Mazeppa

Mazeppa have been forging their distinctive piano-led sound since they formed in January 2000. Taking their moniker from a Ukrainian folk hero immortalised by Byron and Tchaikovsky among others, they signalled their ambition from the outset.

On paper they are:

Otto Ohlsson – voice/guitar
Paul Swannell – piano/organ
Brad B. Wood – bass
Phil Holmes – drums

On stage, and on record, they are more than the sum of their considerable influences and talents. From melancholic guitars to soaring choruses rich in classical piano and strings, Mazeppa specialise in moving mini-epics.

Compelling performances on the live circuit, including slots supporting Medium 21 at Sheffield Leadmill and Longview at Manchester’s Night & Day, are winning them a growing number of enthusiastic converts.

These include fellow Boltonian Mark Radcliffe who described them as having "a broad, majestic, sweeping beauty of a sound," and Steve Lamacq who, when Radio One staged its On The Road event in Bolton, praised their performance, declaring that Mazeppa were “really great and definitely different to other stuff out there.”

Their reputation looks certain to be cemented with the release of debut album kick it for the low times on July 7.