North Wales: N
Nar - 7 piece hard rock band from Pen Llyn, (formed c1995). Rel LP (rec at Sylem) “Narmagedon” featuring some fantastic artwork. Prev LP rel “Dewch I’r Ddawnsio.” A gig at Hendre Hall (Feb05) was cut short due to “over enthusiastic” fans throwing furniture on the open fire and filling the place with smoke!
Natural Born Swillers - Rock covers band from Wrexham area (2000), changed name to The Swillers (2005)
Natural Remedy – Holyhead indie blues band (2001), feat; Mel (voc,gtr), Rachey (bass), Jay (drms), Siobhan (harmnca,voc). Used to have Cottee (gtr). Songs described as instantly recognisable blues but with that up-to-date feel. (website)
Nazgul - death metal band from Wrexham (c1990), feat; James (gtr) (now Stuntface). Played Memorial Hall. More info req’d.
Neale, Phil - soundman & roadie for 4Q during their ‘F*ck off C*nt Face’ tour 1988. As the band rarely had the money to pay him they would give him equipment they had stolen off other bands instead.
NEB – Shotton / Cilcain / Mold dark heavy rock Welsh language band (formed Apr04), feat; Ben Griffiths (voc), James Peglar (bass), Pete Ellwood (gtr), Jimmy Law (gtr) and Sam Clough (drms). Played Maes B Eisteddfod. Also feat Steffan Jones at some point (website)
Necrobastards – (c1988), Rhyl / Pensarn based industrial death metal band mixed with Spinal Tap feat; Ollie & Groz of Funky Fringe zine. Ollie later joined North East band Suicidal Flowers and then co-founded Northern Star Recs.
Neil Preston Band - Rhyl based band of 1980s, feat; Neil Preston, John Hughes (both ex Frightened By Strangers), Ray & Tim Stone. Tony Babbington of Vengeance was feat on a rec session. More info req’d.
Neogene – Oswestry based band (2001) feat; Al (mandolin), Guy (bass), Helen (voc), Kip (gtr,keys,voc), Dale Davies (drms). Formerly called The Virge having reformed in May.
Nervous Fish – Ruthin band played the Town Hall Jan 02. More info req’d.
Neu (Unrhyw Declyn Arall) - (Or - Any Other Instrument) (1989 - present). Project feat; Huw Gwyn, Dyfrig Ellis, Gareth Parry, Dyfed Edwards, Dewi Gwyn (formerly of Anhrefn), Aled Gwyn. Rel a single & 2 LPs.
New Dodos - avant-garde aesthetic within a psychedelic sound field band from Bangor (2003) feat; The Raven (gtr,voc), Gabrielle Gane (keys) (ex Serpents, now Babel), Alan Holmes (gtr,violin) (also of Ectogram, ex Lungs, Third Spain, Fflaps), Steilos Giannoulakis (dij,gtr), The Major (also Logic of Impossibility, ex Hatework) (bass,sax), Steve Groom (ex Dammerung) (drms). They centre around veteran guitarist The Raven, who played a key role in the early 60s London blues scene. The group’s music is vaguely rooted in the blues, but with an. Using violin, digeridoo and liberal servings of abstract noise, they are not a group for the roots blues purists. The Raven has released 2 CDs, “Death Blues” and “Post Modern Blues” (also released as “2 Greens Make A Blues”) and a new album with The New Dodos is currently underway
NEW Music – North East Wales Music. Promo organisation set up by Brynhyfryd School 6th formers in Ruthin, Jan 02, to promote local music. 1st show at Ruthin Town Hall was attended by over 200 who saw Fistycuffs, Nervous Fish, Wayriders.
New Welsh Music - website dedicated to just that, feat; bands, demo reviews, MP3 reviews, venues, links & more. Ceased c2007
New World Dream - Cabaret act from Denbigh (1990-92) feat Marlon Jones (voc) Chris Tate (keys) & Jonathon Jones (gtr). Rec a vers of Jesus Jones’ Right Here Right Now at RRS Dream -
Nidd & Friends - (1998-) Name used by house band (previously at Friday night jam session at Flint Borough club now…) Cornist Hall, Flint. Band nucleus feat; Nige Lovitt (gtr, ex-Hieronymus Bosch), Si Thomas (drums) (ex Goodfellas, Foghorn Leghorn), and John Horsfelding (keys). Ex-house band members incl Stephen Shaw (ex-Premonition, Seedy/DC), Dave Evans (original AC/DC vocalist) band) Stephen Weed (keys) Nev Thomas (bass) and Gareth Bagshaw (drms) (ex-Waterburn), PJ Williams (gtr) (ex-Hand Relief, We Are 0151), Dave Evans (keys). Credit goes to Lovitt for tirelessly arranging Charity gigs over the years. Band feat on BBC TV’s North West Tonight show in Nov04, performing at Angelshare Studios with Jason Messham (ex-U2 tribute bands voc) and 2 guest guitarists..
Nid Madagascar - band feat; David Wrench, formed 1989 and rel 12″ single on OFN recs. The first Welsh language acid house track. Sold out in a week and appeared on Welsh TV and Radio 1.
Nightmares In Wax – Oswestry / Wrexham soft rock band (c1990). Feat; Lita. More info req’d
Nine & A Half - Bethesda based outfit (pre-1992). More info req’d.
Nine Eventime – Rhyl based indie band (pre-1991), feat; Brian Moylan & Jim. Played the Bee approx ‘89-90. More info req’d.
NineHourDrive – Rhyl punk band (c2006), feat; Adam Edwards (gtr), Jonny Whyler (bass), Andy Farrell (drms) (all now of Leucine), Big Jay Adams (voc,gtr). Split late 06
Nineteen Eighty Four - 5-piece band from Colwyn Bay (formed Jul01 as Snowblind), feat; Owen ‘Ogz’ Ireland (keys), Jimmy Manley (gtr,voc), Mark Wegner (gtr,voc) (all ex Orpheus), Bill Hughes (bass,voc), Ryan Salusbury-Jones (drms). (All born between 1982-85). Reverted back to Snowblind (Oct04) (website)
Nitelyne - Colwyn Bay based heavy rock band complete with spandex pants & headbands (1986-89), main line up was Stuart Loughland (voc,keys) Francis Flynn (gtr) Gaz Jones (bass) and John Rogowski (drms). Later addition was Bono (gtr). Orig voc was Snoz (Tony Hughes) from Sgt Fury and first line up Guitar and Bass players were Mike Pritchard and Mike Whincup from Monza. Had track Winners or Losers feat on The Metal Collection Volume III compilation LP on Ebony Recs (1987).
Nixon - Wrexham 3-pc band (formed early02) by Grant and Darren, with Simon (drms). After a few gigs Joe (gtr) was added but left for Uni.
Nixon & Jarvis – Bangor solo project of Maeyc Hewitt, drummer with Ectogram (ex Reinheitsgebot, Lungs). Over the past 15 years, he has amassed a collection of songs and videos that almost no-one has heard or seen and has played a handful of gigs, incl; a legendary epic performance of his song “Cocksucker” at the Ochre 7 festival in Gloucester.
No Answer - Rhyl based punk band of 1985 feat; Dean Obscene (later of Damm Yankee, Psychosexual Sex Terrestrials) (gtr), Skin (voc) & Gnat Bite (Natalie Williams – now lives in Bristol) (keys). Played a much publicised Scanner Appeal charity gig at the Downtown in Rhyl but little else happened to match the hype. Wrote the song Beirut in Rhyl, later used by Psychosexual Sex Terrestrials (pic)
No Commercial Potential (NCP) - Oswestry outfit of early 80s created by R I Gillham (mandalo bass) & feat; Rhys Thomas (mandolin), Cheap Plectrum (mandolin), Steve Atomic Adams (drms), Sion ‘Incendiary Device’ Thomas (cello), Howard ‘The Hippy’ Aitcheson (gtr). Had played up to Dec80 5 gigs at Four Crosses, Welshpool & 2 in Llanfair, but had rel 13 tapes, incl; ‘NCP Overdub Crazy’. More info req’d.
Noise, What Noise? – Rhyl / Flint based pop band (c1991), feat; Wayne, Mark. Played The Bistro. Changed name to Quiet Men. More info req’d.
Noise Yard - Pre Jude the Obscure Abergele outfit, name a pun on Sound Garden. Played many gigs (c1992). Simon Thomason (voc), James Goldingay (gtr) (ex Stale Elvis, Slouch), Steven Edge (bass), Mike Bennett (gtr), Michael Cole (drms). Simon now lives in Spain
Noisy Muthas - hastily put together band from Bangor feat; Trifle, Joe Shooman and Barry Jones, who formed to support Vinegar at Bangor Uni. They were like the name describes, noisy muthas.
No More Names - new name (2002) for Drunk Monkey changed as the band decided that they didn’t want people to like them because of their name, then changed it to To Be Announced until they realised 7 other bands had the same name. Feat; Steve (voc/bass), Chris (gtr), Lil Dave (drms).
Non-Trendies - band (c1980) who had 2 tracks; Symphony For The Musically Disabled & The Body on the ‘Systems of Attraction’ comp tape. More info req’d.
Normandie, The – Venue in Bangor before it became The Barrels nightclub, was buzzing with a diversity of bands. The back room was hirable for £40 & over the course of two years countless bands have played there. As well as many local bands plenty from Scotland & England came to play (like Stoke’s Doley Sofas), as well as some from Germany. During 1991-93 some good, some bad, & some downright shit nights were had there, incl Psychosexual Sex Terrestrials who had the gig advertised on Radio One’s Steve Wright in The Afternoon show & still only one person turned up, a girl who was tripping on acid. The venue is still sorely missed.
Northern Star - psychedelic record label, set up in 2006 by North Wales exiles ‘Hot’ Scott Causer and Ollie. Rel 3 compilation LPs ‘Psychedelica’, the latest in Nov08 by which time Scott was running the label single handed from his Leyton Buzzard base.
NWWA (North Walians With Attitude) – Rap group feat; Wat-E (MWJ) (Black Listed), Ice Scoob (currently in hiding in Canada), and MC Trigger, unreleased album concept “Straight Outta Conwy”. Despite not getting much beyond naming of m.c.’s band was offered a gig in the U.S. by some bloke they met in the Cottage Loaf, Llandudno. Completely influenced by Ragga Twins Peel Session, played to death whilst mashing it up for days at 1991 Reading Festival. Big up yourself.
No Star - (97-?) Feat; Jay (bass/voc) Big Si (gtr) Si #2 (drms). Colwyn Bay’s answer to Sonic Youth, they sounded bad, looked bad, played bad & for this they were really cool. Orig/cover songs played. Changed name to Sister Ray before settling on Horror James & with a female bass player. More info req’d.
Not An Exit - Wrexham band (2003). More info req’d.
Not The Face - rock band in embryonic stages (Jul02) from Prestatyn, feat; Ben Johnston (voc,gtr), Owen Taylor (bass, bvoc), Paul (Jonesy) Jones (gtr) of Dwygyfylchi. (website)
No Vakancy – Holyhead punk band (c2005), feat; Alex (gtr), Adam (bass), Kris (drms) (later Unknown). Split early 06.
NRG - Colwyn Bay based heavy rock band feat; Neil Crud (voc) (ex 4Q, Psychosexual Sex Terrestrials, Sons of Selina), Nic Allen (gtr - ex-Anakonda), JJ (Justin Jones) (bass), Paul Puke (drms) (ex 4Q). Huw Roberts (ex-Anakonda) played drums at the 1st rehearsal but never returned. Played mainly covers & only 3 gigs with this line up (2 supporting 4Q) debut at Trax, Bangor 12.11.87, then Albion, Bangor 20.11.87, final gig at Bee, Rhyl 28.01.88. Neil Crud left & the band became FOAD.
Numb - Prestatyn indie band (c1992) feat, Andy Hinks (gtr) & Chris Morell (drms), (both ex Sometimes) & Gaz (bass), played on the Smash Apathy tour & Flesh 92. Also at Long Tall Sallys in Rhyl. Rel 6 track demo ‘Factory Tunes’ (rec by Sefton Zak Hermon at Studio Sound).
Numb Nuts - Llandudno punk band (1991), feat; Pete (Alien Matter)
Nutonic – (c2001) band from Llandulas, relocated to London. Rel single (21.05.01) Everyday (prod by Andy Scarth of Skunk Anansie) on Eastcentralfour Recs. Been on Steve Lamacq’s Unsigned Session & have a fan club in Bath of several inquisitive teenage girls. Rel ‘Control Freaks EP’ (Dec02). Changed name to Blind Diviner (Feb07)