Biography

Together we are.....The Strange Rain.

Matt Woosey and James E. Williams have played together in various guises since 2003 including former bands Violet Iris and Taxi, attaining a very respectable status within the Midlands music scene during this time. Since Taxi split in Dec 2006 they have both been extremely busy with other artists and bands, but for various reasons have chosen to concentrate they’re collective efforts into the ‘Strange Rain’ project.

Matt Woosey

I started my musical adventures as a 15 year old drummer in a Thin Lizzy tribute band called Black Rose, during which time I was surrounded by very much older and very talented people. I learnt so much about performing and playing during that time and considered myself lucky to be given a musical education of such a high calibre. The Experience of playing with other people and the pressure to play as well as you can whenever and wherever you are is something that has shaped me as a person has truly given me the music bug for life! I dropped the drums about 5 years ago and have concentrated on the guitar ever since.

Another band I am extremely proud to say I was a part of is Taxi. James and I played along side our very good friend Rob O’Neil on Bass and Vocals. In spite of having interest from industry types and a hell of a lot of really great gigs too, we all felt that our musical tastes we’re colliding and causing clashes within the music.

As a result, I have bundled all my energy into writing new songs and gigging as a solo artist which I have enjoyed very much. I have now got 2 albums worth of material and I look forward to adding dimensions to my sound with James on the sticks!

James E. Williams

I began playing drums at the age of 13, having previously dabbled unsuccessfully with guitar and piano, and found an immediate affinity with this instrument. Since starting playing I have sought to play as much music as possible and to play with as many different musicians as possible. Whilst always seeking to make my mark as a drummer/percussionist it wasn’t until I joined ‘Slip’ in 1994 that I really pushed to become a ‘proper musician’. Slip signed a publishing deal with Gabra Music in 1997 which ultimately came to nothing but inspired me to keep pushing and enjoy my music making.

Due my very wide range of musical tastes I have also sought to play as many styles of music as bands I could find. At one stage in my life performing with five bands at once and playing Heavy Rock to acoustic folk to jazz in the same week. Heaven in it’s own way.

In 2003 I hooked up with Matt for the first time in the band ‘Violet Iris’ although short lived a bond was formed which led to the formation of Taxi in early 2004, featuring Matt on lead guitar and also Rob O’Neil on bass and vocals. In the end we weren’t able to achieve all we wanted to, but the reputation of the band as songwriters and performers became a well established one.

In August 2006 I joined DC Fontana, a northern soul modjazz group based in the Midlands, England and I have spent the last year touring Europe and the UK. Whilst it has been a fantastic experience I have longed for the creative outlet of original music and when Matt and I did an impromptu performance at Malvern’s ‘West Fest’ the seed was sown for this, our new project ‘The Strange Rain’.