The Young Knives

2005 Road To V Winners

• Henry Dartnall - vocals, guitar
• Thomas Dartnall (House Of Lords) - vocals, bass guitar
• Oliver Askew - drums, backing vocals

Perhaps the best known winners of Road To V, this Oxford three-piece won the competition in 2005 and have since gone on to score three top 40 hits and play a sold out London Astoria, releasing their acclaimed debut album 'Voices Of Animals And Men' in August 2006.

Heralding from the sleepy Leicestershire town of Ashby-de-la-Zouch, the band decamped to Oxford shortly after forming. They have since vowed only to return to play their hometown to play their last ever gig. Originally calling themselves Simple Pastoral Existence, they admit they began their careers "playing bad funk and Ned's Atomic Dustbin covers". However, they quickly discovered their own distinct sound, earning support slots for bands such as The Futureheads and Hot Hot Heat. Their single 'The Decision' was the first to garner nationwide recognition, with their dark humoured, League of Gentlemen-esque video providing laughs to many new-found fans. They became one of the busiest festival bands of 2006 and were nominated for 'Anthem of The Summer' in the UK Festival Awards for their aptly titled 'Hot Summer'. The song was also used to soundtrack last year's Road To V television series. In January 2007, the lads took over Zane Lowe's Radio 1 show and were widely acknowledged as producing one of the funniest shows in the three week run of celebrity guests.

Distinct and bizarre for boasting a bassist called the House of Lords, single-handedly making tweed cool again and harnessing a chaotic style on stage with no setlists, The Young Knives have become one of the most original and respected new bands to emerge from the recent art rock scene.

Look out for the band's second album later in 2007.