Grade 2 (band)

Grade 2
Grade 2 playing live in Newport, Isle of Wight, 2019
Grade 2 playing live in Newport, Isle of Wight, 2019
Background information
OriginRyde, Isle of Wight, England
GenresPunk rock, Oi!
Years active2013–present
LabelsHellcat Records
MembersSid Ryan
Jack Chatfield
Jacob Hull
Websitegrade2official.co.uk

Grade 2 is an English band from Ryde on the Isle of Wight, consisting of bassist and lead vocalist Sid Ryan, guitarist Jack Chatfield and drummer Jacob Hull. Their music is described as a classic punk sound,[1] and features lyrics about everyday problems.[2][3] Louder Than War described their album Graveyard Island as "upbeat stripped back punk'n'roll with a bit of yobbo thrown in".[4]

History

Formation and early history

The band was formed in May 2013,[3] initially playing covers from the punk era by The Stranglers and The Jam, as well as Oi! music by Booze and Glory and Lion’s Law.[5] They began to write original songs and performed regularly in local pubs and clubs, and gained exposure by successfully supporting established bands.[6]

Grade 2 playing live in Ryde, Isle of Wight, 2017

Contra Records

From November 2013 until 2018 the band was signed to German record label Contra Records.[7]

Hellcat Records

In 2018 Grade 2 signed with US-based Hellcat Records.[8][9] In a 2023 interview with Matthew Rix Sid talked about how the band almost didn’t get signed by Hellcat Records because of how drunk the band got playing a show with Lars Frederiksen and because of that he never wanted to see them again.[10]

Live performance

Since 2013 the band have played regularly across Europe with performances in countries including Germany, Switzerland, Spain, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Norway, Sweden, Greece, Italy, Ireland, the Czech Republic, Austria, Slovakia, Serbia, the UK, and the Isle of Man.[3] From 2018 the band have also toured in the US and Canada.[11]

During 2016 for some European live dates drummer Jacob Hull was substituted by Ryde drummer Toby Jenkins.

In autumn 2018 Grade 2 was support for The Interrupters UK tour, and in spring 2019 the band toured as support for the Dropkick Murphys.[12]

In 2022 Grade 2 supported Social Distortion (band) Social Distortion in their EU Tour.

In 2023 Grade 2 supported Rancid across Europe and the UK,[13] and Guns n' Roses[14] for the event BST Hyde Park.

Discography

Studio albums

  • Mainstream View (2016)[15]
  • Break the Routine (2017)[16]
  • Graveyard Island (2019)[17]
  • Grade 2 (2023)[18]

EPs

  • Broken Youth (2014)
  • Die With Out Boots On (split with Saints and Sinners, 2015)[19]
  • Heard It All Before (2016)

References

  1. ^ Haugen, Tom (27 November 2018). "Album Review: Grade 2 – Break the Routine". New Noise Magazine. Archived from the original on 6 March 2019. Retrieved 3 March 2019.
  2. ^ "Hard & Smart Alternative Fashion Blog". HardandSmart. Archived from the original on 22 August 2016. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
  3. ^ a b c Frost, Paula (November 2017). "Down on the Street introducing... Grade 2". Vive le Rock!. No. 49. Big Cheese Publishing.
  4. ^ Brown, Nathan (3 October 2019). "Grade 2: Graveyard Island – album review". Louder Than War. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
  5. ^ Neville, Martin (22 November 2013). "Oi! boys graded as good". Isle of Wight County Press.
  6. ^ Scotcher, Emily. "Island band makes the grade for record label". Yoppul. Isle of Wight County Press. Archived from the original on 11 August 2017. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
  7. ^ "Contra Records & Textildruck - News vom 03.11.2013". Contra Records. Archived from the original on 16 April 2014. Retrieved 15 April 2014.
  8. ^ "About Grade 2". Retrieved 8 April 2021.
  9. ^ "Grade 2 sign with Hellcat Records and announce new album". Punk Rock Theory. 6 August 2019. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
  10. ^ "Grade 2 interview". YouTube. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
  11. ^ "Grade 2 Instagram, 7 Dec 2018". Instagram. Archived from the original on 26 December 2021. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
  12. ^ "GIG REVIEW: DROPKICK MURPHYS / THE DEVIL MAKES THREE / GRADE2 – O2 ACADEMY, GLASGOW (22ND APRIL 2019)". The Moshville Times. 23 April 2019. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
  13. ^ Emmore (13 December 2022). "Rancid / The Bronx / Grade 2 announce EU and UK tour". Punknews.org. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
  14. ^ Morgan, Lucy (25 May 2023). "BST Hyde Park Guns N' Roses gets Isle of Wight support". Isle of Wight County Press. Newsquest. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
  15. ^ "Mainstream View". Grade 2 Official website. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
  16. ^ "Discogs: Grade 2 – Break The Routine". Discogs.
  17. ^ "Discogs: Grade 2 – Graveyard Island". Discogs.
  18. ^ Chorley, Liam (27 January 2023). "New single from Isle of Wight punk band Grade 2 ahead of album release". Isle of Wight County Press. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
  19. ^ "Grade 2 / Saints & Sinners (5) – Die With Out Boots On". Discogs. Retrieved 17 December 2017.