Heal The Last Stand

"Wrexham has given us a lot. Stoke City’s new manager, Mark Hughes, and all round lovely man, Tim Vincent. But I don’t think any of them are as lovely as Heal the Last Stand. The four-piece, who’s YouTube videos see them playing on roof-tops and in corridors, make absolutely lovely music. Keyboards combine with acoustic guitars and luscious harmonies. Two albums in with a third due in Autumn 2013, they make music you can travel to. Their Soul Shanty is a great road song and their live show is full of strong voices and, perhaps, a surprise cover or two." - Swn Festival 2013

"Wrexham has given us a lot. Stoke City’s new manager, Mark Hughes, and all round lovely man, Tim Vincent. But I don’t think any of them are as lovely as Heal the Last Stand. The four-piece, who’s YouTube videos see them playing on roof-tops and in corridors, make absolutely lovely music. Keyboards combine with acoustic guitars and luscious harmonies. Two albums in with a third due in Autumn 2013, they make music you can travel to. Their Soul Shanty is a great road song and their live show is full of strong voices and, perhaps, a surprise cover or two." - Swn Festival 2013

Release date 4 September 2009 and available through www.healthelaststand.com.

Heal The Last Stand from Wrexham is something of a family affair. The band’s lead singer Laura Dickinson also plays guitar and percussion, brother Joey sings and plays guitar, while brother number two, Stan, sings and plays piano. Thom Bithall on vocals, guitar and harmonica completes the lineup.

WHAT LOVE IS is the band’s debut, home-recorded album and if you like melodic modern folk music with messages that count, communicated via lovely solo vocals and delicate harmonies, then you may well love this album.

Opener ‘One’ is a stripped-down, gentle, wandering song with vocal performances from every singer in the band and a pleasant piano backdrop. The vocal harmonies are pretty special, the melody strong and the sentiments expressed quite moving. ‘Hear The Call’ starts with strident keyboard and guitar notes before a lovely female and male vocal duet join in. This upbeat song is pleasant enough but is trounced by the album’s third track and free download single ‘Take A Step.’ In fact it’s the album’s standout song with a heftier rhythm, pop sensability and a cracking vocal from Laura. It’s followed by a slower and more reflective beauty called ‘And Celebrate’ with the album’s best vocal harmonies and another great melody.
Winding guitar opens ‘The Road To Freedom’ with its distinct country flavour, while tumbling piano notes introduces another country spiced highlight in ‘The Garden.’ ‘Apple Tree’ introduces a light gospel tone to proceedings with just the lightest percussive rhythm behind a beautiful acapella performance.

This is a lovely debut album and the product of writers and performers who have been practising their art for a good few years at venues around the country and at folk festivals. For a home recording the sound is excellent and one wonders just how much better it would sound on a larger recording budget - perhaps in the vocal area. The performances are passionate and sincere, the songs excellent, and I have no hesitation in recommending this album. - shakenstir.co.uk

Release date 4 September 2009 and available through www.healthelaststand.com.

Heal The Last Stand from Wrexham is something of a family affair. The band’s lead singer Laura Dickinson also plays guitar and percussion, brother Joey sings and plays guitar, while brother number two, Stan, sings and plays piano. Thom Bithall on vocals, guitar and harmonica completes the lineup.

WHAT LOVE IS is the band’s debut, home-recorded album and if you like melodic modern folk music with messages that count, communicated via lovely solo vocals and delicate harmonies, then you may well love this album.

Opener ‘One’ is a stripped-down, gentle, wandering song with vocal performances from every singer in the band and a pleasant piano backdrop. The vocal harmonies are pretty special, the melody strong and the sentiments expressed quite moving. ‘Hear The Call’ starts with strident keyboard and guitar notes before a lovely female and male vocal duet join in. This upbeat song is pleasant enough but is trounced by the album’s third track and free download single ‘Take A Step.’ In fact it’s the album’s standout song with a heftier rhythm, pop sensability and a cracking vocal from Laura. It’s followed by a slower and more reflective beauty called ‘And Celebrate’ with the album’s best vocal harmonies and another great melody.
Winding guitar opens ‘The Road To Freedom’ with its distinct country flavour, while tumbling piano notes introduces another country spiced highlight in ‘The Garden.’ ‘Apple Tree’ introduces a light gospel tone to proceedings with just the lightest percussive rhythm behind a beautiful acapella performance.

This is a lovely debut album and the product of writers and performers who have been practising their art for a good few years at venues around the country and at folk festivals. For a home recording the sound is excellent and one wonders just how much better it would sound on a larger recording budget - perhaps in the vocal area. The performances are passionate and sincere, the songs excellent, and I have no hesitation in recommending this album. - shakenstir.co.uk

"Okay, you had a hard Monday – I understand that, we all did – so here’s a little track to slap a big grin on your face and to restore your faith in humankind.

Heal the Last Stand are a quartet based in Wrexham, North Wales and they play a sort of mix of American folk music and country, but all of it seen through a thoroughly peaced-out lens. Their all-acoustic sound (from acoustic guitars, acoustic bass and piano) combined with beautiful four-part harmonies and songs that almost literally leak happiness make Heal the Last Stand one of the most uplifting bands around at the moment.

So stuff this in your ears, smile at the world and talk to strangers. All together now: “Being good to people is as simple as a smile…”" - Musika.uk.com

"Okay, you had a hard Monday – I understand that, we all did – so here’s a little track to slap a big grin on your face and to restore your faith in humankind.

Heal the Last Stand are a quartet based in Wrexham, North Wales and they play a sort of mix of American folk music and country, but all of it seen through a thoroughly peaced-out lens. Their all-acoustic sound (from acoustic guitars, acoustic bass and piano) combined with beautiful four-part harmonies and songs that almost literally leak happiness make Heal the Last Stand one of the most uplifting bands around at the moment.

So stuff this in your ears, smile at the world and talk to strangers. All together now: “Being good to people is as simple as a smile…”" - Musika.uk.com

A few words about Heal The Last Stand from Michael Dixon:

I first met Joey Dickenson at Glastonbury (Childrens') Festival in 2007, Joey was working on model steam boats and persuaded me to buy a green steam boat with its candle burner fuel supply. Joey has a magnetic personality and is a beautiful soul. I felt I had known him forever, I would go as far as to say he radiates a pure energy and lifts all those around him.

Joey kept in contact and although we have not met since 2007 I get his regular updates and was very pleased to receive his first tracks. I did not even know that Joey was in a band when we first met and I was not sure what to expect but his enthusiasm was such that I subconsciously knew it would be good.

I did not expect, when he told me that it had been produced in his bedroom, that it would be so good. I played those tracks and I found something new each time.

Heal the Last Stand was a surprise I could not have expected but my expectation is now such that I am looking forward to receiving the new album and meeting up again soon with Joey and the other members of this Welsh secret but then again - isn't it always true that Wales produces some of the best music and vocalists that Great Britain has ever produced.

I recommend you get in touch with Heal the Last Stand and get yourself a copy.

Thoroughly recommended.

Michael Dixon
ITR - UK - InTouchRadio.net

A few words about Heal The Last Stand from Michael Dixon:

I first met Joey Dickenson at Glastonbury (Childrens') Festival in 2007, Joey was working on model steam boats and persuaded me to buy a green steam boat with its candle burner fuel supply. Joey has a magnetic personality and is a beautiful soul. I felt I had known him forever, I would go as far as to say he radiates a pure energy and lifts all those around him.

Joey kept in contact and although we have not met since 2007 I get his regular updates and was very pleased to receive his first tracks. I did not even know that Joey was in a band when we first met and I was not sure what to expect but his enthusiasm was such that I subconsciously knew it would be good.

I did not expect, when he told me that it had been produced in his bedroom, that it would be so good. I played those tracks and I found something new each time.

Heal the Last Stand was a surprise I could not have expected but my expectation is now such that I am looking forward to receiving the new album and meeting up again soon with Joey and the other members of this Welsh secret but then again - isn't it always true that Wales produces some of the best music and vocalists that Great Britain has ever produced.

I recommend you get in touch with Heal the Last Stand and get yourself a copy.

Thoroughly recommended.

Michael Dixon
ITR - UK - InTouchRadio.net

"Heal the Last Stand are a lighthouse of optimism and brotherly love (sisterly, too) who distil West Coast harmonies, sunrise melodies and unallayed belief in music's power to do good. It's easy for cynics to scoff at such 'hippy' ideals, especially in the dystopian, apocalyptic wastelands of 2009. But, you know, they will win you over, eventually: and you'll end up smiling and exuding hope along with them." - bbc.co.uk

"Heal the Last Stand are a lighthouse of optimism and brotherly love (sisterly, too) who distil West Coast harmonies, sunrise melodies and unallayed belief in music's power to do good. It's easy for cynics to scoff at such 'hippy' ideals, especially in the dystopian, apocalyptic wastelands of 2009. But, you know, they will win you over, eventually: and you'll end up smiling and exuding hope along with them." - bbc.co.uk

"Heal The Last Stand pitch up at the beautiful, by now almost fully candle lit venue for the late show. They dish out a cerebral dose of four-part harmony folk. Each number is laden with a groove that manages to be complex, full-bodied and complete with nice and sleazy rhythms played out on an Elton John piano." - ARTROCKER

"Heal The Last Stand pitch up at the beautiful, by now almost fully candle lit venue for the late show. They dish out a cerebral dose of four-part harmony folk. Each number is laden with a groove that manages to be complex, full-bodied and complete with nice and sleazy rhythms played out on an Elton John piano." - ARTROCKER

"... to the Parish Church for Heal The Last Stand and some of the most gentle, yet uplifting music any mood may need. Kicking off with the massed ranks of Wrexham Community Choir to back them, this was one of the many golden moments these 3 days would provide" - Louder Than War

"... to the Parish Church for Heal The Last Stand and some of the most gentle, yet uplifting music any mood may need. Kicking off with the massed ranks of Wrexham Community Choir to back them, this was one of the many golden moments these 3 days would provide" - Louder Than War