Billy Bibby, former lead guitarist and co-founder of the Llandudno, Wales working-class quartet, Catfish and the Bottlemen, entered the British music scene in 2007, at the age of 17. From humble beginnings, Catfish and the Bottlemen relentlessly gigged their way across the U.K. and abroad, building a loyal fan base, selling out increasingly larger venues, and ultimately securing a recording deal in 2014 that would lead to the release of a top 10 debut album certified gold in the U.K.
Embarking upon a new musical journey in the summer of 2014, Bibby set out to write new songs, trial them acoustically in front of live audiences, and form a band. On November 3, 2015, Billy Bibby and the band released a debut single, Waitin’ for You, and was greeted with ample praise and repeat radio play in the U.K. and
Bibby and the band then ushered out 2015 by playing three very well-received U.K. shows at Telford’s Warehouse in Chester, The Drawing Room in Barrow-in-Furness and Milo Bar in Leeds.
Recently christened Billy Bibby & The Wry Smiles, the four-piece band are poised to play a series of about 20 tour dates throughout the U.K. from January-March 2016 including a night on February 11th at Liverpool’s Studio 2.
The Winter Tour 2016 coincides with the release of Billy Bibby & The Wry Smiles’ debut E.P. in February 2016. The show in Manchester at Night & Day Café will serve to launch this new record, celebrating the culmination of an 18-month process of stepping back, taking stock, and starting afresh.
Speaking openly, with his characteristic frankness, Billy Bibby elaborates, “The three gigs before Christmas were the perfect way to end the year. The year was all about getting to that point and finally looking over my shoulder and seeing a band behind me playing songs I’ve written, and be like ‘F*** me, these guys are good!’ Playing Chester, Leeds, and Barrow made me feel that, and I wasn’t sure if I’d get that feeling ever again with a band. Well I did… I just didn’t know when that’d happen. It’s here. It happened. The E.P. is gunna (sic) blow your mind and I’m more excited for this tour than any other I’ve ever done before.”