HIGH FADE

HIGH FADE

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Whelan’s Upstairs • Tue 5th September 2023

On a three-man crusade to set dance floors alight with their inimitable brand of razor-sharp funk and disco, Edinburgh’s High Fade captured the attention of a global audience with their music amassing over 30 million views and streams within six months of their first release and, in the process, gaining recognition from music heavyweights including Jack Black, Cypress Hill, Deep Purple’s Glenn Hughes, and Brad Wilk from Rage Against The Machine

For a band that only started mid-2018, to already have the support of artists including Emeli Sandé, David Paitch and even Peter Andre is a testament to not only their raw musical talent but also the relentless drive and ambition that has seen the band play over 1000 gigs in the last four years. With a forward-thinking approach to grassroots promotion, High Fade have been able to capture the magic of their live performances with a proactive presence on social media and create multiple viral moments for their tracks “Sharpen Up”, “Burnin”, and “Burnt Toast and Coffee” that feed the appetite of new fans across the world.

With a more traditional offline approach towards learning their craft and perfecting the High Fade sound, Harry Valentino (guitar/vocals), Oliver Sentance (bass) and Calvin Davidson (drums/vocals) developed their infectious style whilst feeding off the unpredictable crowd interactions that come with street shows and busking. It’s this unmatched live energy that sets their performances apart and results in the impressive musical display that comes from just three musicians working together. Indeed, with other acts in the same genre often having upwards of six members, being a three-piece could be a limiting factor for many, but for High Fade it has become an integral part of the band’s DNA, allowing them to put on a show that supersedes anything their fans have experienced before.

From the old-school soul and Motown of John Legend and Barry White to the classic rock of bands like Kiss and Motley Crue, High Fade’s sound draws on the musical tastes and experiences of all three members, extracting the best bits of each and serving the funky, disco-inspired results up live on stage. Launching their own label, RPN Records, has allowed the band to take control of their output with monthly singles planned for the foreseeable and a forthcoming official remix package for “Sharpen Up”. Featuring club-ready interpretations from Opolopo and Oden & Fatzo that highlight the group’s passion for electronic music, this tangible connection to the dance music scene provides the perfect opportunity for the High Fade sound to make the transition into the setlists of house and disco DJs.

By their own admission, “High Fade doesn’t work unless there’s a crowd, a dance floor and people that want to get down” – it’s reassuring then that their gig diary is stacked, with dates across the UK and Scotland confirmed throughout summer, and a big US tour in place for later this year following their signing with leading US booking agency, Wasserman. Throw in partnerships with brands including Ernie Ball, Blackstar Amps and Suhr Guitars and it’s clear that the whole industry is backing the meteoric rise of High Fade, and so should you.

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TICKETS

€15 available online from Whelan’s – 50c per ticket service charge applies.

Strictly over 18′s, I.D. may be required

AFTER THE GIG

Whelan’s Silent Disco from 10:30pm – 2 DJs, just pick the one you like best (€5 cover charge), plus Late Bar.