Aura (band)
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | April 2007 |
| Headquarters | Worcestershire , England |
Key people | Dave Small, Jamie Guggenheim, Blake Probert, Jesse Lee Garcia |
| Products | Rock music |
Aura (presented as AurA) was a rock ensemble established in April 2007, based in Worcestershire, England. The group consisted of Dave Small on vocals, Jamie Guggenheim handling guitar duties, Blake Probert playing bass, and Jesse Lee Garcia on drums and percussion.
Background
The band focused on creating and performing original songs predominantly penned by lead writer Dave Small, drawing inspiration from classic rock and blues of the 1960s and 1970s. Their career highlights included sharing stages with artists such as Walter Trout, Wishbone Ash, Hayseed Dixie, and Rose Hill Drive. While opening for Stan Webb's Chicken Shack in 2000, a promoter discovered them, leading to an opportunity to support Status Quo before an audience of 5,000 at an outdoor event held at Dudley Castle in 2007. They also embarked on tours across Holland, Germany, Belgium, and France as part of a Worcestershire Arts Trust band exchange initiative. In September 2007, Aura shared the stage with Robert Plant during a tribute concert honoring drummer Keith (Bev) Smith. In March 2008, they supported Velvet Revolver during the Wolverhampton and Birmingham stops of the Rock n' Roll As It Should Be tour, which also featured Pearl Aday, Meatloaf’s adopted daughter.
Despite plans to perform at the Albert Hall and the Download Festival in 2008, the band publicly declared their disbandment on 28 March 2008.
BBC sessions
AurA made multiple appearances on BBC Introducing with Andrew Marston throughout 2007, including live sessions. They returned in 2008 for features on BBC Introducing WM with Brett Birks and Louise Brierley, participating in interviews and delivering live performances.
Studio recordings
Their initial release was a five-track EP titled Freedom, produced by Gavin Monaghan at Magic Garden Studios in Wolverhampton—a studio noted for collaborations with acts like The Editors, Ocean Colour Scene, and Scott Matthews.
Post break-up activity
After AurA dissolved in 2008, members Jamie Guggenheim, Jesse Lee Garcia, and Blake Probert went on to establish the band Ananukis. Meanwhile, lead vocalist and main songwriter Dave Small briefly worked alongside Gwyn Ashton on the 'Two-Man Blues Army' project before founding Naked Remedy in early 2009 with Tom Callinswood, Nav Sahota, and Jack Ryland-Smith.