Performance Graduates Tour with ‘Ten Tonnes’
BIMM London performance graduates James Porter and Sam Cooper have had themselves a fantastic year since becoming the rhythm section for young indie pop newcomer Ten Tonnes; including tour dates supporting the likes of Stereophonics, Rat Boy and Tom Grennan.
The pair landed the privileged position after working their way through an audition process facilitated by BIMM’s Events, Guests & Artist Development Manager Michelle Humphreys. Soon afterwards, they found themselves receiving contact from Ten Tonnes’ management with the news they’d successfully made the final touring line-up.
It wasn’t long before the full band were thrashing out their parts in the rehearsal studio, with Sam performing bass guitar duties and James filling in on drums. And before long the duo were backing up Ten Tonnes as he supported multi-award winning indie rockers Stereophonics on tour throughout Europe.
“The Stereophonics tour was the most amazing thing to be a part of.” Said Sam.
“The whole thing was like a military operation…I had no idea how much went in to doing a tour that kind of size. So many trucks of gear and so many crew members! The venues also were absolutely HUGE!”
As any good rhythm section should, James and Sam quickly formed a tight bond, performing together night after night in arenas, academy venues and festivals. James reflected on one show in particular supporting hip hop/indie upstart Rat Boy.
“Rat Boy has some of the best fans I have ever seen. Being the first act on is always tricky, but regardless of whether they knew who Ethan (Ten Tonnes) was, they jumped and sang along like no other audience I had ever seen. I also got to play my dream venue – Brixton Academy – on that run. Looking out and seeing that particular room in front of you is something I can’t explain, it really moved me.”
Sam and James have even been involved in the recording process for Ten Tonnes’ debut album, which is due for release in late 2018 and saw them undertake studio sessions with Hugo White of The Maccabees fame.
We’ll be sure to keep a close eye on Sam and James’ progress as professional session musicians and wish them the very best of luck for the upcoming festival season, which sees them making appearances at Isle Of Wight Festival, Standon Calling, 110 Above, Rize and of course Reading & Leeds.
If you’re interested in studying a performance course at BIMM London like James and Sam, click here.
Photo c/o Phoebe Fox
