April Moon
April Moon was a German folk rock band founded in Mainz in 1999 by Uwe Juras and Sebastian Ritter . From an initial studio project, a live band quickly developed, which was initially active regionally in the Rhine-Main area.
history
In 2002 the debut EP April Moon was released with four songs. Almut Ritter (ex- Paddy Goes to Holyhead , Orbis Mundi , Henni Nachtsheim ) was a guest musician on the electric violin in the studio. In 2004 April Moon released the first full studio album "Suddenly September", 12 songs, including covers of Suzanne Vegas hit Luka and Nik Kershaw's Wouldn't It Be Good , which the band interpreted in their own sound. As an extension of the style, distinct Americana elements have now also flowed into this , especially with the title track.
The live activities expanded after some line-up changes in the band, now also to regions outside of the Rhine-Main area (e.g. tent festival in Freiburg).
In 2006 the second album Road Trip was released , which also contained the single Down Under , a cover version by the Australian band Men at Work . In addition to the group, which has grown to 8 members, Almut Ritter was again in the studio.
In 2008 the band strengthened itself with the singer Karo Ittermann, who had previously appeared several times as a duet partner of Uwe Juras at live concerts. On the 2008 album Cover The Sun , which contains 13 cover versions from the band's live repertoire, she is represented for the first time with two solo pieces. Since 2009, the female vocal part has been taken over by changing guest singers.
Stylistically, April Moon's sound can be described as melodic pop-rock, which is given a very unique character through the use of folk instruments (violin, accordion, mandolin, cajon) and the voice of the front man Uwe Juras.
In 2011 the band broke up. With the successor band New April , the three remaining founding members Uwe Juras, Sebastian Ritter and Daniel Franz, together with Jo Weber and Uwe Charissé, turned to a much more rocky alternative rock sound without folk elements.
Discography
- 2002: April Moon (EP)
- 2004: Suddenly September
- 2006: Road Trip
- 2006: Down Under (single)
- 2008: Cover The Sun
Last occupation
- Uwe Juras: vocals (1999-2011)
- Sebastian Ritter: bass, cello, vocals, various (1999–2011)
- Daniel Franz: acoustic guitar, mandolin (1999–2011)
- Laura Werner: E-violin (2003-2011)
- Uwe Charissé: drums (2004-2011)
- Oliver Ihlow: Keyboard, accordion, A-guitar, vocals (2006-2011)
- Jo Weber: electric guitar (2006-2011)
former members
- Mike Brühl: piano, accordion (1999–2007)
- Matthias Büttner: electric guitar (2005–2006)
- Jens König: electric guitar (1999-2005)
- Jörn Mildner: drums (1999-2004)
- Oli Lanka: accordion (1999-2001, 2002-2005)
- Margit Lorenz: accordion (2001–2002)
- Frauke Dennerlein: electric violin (2000–2002)