Seanin Hawthornthwaite > vocals, mandolin, guitar, banjo
Jonas Read > rhythm/lead guitar, backing vocals
Ian O'Donoghue> bass, backing vocals
Sykes > drums, backing vocals
You can reach The Geraniums by email here...
Press Release, February 1995
The Big Geraniums formed in 1990, in London's Covent Garden. They started out busking the streets of London, combining newly written songs with a quirky theatrical performance. From various backgrounds, the common factor binding these people together was a lust for travel and a distinct lack of money!
Their next destination was Ireland where after a short stay kicking around Dublin, they moved on and settled in Galway on the West Coast. They were joined by two more musicians and having no time, or inclination for rehearsals, the newcomers learned the songs and music in the bar sessions and on the streets, keeping the music fresh and alive. There first concert was held at the university and to the bands surprise, sold out! Word was travelling fast and The Big Geraniums found themselves at the beginning of their commercial career.
In the summer of 1991 The Big Geraniums were spotted and signed by Polygram Ireland. By November they had a hit single 'Home Again' which was at number 3 in the charts for 16 weeks. The Big Geraniums found themselves on television frequently, topping off with the biggest show in Ireland, "The Late Late Show" The Geraniums recorded their first album 'Tall Tales and Short Stories.' This was released in summer 1992 and was a huge chart success, staying in the top 30 for several months. In less than a year the band had played over 200 dates, playing the major Irish festivals including a performance at the ''Feile" festival to an audience of 30,000.
In 1993 The Geraniums moved out of Ireland and into mainland Europe. June 1993 saw them being hailed as one of the best bands to appear at the renowned "Fleadh Festival" at Finsbury Park. In November '93 they moved to Amsterdam which became their base for a European tour. In March 1994, The Big Geraniums headed down under to Australia for a tour sponsered by Guinness. This took them to all the major cities. They won a sizeable following in Sydney and the last show there was sold out.
In Switzerland, The Big Geraniums were invited to play at the prestigious Montreaux Jazz Festival, (July 1994) as a result of which they secured an international recording deal. The album was recorded in Berlin in September '94 with producer Philip Tennant. This second album, "Girls On Sheep," has so far been released in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Ireland and America. They began touring again in Europe, in April '95, to promote the new album.