Features

(From left to right) Keith, Michael, Tom and Ben

The band

• Ben Lee: Vocals, Rhythm Guitar, Mandolin
• Michael Maddams: Vocals, Lead Guitar, Slide Guitar, Bass
• Tom Sandall: Vocals, Bass, Acoustic Guitar, 5-String Banjo
• Keith Jefferies: Drums, Percussion, Cajon

The profile

A four piece Rock/Americana/Country band from Cheltenham. They've been together for four years and their influences come from the West Coast and Southern American sound of the 50's, 60's and 70's. These influences are naturally engrained in The Stone Saloon's sound with a little bit of British flavour thrown in.

The beginning

Ben: "I was playing in one of the rooms (at Gloucestershire College) and Tom came in, sat down, listened and we just struck up a friendship there and then. I left after the first term and I went off to live in Oxford and play in an Irish band. Three years later Tom called me up and asked if I fancied meeting up."

Tom: "Ben signed a deal in London as a singer/songwriter and I started playing the bass with him and it all came about that way. Things have changed massively since then."

The sound

Ben: "We love the West Coast and American sound of the 50's, 60's, 70's."

Tom: "We all had that influence in us, but being together and playing music together and being such close friends, those influences grow within the whole band. As a band you start to create a communal influence and subsequently the sound."

The future

Tom: "An E.P. - that'll be a focus, once we've got the recordings finished and moved properly."

Ben: "We're trying to set up a tour for the middle of the year (2009), concentrating on the southern part of England. Also more radio work and just basically pushing the band, building up a profile and getting ourselves on the map."

Introduce yourself

We'd love to do the same as above with you or your band. Find out more information by clicking on the following link or by emailing: gloucestershire@bbc.co.uk.