Virgil & The Accelerators are set to release a brand new studio album "Army of Three"on Monday 6th October via Mystic Records. The band will support the release of the album with the single and accompanying promo video "All Night Long".
The new album dovetails Virgil & The Accelerators’ nationwide UK tour which starts on 29th September at the Borderline, London (FULL DATES BELOW).
Army of Three is the band’s second studio album produced by the legendary Chris Tsangarides (Gary Moore, Thin Lizzy, Black Sabbath, Judas Priest). The new album follows 2011’s critically acclaimed debut album "The Radium" which claimed a Best Of Year spot in Classic Rock magazine’s year round-up.
Virgil And The Accelerators (L-R): Gabriel McMahon (drums), Virgil McMahon (guitar, vocals), Jack Alexander Timmis (bass). Photo Credit: © Will Ireland
"The Radium" was also voted No.2 in the coveted USA Magazine Blues Rock Review Top 20 Albums of 2011, alongside many 5 star reviews. That’s no mean feat, considering the band were only teenagers when they recorded the album.
"The Radium was pretty much a live studio recording," reflects Virgil. "On Army of Three we wanted the production values, but we didn’t’t want to compromise the raw energy of our live sound. I think the new songs really show a lot more maturity and growth."
Photo Credit: © Martin Lewis
"Chris Tsangarides has an excellent track record," continues Virgil. "He’s an easy guy to work with. He helped us keep our own sound and explore bigger production. What we do appeals to a rock and blues audience. Blues rock is the most accurate way to describe our music."
The album very nearly failed before the end of production. "Chris had a recording gig booked in Greece and we all but completed the album with the exception of two more days left," recalls VATA bassist Jack Alexander Timmis.
"Before we were to return to the studio to finish the album, Chris was diagnosed with Legionnaires disease. He was in intensive care for three months. He was lucky to come out of it alive. We didn’t want to bother his family, but, at the same time, we were frantic about finishing the album. We originally planned to release it in May. When Chris made a full recovery, we immediately returned to the studio to finish the album."
As a killer guitarist and front man, Virgil McMahon is up there with the best of them. His incredible fretboard skills are acknowledged by his peers. He was voted ‘Best Guitarist 2013’ in the European Blues Awards.
Virgil McMahon (guitar, vocals) and Gabriel McMahon (drums). Photo Credit: © Will Ireland
And yet he is the first to admit that Virgil & The Accelerators is a group effort in every sense of the word. His brother, Gabriel McMahon, is a formidable drummer and Jack Alexander Timmis plays one mean bass guitar. All in their early 20s, the band has built a formidable reputation as a telepathic power trio whose live shows are jaw-dropping, relentless and energized.
VATA have taken European festival stages by storm. They have toured relentlessly in their own right, while supporting the likes of Johnny Winter, Wilko Johnson, Michael Schenker, and Uriah Heap, all of which has built them a loyal, growing and dedicated fan base.
Jack Alexander Timmis (bass). Photo Credit: © Will Ireland
OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2014 TOUR DATES
THE BORDERLINE, LONDON
ALBUM LAUNCH
Monday 29th September
Tickets: £12.50
Box Office: 0844 847 2465 / Book Online
Orange Yard, Off Manette Street, London W1D 4JB
http://mamacolive.com/theborderline
WORCESTER, THE MARRS BAR
Sunday 5th October
Tickets: £8.00 adv
Box Office: 01905 613336 / Book Online
12 Pierpoint Street, Worcester, WR1 1TA
www.marrsbar.co.uk
SPAIN, CALELLA ROCKFEST
Saturday 11th October
Tickets: From €19.99 / Book Online
Calella, Nr Barcelona,Spain.
www.calellarockfest.com
BEAVERWOOD CLUB, CHISLEHURST KENT
Thursday 16th October
Tickets: £10.00 adv
Box Office: 0208 761 9078 / Book Online
Beaverwood Road, Chislehurst, London, BR7 6HF
www.feenstra.co.uk
SUTTON, BOOM BOOM CLUB
Friday 17th October
Tickets: £10.00 adv
Box Office: 0208 761 9078 / Book Online
Sports Ground, Gander Green Lane, Sutton, Surrey, SM1 2EY
www.feenstra.co.uk
MANCHESTER, THE RUBY LOUNGE
Saturday 18th October
Tickets: £10.00 / Book Online
28-34 High Street, Northern Quarter, Manchester M4 1QB
www.therubylounge.com
GREAT YARMOUTH
LEGENDS OF ROCK FESTIVAL
Sunday 19th October
Tickets from £99.00 (3 day event) / Book Online
Vauxhall Holiday Park, Great Yarmouth
www.classicrocktours.com
SOUTHAMPTON, TALKING HEADS
Wednesday 22nd October
Tickets: £10.00 / Book Online
The Talking Heads, 320 Portswood Road, Portswood, Southampton S017 2TD
www.talkingheads.co.uk
HULLBRIDGE, THE TOUCHLINE
Friday 24th October
Tickets: £11.00
Box Office: 0844 412 4642 / Book Online
The Touch Line, Hullbridge Sports Club, Lower Road, Hullbridge, Essex SS5 6BJ
www.touchlinelivemusic.co.uk
FERRYHILL, MAINSFORTH
COMMUNITY CENTRE
SATURDAY 25th October
Tickets £10.00
Tickets available on the door
Mainsforth Community Centre, Ferryhill, Mainsforth County Durham
DONCASTER, THE LEOPARD
Friday 31st October
Tickets: £10.00 adv
Box Office: 01302 326606 / Book Online
2 West St, Doncaster DN1 3AA, United Kingdom
www.solidentertainments.com
DEVIZES, LONG STREET BLUES
Saturday 1st November
Tickets: £13.00 adv / Book Online
Wilsford House 30 Long Street, Devizes, Wilts, SN10 1NW
www.longstreetbluesclub.co.uk
SWANSEA, THE SCENE
Sunday 2nd November
Tickets: £11.00 adv
Box Office: 0115 912 9000 / Book Online
50 Plymouth Street Swansea, United Kingdom SA1 3QQ
www.thesceneclub.co.uk
DERBY, THE FLOWERPOT
Saturday 8th November
Tickets: £10.00
Box Office: 0115 912 9000 / Book Online
25 King Street, Derby DE1 3DZ
www.rawpromo.co.uk
TENBY, BLUES FESTIVAL
Friday 14th November
Tickets: £15.00
Box Office: 01834 869323 / Book Online
De Valence Pavilion, Upper Frog Street, Tenby, Dyfed, SA70 7JD
www.tenbyblues.co.uk
BILSTON, THE ROBIN 2
Wednesday 12th November
Tickets: £12.50 adv
Book Online
26-28 Mount Pleasant, Bilston, Wolverhampton, WV14 7LJ
www.therobin.co.uk
ILFRACOMBE
ROCK, SOUL & BLUES FESTIVAL
Sunday 16th November
Tickets: £119 including 3 nights accommodation.
Box Office: 0208 761 9078 / Book Online
John Fowler Holiday Parks, Marlborough Road, Ilfracoombe.
www.ilfracombebluesfestival.co.uk
Virgil And The Accelerators (L-R): Gabriel McMahon (drums), Virgil McMahon (guitar, vocals), Jack Alexander Timmis (bass). Photo Credit: © Will Ireland
Virgil & the Accelerators - Biography
Virgil inspired by his father, first showed interest in the guitar at the tender age of 4 by mimicking his father strumming chords. By the time he was 10 years old Virgil listened to and became influenced by Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jimi Hendrix, and Joe Bonamassa.
In 2002 the brothers moved from South Africa to West Wales and then in 2009 to Birmingham where they currently reside.
At 12 years of age Virgil was refused entry to an over 18s venue to see Otis Grand. Seeing his plight, Otis took Virgil under his wing and had him sit side of stage on one of his spare amps under the pretence of being Otis’s nephew. Otis called a wide eyed Virgil up for a jam that resulted in a standing ovation.
At 14 Virgil joined his father’s band ‘The Accelerators’. Virgil soon began to shine. Realising Virgil’s potential, his father and fellow band member Hugh Morgan (OBE) had the foresight to get Virgil to form a band with musicians of his own age. "Virgil & The Accelerators" was born.
Brother Gabriel was an obvious choice for a drummer. With no previous experience, he quickly showed signs of massive potential.
2010 saw them struggling to find a new young bass player. An advert was placed in a Birmingham music store and the first response to the advert was from current member Jack Alexander Timmis who lived within walking distance of the band’s self built rehearsal studio.
In 2011, the band released their debut album "The Radium" to rave reviews.
In 2012 ‘Live From Marshall’ DVD was recorded at the Holy Grail of sound, Marshall Amplification.
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