If you were old enough to witness and enjoy the energy and exuberance of live music in the 1970s and 1980s, you were fortunate enough to have lived through one of the most compelling musical and social earthquakes seen in Britain.
51st State call on an extensive repertoire of classic songs from music’s golden period – from glam rock, through punk and new wave, to indie. For those of you who were there in the day, and those of you a little younger, we aim to bring you all a taste of that heady cocktail.
Bob Riley – Vocals
Will Oulton – Guitar
Tony McCormack – Bass
John Hendry - Drums
51st State formed eleven years ago, in 2012. The band was the product of an idea discussed after the John Foxx and the Math gig at XOYO London in October 2011. Tony and Will had met through work and Bob was recruited after an impromptu audition in the pub that night.
The band first played as The Lost Chord – which Bob came up with, but we ditched it for two reasons, we found there was a skiffle-type, barber shop band with the same name, and also people kept thinking we were called “The Lost Cause”.
Our first drummer was actually a drum machine, soon to be replaced by Bob and Tony’s nephew, Steve. He was only in the hot seat though, for a short time before musical differences began to appear. Enter Johnny stage left! Tony wisely didn't dare share his audition recording with the others because it was "a bit too prog". Glaswegians are good at understatement. The band unveiled their new drummer and new set list at the Hope and Anchor in late 2013.
We’ve played many and various venues to date, including the following,
Berlin, Hope & Anchor, The Water Rats, The Garage, Petts Wood Legion, Tranmere Rovers FC, Lord Holmesdale Pub Bromley, a pumphouse, a Kentish Town pub, The 100 Club, 02 Academy Islington, a Brazilian Bar alongside a Burlesque Artist in Holloway, Hoxton Bar & Grill, The Underbelly Hoxton, The Miller in Bermondsey and a venue in Littlehampton Sussex.
We’ve supported the following charities: Cancer Research UK, Create, Strummerville,
The Bloomfield Centre, St Mungo’s, Noah's Ark, Arun Church Littlehampton’s Launchpad and
the Petts Wood Under 16 Girls Football Team.
Recent gig list;
1st September 2017 - Thousand Islands (Upstairs at the Garage), London
9th December 2017 - The Lord Holmesdale, Bromley
8th March 2018 - Hope & Anchor, London
2nd June 2018 - Rooz Studios, Old Street, London
6th June 2018 - The Water Rats, London
11th October 2018 - The Water Rats, London
24th November 2018 - Tranmere Rovers FC, Aldo's Bar, Birkenhead
26th March 2019 - The Water Rats, London
5th December 2019 - Hope & Anchor, London
24th September 2022 - The Wee Red Bar, Edinburgh College of Art
8th December 2022 - Hope & Anchor, London
