Caves

Formed in 2009 when guitarist/vocalist Lou Hanman -- who had moved from Liverpool to Bristol after leaving her previous band Flamingo 50 -- met drummer Dave Brent at a punk show that he'd organized in her newly adopted town. Caves were initially rounded out by Brent's flatmate on bass, but would eventually enlist the skills of Jonathan Minto in 2010. With no long-term roadmap in place, the three-piece set about playing gigs for fun while gaining huge support for their own brand of raucous punk rock. Finding themselves being booked to play shows across Europe and a slot at the Florida Punk festival Fest in 2010, the trio also released their debut self-titled EP that same year alongside a four-way single with Calvinball, Pure Graft, and Big City Plan. Returning to the studio at the beginning of 2011 after a tour of mainland Europe, the band spent three days recording their debut album, Homeward Bound. Released in July of that year, they headed out on tour again in support of the album and also returned to Fest in November. 2012 saw the trio tour with Sundials -- with whom they had released a split-single the previous year -- as well as Pennsylvania's Spraynard. After another successful slot at 2012's Fest, the group re-entered the studio in 2013 to record their second album, Betterment, which was released to acclaim that July. ~ Rich Wilson