About

The man who once told us he loved us from the bottom of his pencil case, founderBeautiful South member Dave Hemingway returns with his new band SUNBIRDS.

Having retired from the live scene at the back end of 2016, Dave has been keepingbusy together with erstwhile South colleague, guitarist/songwriter Phil Barton, newdiscovery singer/violinist Laura Wilcockson and drummer Marc Parnell.Cool To Be Kind was released in November 2020, on the independent labelNectar Records signalling the arrival of Sunbirds with new songs and a new sound.Although born and bred in England, the band's sound predominantly features theinstrumentation of traditional American roots music combined with the occasionaloutburst of guitar heavy melody more associated with Seattle in the late 80's/early90's.

However, you can only sing about what you know.Although a lot of the songs have an Americana feel says Dave theyre still about life in England. Youre going to feel a bit daft singing about pick-up trucks and low down honky-tonks when you live in Yorkshire.Their debut album produced by cult producer Teo Miller, captures truthful, open-hearted, funny and sometimes painfully honest songs, turning the page to a new chapter for Dave Hemingway and The Beautiful South story.

Cool To Be Kind is the result of a few transitional years in Dave and Phils individual personal worlds. It tells tales that cover contemporary themes as well as age-old matters of the heart and soul - all viewed through the bottom of a recently drained pint glass.Now were Sunbirds were free to dig a little deeper into ourselves, says Philhaving said that, theres no exact science here, were just enjoying ourselves andexpressing whatever we want whether its about love, longing, depression or GaryLinekers crisp adverts.

Cool To Be Kind is a must-have album which helps us forget the pandemic and lustafter the days where this amazing new band can deliver their songs live - UKMusic Reviews

A highpoint of its rootier ilk - We Are Cult

Appealingly understated song writing - Classic Pop Magazine

An album with warmth to spare - MOJO Magazine