Hope and Social

Hope and Social

Hope and Social are a band from Leeds, forming in late 2007. The line-up includes Simon Wainwright on vocals, guitars, piano and other instruments; Rich Huxley on guitars, vocals, piano and other instruments; Ed Waring on keyboards; Simon Fletcher on bass, vocals and other instruments; James Hamilton on brass, vocals and other instruments; and Gary Stewart on drums, guitars, vocals and other instruments.

Releases and style

Their debut album, Architect of this Church, appears in 2009 and receives public and critical attention. The following year they release April, which features Simon Goff on bass and strings. That album is recorded over three months and closes with “Eurospin”, a live recording made with 70 fans as a wine bottle orchestra. Their later albums include Sleep Sound and All Our Dancing Days, both of which involve community choirs.

Collaborative and participatory projects

Hope and Social work with experimental theatre and digital arts company Invisible Flock on Bring The Happy, an album built around people’s stories and memories of a place. The project leads to a national tour and international shows. The band also place strong emphasis on fan involvement and use a pay-what-you-want model.

Live work and large-scale projects

In 2009 they play Glastonbury and tour the UK three times. In 2014, as part of Yorkshire Festival, they take on the Tour Of Infinite Possibility, becoming “A Band Anyone Can Join” in twelve towns along the route of the Tour de France. They teach 1,200 people to play Hope and Social songs and perform 12 shows in 12 towns in four days. The project ends with an appearance at the opening ceremony of the Tour de France Grand Départ, where they perform at Leeds Arena with 180 members of the Band Anyone Can Join.