San Harbor is a band from The Wirral, Merseyside they formed in May 2009. The bands style and genre is hard to pin down with the band having many varied influences together they manage to bring these altogether to get their own unique style. San Harbor consists of Michael Sheldon (vocals and rhythm guitar), Richard Barbour (vocals and lead guitar), Jamie Sturgess (bass guitar) and Tom Longman (Drums). All members attended the same High school albeit different years. Whilst on leave from the Royal Marines Macca was watching a covers band with Richy in a local bar, the two then discussed forming a band with the persuasion of Sturge.
Richy had played in a cover band before, but was now able to use his talents on guitar for original songs written by himself and Macca. Richy’s melodic electric guitar style and Macca’s acoustic guitar worked together well and the two began to jam in Sturge’s spare room, recording different tracks which the pair had written separately over the years. With things going well they knew the next thing was to bring in a bass player and even though he had never played the instrument before Sturge’s enthusiasm for the band brought him to start learning the bass. After a few more weeks jamming together Sturge was playing bass lines for most of the songs.
The trio next had to find a suitable drummer, Richy had jammed in the past with a mate’s younger brother who played drums and so he called up Tom to come down for the bands first session in their local studio. The band where impressed with Tom’s self taught style drumming and at the bands second practise the lads told Tom they wanted him in the band and San Harbor was complete.
The band rapidly finished years of written material, rehearsing 1 day a week on weekends as Macca was away with the Marines through the week. After completing so many songs in a short time the band new it was time to record some tracks. Mike Johnson (Studio Producer with Joy Division and New Order) was brought in to record and produce a 6 track demo in October 2009 recorded over one weekend. The band performed their first gig after 4 months spent writing and perfecting their set, headlining at The Masque (Barfly) Club in Liverpool. They then performed their 2nd gig soon after at the Zanzibar Club Liverpool were the band were asked to support Andy McKee also at the Zanzibar Club as part of his UK tour. The band have since gone on to play several many more gigs at the Zanzibar Club as well as others around Liverpool and Wirral they were also picked to play at the Sunset Festival in May 2010 and will be supporting California born New Blues Pioneer Stephen Dale Petit at the 02 Academy in Liverpool on 19th July 2010.
San Harbor will be back in the studio recording more tracks in early August.
Richy had played in a cover band before, but was now able to use his talents on guitar for original songs written by himself and Macca. Richy’s melodic electric guitar style and Macca’s acoustic guitar worked together well and the two began to jam in Sturge’s spare room, recording different tracks which the pair had written separately over the years. With things going well they knew the next thing was to bring in a bass player and even though he had never played the instrument before Sturge’s enthusiasm for the band brought him to start learning the bass. After a few more weeks jamming together Sturge was playing bass lines for most of the songs.
The trio next had to find a suitable drummer, Richy had jammed in the past with a mate’s younger brother who played drums and so he called up Tom to come down for the bands first session in their local studio. The band where impressed with Tom’s self taught style drumming and at the bands second practise the lads told Tom they wanted him in the band and San Harbor was complete.
The band rapidly finished years of written material, rehearsing 1 day a week on weekends as Macca was away with the Marines through the week. After completing so many songs in a short time the band new it was time to record some tracks. Mike Johnson (Studio Producer with Joy Division and New Order) was brought in to record and produce a 6 track demo in October 2009 recorded over one weekend. The band performed their first gig after 4 months spent writing and perfecting their set, headlining at The Masque (Barfly) Club in Liverpool. They then performed their 2nd gig soon after at the Zanzibar Club Liverpool were the band were asked to support Andy McKee also at the Zanzibar Club as part of his UK tour. The band have since gone on to play several many more gigs at the Zanzibar Club as well as others around Liverpool and Wirral they were also picked to play at the Sunset Festival in May 2010 and will be supporting California born New Blues Pioneer Stephen Dale Petit at the 02 Academy in Liverpool on 19th July 2010.
San Harbor will be back in the studio recording more tracks in early August.