High ambitions for CourageHaveCourage (ex Guernsey Band)

CourageHaveCourage may be more familiar to Guernsey audiences from past bands but they have their aims set very high.

The five Guernseymen, who are now based in London, play their own take on modern pop-rock without compromise.

The band recorded their debut EP in summer 2010 with producer John Mitchell who had previously worked with Kids In Glass Houses and You Me At Six.

Bassist Oliver Smith said: "We'd love to spend a lot of time with this band, as long as we're having fun."

CourageHaveCourage, completed by Luke Vidamour (vocals), Ben Wilson (guitar), James Le Tissier (guitar) and Jack Cowens (drums), got together after they all moved into the same house in Acton, London.

Luke said: "We ended up in the same house cus we all knew each other from Guernsey... if you put a load of like minded musicians in a house it comes together naturally."



CourageHaveCourage hope to secure support slots with bigger bands
Prior to CourageHaveCourage all five members had been doing session work with various bands and performers including Her Words Kill, Marina & the Diamonds and Dub Pistols which had given them the grounding and experience they needed to launch into production of their own music.

Though the members were dedicated to the new band, with rehearsals stretching long into the night (Luke said, "We took it really seriously we were rehearing til one, half one, in the morning") they explained they were motivated through the first rehearsals because, "this reminded us of being 15 and making our first band again".

CourageHaveCourage cite The Police, Jimmy Eat World, Temper Trap, Sigur Ros and Coldplay amongst their many influences and inspirations and, when it came to recording, they had their favourites in that area as well.

Oliver said: "We really wanted to pick a certain producer, not just go anywhere, and John Mitchell was doing a lot the bands we enjoyed and fit the sound we were going for."



The band said they hope to take the band far "as long as its fun"
Luke added: "We thought, if we're going to do this band, when we record music or a video we just don't look at how much it costs, we can't compromise.. we just want it to be the best it can be."

With their debut EP released through several online stores and their music video, produced by Sitcom Soldiers, online and, they hoped, heading for music TV, the bands next aim was to hit the road.

"We're aiming to get on tours as support to bigger bands now and get a following," Ollie explained.

The band said they hope to be able to spend a lot of time working on CourageHaveCourage, but when they spoke to BBC Introducing Guernsey, they were all still involved with session work and other projects as well.

Ollie said: "We're all best buddies and we just want it all to be so much fun, but, if we could, it would be cool to spend a lot of time with this band... we'd love to give it a good crack." (from BBC)

Good to see these guys doing so well...