CoCo and the Butterfields

CoCo and the Butterfields

CoCo and the Butterfields are a group from Canterbury, in the United Kingdom. They form in September 2011 and start out as a folk trio before becoming a five-piece act. Their music combines folk, hip hop and pop, and they describe that mixture as “Fip Fok”.

Style and line-up

The group’s sound draws on acoustic folk elements alongside beatboxing, double bass, violin, banjo, guitar and vocal harmonies. The line-up includes CoCo Butterfield, Dulcima Showan, Jamie “Euphex” Smith, Micah Hyson and “Handsome” Rob Wicks. CoCo Butterfield writes lyrics and guitar parts; Showan contributes vocals and violin; Smith provides beatboxing and vocals; Hyson plays double bass; and Wicks plays five-string banjo.

Career

They begin by busking in Canterbury and continue to perform regularly as street musicians even after building a wider following. Within two years of forming, they are named the UK’s best unsigned act. They also gain a large online audience through YouTube and play shows across the UK, including performances to thousands of people in 2012.

The band shares stages with King Charles, Bastille, Seasick Steve, The Pogues and Wheatus. They also headline Rome’s largest unsigned music festival. Their live reputation leads to sold-out theatre shows, including a 1,200-capacity concert at Canterbury’s Marlowe Theatre.

Recordings

The group releases a debut EP called Fip Fok. The single “Warriors” launches at the Marlowe Theatre show, and the band later plans the release of another EP, See the Sun. Another song mentioned is “Astronaut”.

Reception

CoCo and the Butterfields receive praise for their originality and live energy. Comments attached to the band describe them as distinctive, engaging and unusually hard to categorise, with their blend of styles and crowd response forming a central part of their reputation.