Spiral Beach
| Company type | Indie rock group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 2003 |
| Defunct | 2009 |
| Headquarters | Toronto , Canada |
| Products | Music albums, EPs, singles |
Spiral Beach was an indie rock group originating from Toronto, Canada, active between 2003 and 2009. The lineup consisted of Airick Woodhead on vocals and guitar, Maddy Wilde handling vocals and keyboards, Dorian Wolf on bass, and Daniel Woodhead on drums.
History
In 2005, the band introduced their self-titled EP and played frequently throughout Toronto, including a regular weekly residency at the Drake Hotel. By the middle of 2006, Spiral Beach had cultivated a loyal fan base through sold-out performances and a well-received showcase at NXNE. Their EP gained rotation on Canadian campus radio stations as well as CBC Radio 3, supporting an international tour where they opened for The Hidden Cameras. Additionally, they served as opening acts for Tokyo Police Club and Sloan.
Their first full-length album, Ball, was released on October 16, 2007 via Sparks Music. Produced by Mike Olsen from The Hidden Cameras, the recording sessions took place in a converted barn near Hamilton, Ontario. To celebrate the album launch, the band staged prominent concerts in Toronto, including a large all-ages show on Ward’s Island that attracted several hundred attendees. The music video for "Made of Stone" was filmed in Trinity Bellwoods Park. Following this, they toured across Canada and appeared at SXSW in Austin the next year.
In April 2008, Spiral Beach performed in London to coincide with the UK release of their Voodoo 7" single. Their appearances included a set at Club Fandango and featured exposure on MySpace UK.
In June 2008, after receiving a $1470 fine from EcoMedia for unauthorized postering on recycling bins in Toronto, the band organized a benefit concert at Whippersnapper Gallery—a notable DIY all-ages venue.
By December of that year, Spiral Beach began recording their sophomore album once again with producer Mike Olsen and subsequently embarked on a North American tour.
During the NXNE Festival in June 2009, they delivered four performances including one filmed for the "Domino" video from their forthcoming album. Their show at Yonge & Dundas Square was recognized as one of the festival’s standout acts.
Their second album, The Only Really Thing, was released on September 22, 2009. Supporting this release involved touring throughout North America and performing at the CMJ Music Marathon in New York City, where Paste Magazine named them among the "Top Ten Bands at CMJ". This album was uniquely packaged as vinyl and CD/mp3 formats accompanied by a 95-page photo book featuring Daniel Woodhead’s original lyric notebook and a comic created by Maddy Wilde. Following acoustic performances in Toronto that fall, they toured Europe with a headlining London show alongside fellow Canadian band Hey Rosetta and performed live for On3Radio Festival in Munich.
After returning to Canada, Spiral Beach made another appearance on MTV Live. Their final concert took place in Toronto on December 19, 2009.
Airick and Daniel Woodhead are sons of Canadian folk artist David Woodhead, while Maddy Wilde is the daughter of musical satirist Nancy White.
The band appeared as themselves in the film Charlie Bartlett, which featured four of their songs. Additionally, their "Made of Stone" video was included in the television series Life's a Zoo.
Following the band's dissolution, Airick Woodhead pursued music under the name Doldrums; Dorian Wolf became a core member of Austra; and Daniel Woodhead formed Moon King with Maddy Wilde in 2011. The members have continued to collaborate musically since then.
Performance style
The group is recognized for their vibrant, visually captivating shows that incorporate elements such as pylons, video displays, and lively stage movements. They often opt to perform barefoot and favor all-ages events held in unique settings like galleries, theaters, loft spaces, and parks.
A 2007 promotional announcement for their Toronto concert at the Centre of Gravity Theatre depicted the event as "an extensive all-night celebration" featuring leading musical performers, video art, circus acts, and glow-in-the-dark effects. Audience members were invited to stay overnight, with a pancake breakfast provided the following morning.
Festival appearances
Spiral Beach has performed at a variety of music festivals, including:
- Blue Skies Festival (2005)
- Hillside Music Festival (2006, 2008; with Cadence Weapon) in Guelph
- Ottawa Bluesfest (2007)
- Wolfe Island Music Festival (2007)
- The Big Time Out in Cumberland, British Columbia (2007)
- Ottawa Folk Festival (2008)
- SCENE Fest (2008, 2009) in St. Catharines
- Suncrash Festival (2008, 2009) in Orillia
- V Fest (2008) in Toronto
- On3Radio Festival in Munich, Germany (2009)
Discography
- Spiral Beach (self-released, 2005; no longer available)
- Ball (Sparks Music, 2007)
- Voodoo UK 7" single (Relentless/Stimulus Records, 2008)
- Bonus EP (Sparks Music, 2008)
- The Only Really Thing (Sparks Music, 2009)
References
- Citations
External links
- Spiral Beach official website