Established in 2005, Devon lefty roots-punks, Crazy Arm, didn't know what they wanted to be when they grew up so decided to throw everything against the wall to see what stuck. The result is a creative, grizzly and sprawling mess of ‘60s protest song, post/hardcore, Americana, bluegrass, anarcho-punk and heartland rock’n’roll with a libertarian socialist, anti-fascist slant.

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The band have released four albums on Xtra Mile Recordings: 'Born To Ruin' in 2009 ('Stunning' Kerrang!), 'Union City Breath' in 2011 ('A triumph from start to finish' Punktastic), 'The Southern Wild' in 2013 ('A glorious surprise' R2), and 'Dark Hands, Thunderbolts' in 2021 ('Staggeringly ambitious' Classic Rock magazine).

 

They have also released a clutch of singles including their debut 7", 'Broken By The Wheel', on Seven Records, two split 7" singles (one with Frank Turner and one with Jim Lockey & The Solemn Sun), and the 'Little Boats' 7" for Record Store Day on Household Name Records. The song 'Floating Bones' was released in May 2023 to coincide with the band's first tour of Canada (Ontario/Quebec) with kindred spirit Eamon McGrath.

 

Over the years, they have developed another side to their forte: playing stripped-down acoustic songs, with fiddle, banjo and close harmonies, that reflect their fondness for folk-roots, bluegrass and Americana. Their third album, 'The Southern Wild', bore the fruits of this venture.

 

Crazy Arm have toured the UK/Europe countless times as headliners and with the likes of Against Me!, Frank Turner, Chuck Ragan, Larry & His Flask, The Skints, Murder By Death, Restorations, Cancer Bats, Boysetsfire, Sonic Boom Six, Muncie Girls, Bangers and Apologies I Have None. They have played many international festivals along the way including Boomtown (UK), 2000 Trees (UK – ten times!), Reading/Leeds (UK), Boardmasters (UK), Groezrock (Belgium), Riez (Germany), Mighty Sounds (Czechia) and Pouzza Fest (Canada).

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The current Crazy Arm collective:

Darren Johns - vocals, guitars, banjo, bass

Tia Kalmaru - guitar, vocals

PJ Shepherd - bass, vocals

Sean Howe - drums

Ben Russell - drums

Jon Dailey - guitars, bass

Matt Wise - drums, vocals

Simon Dobson - trumpet

Luke Antonik-Yates - violin, vocals

Becky Saxton - vocals

Samantha Spake - violin

Tim Langsford - drums (studio)

Patrick Pearson - keys

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