Los Campesinos! are an indie pop band which formed in Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom in 2006. The band consists of Gareth Campesinos! (vocals, glockenspiel, keyboards), Kim Campesinos! (vocals, keyboards), Tom Campesinos! (guitar, vocals, keyboards), Neil Campesinos! (guitar), Ellen Campesinos! (bass, vocals), Harriet Campesinos! (violin, keyboards, vocals) and Ollie Campesinos! (drums). Aleksandra Campesinos! (vocals, keyboards, glockenspiel) left the band in 2009 to focus on her study. She was replaced by Gareth's sister Kim in September 2009. Robert Taylor, who performs solo as Sparky Deathcap, is the semi-official ninth Campesinos!. The band's name translates to "The Peasants" (or "The Farmers") in Spanish.
The band performed their first gig in May 2006 at a student union club night, and went on to play a number of increasingly well-received gigs around Cardiff. An early demo was recorded featuring the songs Death To Los Campesinos!, It Started With a Mixx, Sweet Dreams, Sweet Cheeks, and live favourite You! Me! Dancing!. The songs were posted on the internet, bolstering the popularity established by their energetic live shows and earning them airplay on Beth & Huw's evening show on BBC Radio 1 Wales. The band's reputation continued to grow, and in August 2006 landed them a slot supporting Canadian supergroup Broken Social Scene.
In November 2006, the band were signed by Wichita Recordings, who put out their first single on 26 February 2007, a double A-side featuring new songs We Throw Parties, You Throw Knives and Don't Tell Me To Do The Math(s). In April the band signed to Canadian label Arts & Crafts for Canadian and North American releases. In June 2007 the band released You! Me! Dancing! on limited edition 7" coloured vinyl, accompanied by a handful of dates playing Bath, Newport, Cardiff and London. The EP Sticking Fingers Into Sockets was released on 3 July on Arts & Crafts, produced by Broken Social Scene collaborator Dave Newfeld. The band embarked on their first full UK tour in October, preceded by the The International Tweexcore Underground single (released October 15th 2007).
Their debut album, titled Hold On Now, Youngster... was released in the UK and as a digital download on February 25, 2008; the physical record was released North America on April 1.
On August 1, 2008, the band released their second record We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed in the UK on October 14, 2008.
On June 2 2009, Original member Aleks Campesinos announced she would be leaving the group after the release of their third album, to return to university to continue her studies
Los Campesinos recently announced the release date for their new album Romance Is Boring. This will be released in the UK on February 1st, and in the United States on January 26th.
http://www.loscampesinos.com
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Hold On Now, Youngster... Details |
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We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed 6 Oct 2008 Details |
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Hold On Now Youngster... Details |
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Sticking Fingers Into Sockets Details |
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Hold On Now Youngster 30 Nov 2005 Details |
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Hold On Now, Youngster Details |
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The Sea Is A Good Place To Think Of The Future Details |
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The International Tweexcore Underground 27 Nov 2007 Details |
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My Year In Lists 12 May 2008 Details |
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There Are Listed Buildings Details |
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We Throw Parties, You Throw Knives Details |
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Death To Los Campesinos! 18 Feb 2008 Details |
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International Tweexcore Underground Details |
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Rough Trade Shops - Indiepop '09 Details |
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We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed.. Details |
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Sticking Fingers Into Socket Details |