out we played a couple of album launches in Ireland which included playing on Irish radio. We also were booked to play in Switzerland. It was great meeting and playing with Phil Bloomberg (Polecats).

The Orbitones

The Orbitones was started in the summer of 2014 when we started busking around the southern areas. One summer we had the pleasure of recording in Sugar Ray’s Recording Studio, which is a legitimate 50’s studio – not one piece of modern equipment. This band has provided me with great experience in regards to feel and musical vocabulary in that swingin’ sound.

The Guitar Slingers

I’ve had some great experiences in Europe through this band and have played in front of some big crowds. Their recent album ‘Carnevil of Souls’ is a real heavy hitter and is one of the best albums I’ve worked on. The band has a big following in the Pyschobilly scene and has some well deserved recognition with both guitarists being endorsed by Gretsch Guitars. All in all a solid hard working band which I’m proud to be working with and have learned so much from on the road.

Thyn Lizzy

This was my first functioning band of which I gained my first regular gigs from. I was really into rock at the time and was working closely with the singer at a rehearsal rooms back in South Shields. It gave me the chance to work in an area of music I felt most comfortable with and I learned so much in such a short space of time. I have everything to thank this band for. If I didn’t get out there gigging from such an early age with supportive and hard working musicians I can safely say I would not be on the path I am today.

The Koo

I met this band during a time they were going through a change of members. I instantly clicked with everyone in the group and we had a great sound pumping out. It’s been really insightful delving into a new scene of music and it’s definitely a sound I feel comfortable playing. All the lads are great fun and I think this shows through in the songs we produce. We also had the pleasure of playing the Shine On Weekender Festival of which the Happy Mondays headlined.

Functions & Corporate Events

Soon after I moved to London to study at TMS I was fortunate enough to gain work as a stand in drummer in numerous function bands. This helped me make some great contacts, which provided me with many gigs throughout the year. I have travelled to pretty much every corner of the country to provide entertainment for weddings, birthdays and corporate events.