Hi, We are Clutching At Straws and welcome to our website.

Clutching At Straws is a multi-talented four piece alternative folk band, expressing their meaningful and often metaphorical lyrics, and acoustic covers through their own unique style.

The Band started to take form in late 2009 following a collaboration between Tom Simm and James Wheeler for a battle of the bands (that never actually happened) at Old Swinford Hospital School, where musical rivalries (mainly on Tom’s side) had prevented an earlier friendship. During James’ gap year, he and Tom, and friends Jon and Shona (also from Kinver) began meeting up to make music.

Around this time James Baskett moved into the area, taking the post of Village Youth Pastor, and met Tom who volunteered at Alive and Kicking, a local youth group.

James B, originally from Stafford, previously formed part of ‘The Glinics,’ an acoustic folk band with strong bluegrass and jazz influences, with friends, Manou Rasolonjanahary, Adrian Smith, Tom Swain and Dan Walsh. After many jam nights at Joxer Brady’s, Stafford, the Glinics began to tighten up, performing regularly at many pubs and cafés around staffordshire. In 2005, the Glinics recorded, ‘Untold Tales’ a studio album of original material. Later that year the Glinics disbanded as many of the members moved away.

Tom, James W and Jon colluded to draw Baskett into the band which soon became ‘The Search’ and performed one gig at the KSCA in Kinver. Due to other commitments, namely voluntary youth work, Shona and Jon decided to leave the band. This gave the remaining members a chance to re-invent themselves in the musical genres that truly spoke to them. And so he acoustic outfit “Greatminds” was formed with Tom predominantly on piano, James W on guitar and James B on bass. The band produced much original material and rose to new heights performing with Beacon Radio at the 2010 Walsall Unplugged before being forced separate; Tom & James W moved to Cardiff and Bristol Universities respectively.

During the first term at uni, Tom & James W each discovered more of a love for folk. So upon arrival of the 2010 Christmas holidays, the Band yet again reinvented itself as ‘Clutching At Straws,’ this time drawing on the new found, folk influences. This helped trigger the increased use of our more unconventional instruments: Cello, Clarinet & Violin. During the 2011 Easter holidays the band started performing at open mics in the local area which lead to the booking of the band’s first gig (21st January 2012 at the Cross, Kinver).

In May 2012, following the band’s first four gigs, Clutching At Straws decided that the band needed some percussion for a fuller sound. James Baskett called on an old friend from Stafford, Jake Mahal. Jake instantly gelled with the band and has since been a permanent fixture, adding dynamic grooves and a lot of hair as well as absurd, inane waffle between songs.

The full line-up have since written many new pieces together, 6 of which will feature on the upcoming EP Come What May. Clutching At Straws are currently playing all across the country and planning their first tour of the UK.

Thanks for reading,
Clutching At Straws