Fratellis frontman Jon Fratelli (né, or nay, Lawler!) will play his first show as a solo artist at Edinburgh’s Edge Festival on 22 August ’10. The show marks something of a new beginning for one of Scotland’s most prolific and talented songwriters.
Jon Fratelli first came to fame as frontman of The Fratellis, a trio of unruly Glaswegians whose 2006 debut album ‘Costello Music’, featuring the hits ‘Chelsea Dagger’, ‘Henrietta’ and ‘Creepin Up The Backstairs’, sold over a million copies and earned the band a BRIT award. The band were also successful in the US where their song ‘Flathead’ soundtracked an iPod advert in 2007. The Fratellis’ second album ‘Here We Stand’ was released in the summer of 2008 and the success story continued around the globe with hit singles ‘Mistress Mabel’ and ‘Look Out Sunshine’. Without a pause for breath the band fulfilled a relentless touring schedule that took them all over the world. After touring Japan and Australia in early 2009 The Fratellis decided to take a break.
Never a man to rest on his laurels Jon took this opportunity to team up with Glaswegian burlesque performer Lou Hickey to form Codeine Velvet Club, whose critically acclaimed album, a blend of 60s glamour and noir Hollywood decadence, came out at the end of 2009. 2010 has seen CVC tour the UK and the US with a standout show at Austin’s South By Southwest Festival.
Meanwhile Jon has been stockpiling a batch of songs that signal something of a return to the raw rock’n’roll sound that was his first love. He’ll be giving some of these songs their first public airing at the Edge Festival in August, and will also be delving into his ever-burgeoning catalogue of songs from both the Fratellis and Codeine Velvet Club. Jon is heading into the studio later this year with ‘Costello Music’ producer Tony Hoffer to make a solo album.
Says Jon: “I guess I have a low boredom threshold or something, but I’m really excited to be heading out as a solo artist. I’ve had an amazing time so far with Barry and Mince in The Fratellis and with Lou in Codeine and I’m very grateful to them for everything but to keep moving you have to find new ways of working and i'm excited to see where this takes me."
