Kingtide are a three piece alt-rock-indie band from the Midlands consisting of lead singer/guitarist Ben Ablewhite, bassist Lewis Smith and drummer Richard ‘Wiggi’ Ablewhite. The end result is a melting pot of alternative influences and songwriting artistry that creates a sound that has been described as anything from ‘like REM with grit’,to ‘an intelligent Franz Ferdinand with a smattering of Idlewild’, and back to ‘Michael Stipe trapped in Jack Osbourne’s body. ’

The band, now following in the illustrious line of brothers appearing in the same band, has exisited in one form or another since 2003, with the current line-up finalised in early June 2005. They've actually been friends since the Smith family moved to the Warwickshire village of Long Itchington, just a few houses down from Ben and Wig. During those pre-teen years the boys spent their days going to the same school in the village, spent their evenings playing with computers, and spent their money on sherbert dip and space-invader crisps.

The onset of teenagerness brought with it a love for music. These were the Britpop years, but it was pre-Britpop heroes, the Wonder Stuff, and Britpop outsiders, the Boo Radleys, who most excited the three youngsters, who sought more imaginative, melodic tunes than the cocaine-fuelled bravado more typical of the era.

Musical tastes evolved, especially for Ben, who discovered the likes of Neil Young, Joni Mitchell and Rickie Lee Jones, and developed a love of alt.country music. Whilst hidden away in a Salford bedroom at university, Ben started to write his own material, and upon returning to Warwickshire began to perform it at open mic nights in Leamington Spa. It was there that Kingtide were first formed, a four-piece line-up featuring Lewis on bass.

They enjoyed modest success, recording two studio EPs and a live acoustic EP with producer Matt Katz and gigging with the likes of OneMusic finalists Broken Dolls and local boys Budapest (very big in Spain...) There was even a pop video.

Now stripped down to a 3-piece line-up and with the addition of new drummer Wiggi, things have been pretty non-stop. New material is coming thick and fast and promoters are loving the new powerful, rhythmic, focussed sound, meaning that gigs have never been so easy to come by. With Ben continuing to be the main songwriter, the sense of melody and well-constructed lyrics remains, but with more diversity than ever before. Still very much rooted in indie, Kingtide's quieter moments have been known to feature undertones of alt.country, that recall the likes of Sparklehorse and Ryan Adams.

The new Kingtide have grand plans. They plan to record two EPs before the end of 2005 which will be released through Pillar Box Records; the first being a loud, rock-ish run through some live favourites, the second likely to be a more acoustic, experimental affair; with the two EPs together demonstrating the band's diversity. An album will follow in 2006.

Kingtide have never felt so good about the music they create. Their new incarnation has forged the band into a closer unit than ever; a trait that really comes across in their live performances. Keep watching folks, they're on their way to greatness.