Devon’s hottest new Americana band are nominated for an award

The Cut Purse Rascals have had a roller-coaster year of success playing some of the best venues Exeter has to offer, including the Phoenix and Bikeshed Theatre as well as Festival slots at the Southwest Food and Drink Festival and at Exeter’s Unexpected Festival. 

As a group they have begun turning heads locally by coming second in the Oddfellows Open Mic competition, closing Exeter’s Acoustica Festival on the Quay and more recently being nominated for a Southwest Music Award for Americana and Country. 

With their first EP in production and due for release in early 2014 it’s easy to see why everyone wants to be a Rascal!

The Cut Purse Rascals are a five-piece band based in Exeter.  The band was formed in late 2012 when Nigel Grimshire and Dom Jinks (formally of the Labatinis) met with Olly Harrison, Nick Moore and Huw Haddon.  The band started to quickly find their sound and direction. With a slight restructure in July 2013 the band had Rachael Diffey join them as the newest Rascal taking over on keys and backing vocals as Nick Moore left the band and moved to Belgium.

The Rascals have a distinct sound that is rooted in the late 60s and early 70s, they deliver a blend of four part vocal harmonies that work between acoustic rhythm guitar and vintage telecaster lead guitar which leaves audiences with big smiles on their faces. 

The Rascals write songs using the Westcountry as their musical canvas and pen narratives that tell of people and places that this rich landscape has to offer.  The songs are laden with catchy hooks and choruses that have people singing along after their first time of hearing them.  You can hear in their songs strong musical influences from The Band, Creedance Clearwater Revival, Rolling Stones to more modern contemporary artists like The Dawes, Deep Dark Woods and Houndmouth.

Over the next two weeks The Cut Purse Rascals are playing around Devon. 

You can find them on Saturday 12 October at The Bell Inn, Chittlehampton, this is a free entry gig and starts from 9.30pm.  The following weekend on Sunday 20 October from 1pm the Cut Purses have been asked to play the Princesshay main stage for the Oxjam Takeover Weekend. 

Lots of top local artists will be playing in aid of Oxjam. Click here for the chance to win four passes to the Takeover Weekend, but be quick as the competition ends on Friday.

Like The Cut Purse Rascals' FaceBook page here to get updates from the band.