Cupids arrow in on new success

Photo: Bekka Simpson

CLOCKWISE, from top, Ryan Comac, Sid Cooper, Jake Fletcher and James Cardus. Picture courtesy Bekka Simpson

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MUSIC EXTRA:

THE line-up remains the same, and with a new name and new direction, things can only go onwards and upwards for Oldham band Cupids.

Formerly town darlings the Gramotones, Sid Cooper, Jake Fletcher, Ryan Comac and James Cardus last month decided to change the band’s name: — a decision that can’t have been taken lightly given the four-piece was well on its way to becoming established, with high-profile gigs at home and across Europe.

“We felt we’d become a bit stale, I guess,” said Cooper. “Others may disagree, but that’s what was in our heads and we needed something to give us a kick.”

With a new website (www.cupidsband.com) a nationwide tour to look forward to, plus new track “A Study in Extremes” for fans to listen to, Cupids are ready to move on and make the grade.

“When we started as a band, we were into different things,” said Fletcher. “We still like some of those things, but we just feel we’ve changed. The old name has been left behind with that sound. That’s it.

“There’s a slight change in musical direction, though that was kind of happening anyway.”

Cupids have signed with booking agency 13 Artists and are now gearing up for a 16-date tour, starting in Bournemouth on October 1 and ending at Manchester Ritz on October 23. Seven will be support slots to newly-signed Stockport outfit Blossoms, the other nine their own.

Cooper added: “13 Artists have taken us on and basically they’re the best booking agents in the country.

“We’ve always wanted to be with them. This tour is the biggest thing we’ve done; we can’t wait for it.”

The four are ready to make their own way in what can be a cut-throat business. “That’s what Cupids is going to be about. We want to start saying something about stuff that’s going on around us. No-one else seems to be doing that now.

“If this thing fails, at least we’ll be happy that we’ve done exactly what we wanted to do. That’s it basically. We don’t want other people sticking their noses in.”

Check out Cupids’ full tour details and newly-released track by logging on to the band’s website.




LISTEN to Simon’s exclusive interview with Cupids here:
https://audioboom.com/boos/3501386-cupids-formerly-the-gramotones-in-conversation-with-oldham-chronicle-journalist-simon-smedley