Kav Sandhu

Kav is a British artist from Leicester. Kav launched his solo career in February 2008 with his band comprising; Kavin Sandhu (guitar & vocals), Jim Portas (drums & backing vocals), Dan Gulino (bass) & Bobby Angels (slide guitar & harmonica).

Kav has recently been compared to “A Latter-day Jagger” by The Guardian (UK) & on his début EP he has been likened vocally with the likes of Bob Dylan, Shaun Ryder, Bobby Gillespie & Lou Reed. The music has been compared to 'The Stones' Sympathy For The Devil hauled into the digital age by Death In Vegas' (see press summary) and likened to Black Rebel Motorcycle Club & the harder edge of Led Zeppelin.

Kav writes thought-provoking, meaningful songs, putting his unique modern stamp on authentic Rock N' Roll. His songs which take you back to the roots of timeless song writing & epic album tracks.

Born of a mind that at 28, has already been opened as wide as the Watford Gap and come out fighting (you don’t tour with Shaun Ryder and return an innocent), the ‘Blaggers & Liars EP’ released April 21st, is the first hint of Kav’s adventures this year; with another EP and his debut album to follow this summer.

History

Kav played in first early band whilst at school at the age of 14. By the age of 18, he was resident DJ at his local touring venue 'The Charlotte' in Leicester. He had also launched his own Leicester based club-night 'which showcased at The Edinburgh Festival in 1999, where he picked up the accolade of 'Best Young Promoter'.

Around this time Kav's band 'AKA Weave' had caught the attention of some of the biggest UK Indie legends including Mani (Stone Roses/Primal Scream). Phil Smith, Oasis's Tour DJ, also spotted Kav playing a home town gig. Consequently, Kav went on to launch a new touring club-night 'Groove harder' with Phil Smith & Mancunian Col. Mani & Phil started Ding as part of the night, AKA Weave were the resident band playing at midnight. Grooveharder became one of the UK's first 'Indie Superstar- DJ' touring club-nights, and was the early beginnings of a Guest Indie DJ Craze, that has recently blown up in the UK.

AKA Weave continued to tour the UK, playing key gigs at venues such as The Astoria, Camden Underworld, Manchester Roadhouse, and also caught the eye of OASIS's ex-bassist Guigsy, who had recently parted with Oasis. At the age of 20, Kav & the band went off to record at the legendary 'Rockfield Studios' in Monmouth, Wales with Guigsy. The band began to work on their debut album.

After Rockfield, the band continued to record independently at Manchester's Tessa Rossa Studios, where the likes of The Space Monkeys & Dust Junkies had recently recorded. The band went on a tour to promote their unfinished album. This tour featured Shaun Ryder & Bez as guest DJs & other indie legends such as Rick Witter from Shed Seven. Unbe-known to Kav, this was the beginning of his close working relationship with the Happy Mondays.

At the age of 24, and after several years of hard graft, Kav split his band AKA Weave & moved to London. He took a break from band-life & dedicated the next 8-10 months on creating & co-promoting one of London's most successful indie Club-nights 'GETLOADED' at the legendary club “Turnmills”, second home to The Chemical Brothers & Tall Paul.

Kav had arrived at Turnmills & had introduced a Rock N' Roll element to the club, it was perfect timing with the rise of dance meets rock, the Indie- Electro movement. This was a start of a partnership with Turnmills MD & House promoter Danny Newman. Over the next 18 months, Kav brought Rock n Roll Royalty to GETLOADED including Legendary Factory Records Boss Tony Wilson, Howard Marks (Mr Nice), Clint Boon (Inspiral Carpets/ XFM) Peter Hook (New Order/ Joy Division), Annie Mac (Radio 1), Steve Lamacq (Radio 1/ 6Music), Carl Barat (Libertines/ Dirty Pretty Things) Beta Band, Andy Rourke & Mike Joyce (The Smiths), The Farm, Client, El Presidente & many more.

The Guardian hailed the night as “One of the most groundbreaking club-nights,in the history of London clubbing” and TNT Magazine praised the 'novel' idea of“Bringing indie legends to DJ a clubnight....”

Six months later Getloaded launched its' inaugral summer festival. 10,000 revellers descended on Clapham Common, for what was to become one of the biggest London indie festivals, & one of the earlier challengers to the main-stream UK festivals. “Getloaded in The Park” 2004 was awarded “Best New Festival” at the UK Festival Awards 2004, and this particular year marked the start of an independent festival craze, which continues to build year on year!

The headliner for “Getloaded in the Park 2004” was confirmed as the Happy Mondays, their first live gig in nearly five years. After touring with AKA Weave as a DJ, Shaun Ryder was aware of the talents of the band & when looking for a replacement guitarist, asked Kav to join the Happy Mondays on guitar, handing him the task of recruiting new band members to fit alongside original members Gary Whelan & Mark Berry “Bez”. Kav completed the new lineup of the Happy Mondays with ex AKA Weave band member Mikey Shine & Jonn Dunn & dance producer Dave Parkinson. The band then had less than four weeks to practice in advance of their big comeback gig. This was an exciting time & band moral was high. Shaun Ryder was quoted in the press as saying “Kav is The man who's helped me smile again”. The gig was a sell-out. On the back of this successful gig, The Mondays decided to continue touring live & eventually to record a new album.

Kav parted with Getloaded & “Getloaded In The Park” in 2006. The festival is now in it's fourth sell-out year, with Iggy Pop & The Stooges headlining in 2008.

In summer 2005, Kav, who found it difficult sitting around between Happy Mondays tours, decided to start a new musical side-project “SONIC AUDIO” – indie meets electro. The band released a white label 12” Killing Yourself on London indie label Puregroove Records. Sonic Audio went on to play a small UK Tour & a legendary gig with Shaun Ryder @ Glastonbury Festival, & playing a second gig stepping in for Ex-Libertine Carl Barat, at Alan McGee's Poptones stage.

That same summer, Hollywood producers for football film GOAL, asked the Happy Mondays to write the title track for their new film. Kav co-wrote the track “Playground Superstar” with Shaun Ryder, Gaz Whelan & producer Dave Parkinson, and this became the bands first recorded material in over a decade, released on Big Brother Records (Noel & Liam Gallagher's label). After this initial release, it became clear the Happy Mondays were to start working on a new studio album, and Kav decided to dedicate his 100% to the Happy Mondays. Sonic Audio were consequently put on (permanent) hold.

Happy Mondays subsequently toured the world, including Fuji Rock 2006 & 2007, Coachella Festival, Roskilde Festival, Summercase Madrid & Barcelona, Global Gathering, Getloaded festivals, a huge home-town gig @ MEN Arena, Brixton Academy & V Festival, to name but a few.

Kav spent any spare time, playing DJing worldwide, including Japan, Mexico, South America, Europe, & playing on the same line-ups as Guns & Roses & Bob Dylan & on one major Australian tour playing on the same lineup as the legendary 'Godfather of Soul' James Brown.

In 2006 Happy Mondays headed in to the studio to write their new album 'Unkle Dysfunktional', and Kav was invited to continue co-writing with original members Shaun & Gaz. The completed album featured artists such as Ry Cooder & LA rapper Mickey Avalon and was released on Sanctuary Records in Summer 2007. The band continued their worldwide touring.

In August 2007, after V Festival, Kav decided it was time to part company with Happy Mondays & pursue his solo project. Never one to sit around, a week later Kav was guesting with Norweigan dance-rockers Datarock at Reading & Leeds festivals plus some key London shows.

After a few impromptu bluegrass-country style gigs under the name “Shotgun Suzzey”, Kav decided to hook up with long-term partner in crime (& friend from the age of 12), James 'Jim' Portas & headed to London's legendary Fortress Studios, where the likes of BRMC, Primal Scream, The Rakes, Jagz Kooner & Kasabian have all recorded. The creative juices were flowing & Kav (drums) started producing his most exciting material to date, working alongside producer Mark Waterman & jack of all trades Bolty.

In January 2008, Kav officially announced this new project – The simply titled 'KAV'. On the 21st April, Kav released his debut EP 'Blaggers & Liars' to much critical praise. He describes his new material as “Blaggers & Liars is a result of my life experience, everything to date that makes me who I am. Everything else has got me here, kind of like an apprenticeship & this is where it all begins”.

The band will be releasing their follow-up EP, 'EP 2' in July, which includes an Infadels remix of “Blaggers & Liars”. They are currently finishing off the final tracks on their debut album. Having spent a month in LA in February, Kav will be heading back state-side in August for a few months, continuing to tour North America.