FRESH from their storming performance at Basingstoke Live, a show that saw alternative rock trio cement themselves as one of the town’s most anticipated outfits, Fusiliers are heading back on stage at the inaugural Summer Kicks 2016 charity show.

Made up of lead vocalist and guitarist Grant Fisher, drummer Jack Valles and guitarist Andrew Cook, the group has vehemently impelled themselves space notoriously occupied by rock duo Royal Blood and an ‘AM’ era Arctic Monkeys – where their brash lines of assaulting guitar eek out hooks at every unsuspecting moment. 

It’s the melodies that set them apart – and by joining a line-up including Bristolian indie-rockers idleside, Norwich alternative quartet Phase Blue and fellow Basingstoke band Hologram, a night of intoxicating sounds is no doubt expected.

“It’s not a sound that we’ve especially came to create – we hardly listen to much music that has an influence on us,” Andrew told The Gazette. “We love those big sounds but we feel like ours is really personally to us.”

Jack added: “It’s even in our name. We felt like our name needed to sound big and with Fusiliers it just felt perfect.”

School friends at The Costello School, Grant and Jack have spent most of their musical lives playing together in bands; honing their skills looking for the perfect sound that suits their own personal identities. 

Andrew, who attended Eggar’s School in Alton (“I know, you couldn’t make it up, but I promise that’s my old school’s real name,” Andrew informs The Gazette), joined the pair last year and Fusiliers were born.

They currently spend most of their time, since graduating from Queen Mary’s College and Basingstoke College of Technology, recording in The Mayfair Studio, in Farnham.

“We’ve got this four-track EP coming out and recording it has been great,” Jack continued.

“It’s this beautiful studio in the middle of a farm and now we’ve started getting these songs together we’re ready to get them out there and share them with the world.

“The show at Basingstoke Live really helped us and we got invited to come along by the organisers who saw us there – these things always happen by chance so we’re lucky.

Grant added: “It’s only been a year since we first got together but to play shows in our hometown means everything to us – especially if we can help raise some money for a good cause to.”

Proceeds from Summer Kicks 2016 will be going to Merton Pre-School in Popley.

Summer Kicks 2016 takes place on Friday from 7pm at Stage, Basingstoke.
Visit stagebasingstoke.co.uk