Biography

Butcher the Bar began as a solo project for U.K. indie folk songwriter Joel Nicholson but expanded to a duo and then to a five-piece band as the project went on. Albums evolved from hushed solo fare early on to more fully orchestrated songs with 2019's III. Rotherham, U.K. singer/songwriter Joel Nicholson began writing songs for Butcher the Bar in 2007 with thoughtfully crafted melodies and gentle vocals, reminiscent of a more hopeful Elliott Smith. He debuted that year with a 7" including the song "Get Away," later featured in an episode of the action-comedy TV series Chuck. Full-length debut Sleep at Your Own Speed arrived in 2008, finding Nicholson on guitar, melodica, banjo, and accordion to address coming-of-age themes. For sophomore recording For Each a Future Tethered, released in 2011, the addition of horns, reeds, and piano culminated in lush arrangements in the vein of Australian indie pop trio the Lucksmiths. Nicholson toured in support of his records, eventually expanding the project to include a full touring band. Between 2013 and 2015, this iteration of Butcher the Bar recorded on and off for a new album. The resultant album, III, didn't see release until 2019 when it was released on Spanish label Bobo Integral. ~ Chrysta Cherrie, Rovi