Yorkshire-dwelling singer-songwriter Carol Hodge is a wonderful musical dichotomy. With her roots and ethics firmly set in punk as a long-term collaborator with Crass frontman Steve Ignorant, Carol is currently touring the songs of Crass around the world with The Ignorant Band, on keyboards, BVs and lead vocals. Yet Carol is also a uniquely gifted songwriter and as able to conjure up beautiful pop-infused, heart-wrenching melodies as she is screaming into the face of authority and injustice.
Described by Maximum Volume Music as "one of the most innovative solo artists around right now", Carol describes herself as a ‘seven-fingered pianist’. She was born with a rare condition called cleft type symbrachydactyly, which means Carol has just two fingers on her left hand. This hasn't held her back as her impressive CV is testament to. Carol also performs as a keyboardist/backing vocalist with various established artists, including Ginger Wildheart and Jon Poole (Cardiacs, Dr Hook), and Steve Ignorant's Slice Of Life.
The last 18 months have seen Carol touring the UK relentlessly, clocking up over 150 gigs. Playing solo, Carol is currently on an extended UK tour opening up for Ginger Wildheart, as well as joining him for songs in the encore each gig. She has supported the likes of TV Smith, Space, Dan Sealey (Ocean Colour Scene), Marc Valentine, Headsticks and Jess Silk, and played Rebellion, Glastonwick, Settle Down, Gig In A Field, Sun Down and Levy Punk Weekender festivals.
As well as popping up all over the British Isles with a mic and piano, Carol also tours with the inventively named The Carol Hodge Band, who were recently the UK tour support to Boston's own Sarah Borges (with Eric Ambel). The band have also opened for Jesus Jones, The Primitives and Spear Of Destiny, and appeared at numerous UK festivals in 2023, including Bearded Theory and Strummercamp.
Carol also found time in 2023 to guest on tracks by Ginger Wildheart, Paul Morricone, Headsticks, Joe Solo, Lee 'Smiley' Barnard and Dealing With Damage.
Fourth studio album ‘Vertiginous Drops’ was released 10th March 2023 via Carol's own label, Midnight Stamp Records. The album is available on DL, CD and limited edition vinyl (250 each of blue/green splatter and ecomix colourways) and is now close to selling out.
Produced by Dave Draper (The Wildhearts, The Professionals, Dodgy, Kerbdog, Nickelback), ‘Vertiginous Drops’ is a deep dive into the dark recesses of the human condition, punctuated with Carol's trademark cynical optimism. Reviewed as having "a real Frank Turner by way of Ben Folds vibe" by If It's Too Loud, the album features guest appearances by Chris Catalyst (Ghost, The Professionals, Ugly Kid Joe), Kavus Torabi (Gong, The Utopia Strong, Cardiacs), Ginger Wildheart (The Wildhearts) and musical saw player Kirsty McGee.
Previous albums 'The Crippling Space Between' (2021), 'Savage Purge' (2020) and 'Hold On To That Flame' (2018) have now all sold out of physical copies, and featured on several Top Album end-of-year lists, including Louder Than War's. Her 2021 single 'Moan Of A Thousand Years' was awarded Track Of The Week by Classic Rock magazine readers.
The remainder of 2024 will see Carol teaming up with Kansas City based songstress Julia Othmer for a UK tour in June; playing various festivals with the Carol Hodge Band; releasing three singles and her fifth studio album. She is also continuing to tour the UK with Ginger Wildheart, and touring the songs of Crass around the UK, Europe and the USA with The Ignorant Band.
Find Carol Hodge online here: https://linktr.ee/carolhodgemusic
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