Jim Ward, founding member of seminal post-hardcore band At The Drive In and lead guitarist/vocalist of Sparta will release his debut solo record, Quiet In The Valley, On The Shores The End Begins through Stop Start on July 22, 2011.
Ward’s knack for tailoring unforgettable and unique music was honed in his first band, one of the most important bands of the 1990s, At The Drive- In. Widely regarded to be a defining fixture in the post-hardcore scene, ATDI inspired an enormous fan base with their outrageously energetic live shows and unorthodox techniques.
After the band’s indefinite hiatus in 2001, Ward returned to his home town of El Paso before forming Sparta with former ATDI band mates Tony Hajjar and Paul Hinojos. Sparta enjoyed international success and broad critical acclaim before the touring/album cycle again took it’s toll and the band announced a hiatus in 2008.
His first solo presence in Sleepercar was a spectacular success also, which allowed Ward to indulge in the challenge of writing “non-aggressive, softer sounding songs” that would eventually win over intimate venues as well as huge audiences when he toured the USA in support of Coldplay in 2008.
Quiet In The Valley, On The Shores The End Begins is Ward’s first truly solo creative project under his own name. Ward began work on the collection of EPs in 2008 while on tour with Sparta, and finished 3 years later, in the calming presence of a family home, his wife and his own recording studio in El Paso.
The album is a concept Jim has been working on for a couple of years and features a seamless combination of his three solo EP’s. Quiet (released in 2008) sits alongside two subsequent unreleased EP’s In The Valley, On The Shores and The End Begins. The result is 14 beautifully crafted tracks from one of our generation’s finest songwriters, including previously unreleased lead single Broken Songs featuring Tegan Quinn (Tegan and Sara).
Jim Ward will showcase this breathtaking new album at three intimate venues on Australia’s East Coast this August.
Wednesday August 10 - Annandale Hotel, Sydney - 18
w/ Isaac Graham
Tickets available from www.annandalehotel.com, 02 9550 1078 or in person at the venue over the bar (17 Parramatta Rd, Annandale)
Friday August 12 - East Brunswick Club, Melbourne - 18
w/ Jamie Hay
Tickets available from www.eastbrunswickclub.com, 03 9388 9794 or in person via Corner Box Office (57 Swan St, Richmond)
Saturday August 13 - Alhambra Lounge, Brisbane - 18
w/ Jud Campbell
Tickets available from www.oztix.com.au or 1300 762 545
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