It took former Tara’s Secret guitarist/songwriter Craig Chapman several attempts to bring together a band of like-minded players willing to bring to life his original songs, rather than just country covers.
In the aftermath of Covid, Craig linked up with singer/bass player Laura Holden in October 2021, both sharing their original songs and finding similar influences including Matchbox 20, Ashley McBryde, Lady A and Sheryl Crow.
Craig brought in ex-army mate Pat Wright on guitar, and Tara’s Secret band-mate Dave Deaville on keys, and they finalised the line-up with Craig Cope on drums.
The band quickly polished a set of original songs for local gigs, practicing at Dave’s farm near Stoke-on-Trent and booking gigs around Staffordshire and Cheshire. They recorded a five track EP in Summer 2022 titled You’re Melting Me which was well received, gaining airplay on local, national and international mainstream and country radio shows, and the single One Way Ticket was picked up by BBC Introducing.
The band are passionate about promoting the UK country music scene and hosted their own country and Americana songwriters night which attracted acts from near and far. In September 2023 they organised Cheshire’s first country music festival featuring performances from Adele And Andy, Chloe Chadwick, Lisa T and more.
2024 ended on a massive high with the band being nominated for UK Country Group of the Year and and performing at The UK Country Music Awards in September.
They also smashed performances at The British Country Music Association Festival in St Helen’s, Live in the Living Room Gives Back in London, and at Motorcycle Live at Birmingham NEC.
In March 2025, Chasing Twisters released the single Different Kind Of Country.
The track was written by Laura Holden – the band’s lead singer and bass player. She describes the song as an English version of Gretchen Wilson’s Redneck Woman. Laura grew up in the fens of Lincolnshire, which she thinks just might be the equivalent of Redneck here in the UK! So the song is all about growing up as an English country girl – a different kind of country!
Despite growing up in the East Midlands, when Laura went to university in Manchester everyone thought she was posh and called her “southern”, so this is where the second verse comes from!
Laura has been playing bass since she was 10 years old and was taught by her dad. She has also been singing since she was a child but this her first role as lead vocalist in a band.
The band’s debut album, Better In A Hat is due for release on 11 April 2025. It consists of 12 original tracks written by Laura Holden and Craig Chapman and will be celebrated with an album launch event in Stoke on Trent on Saturday 12 April with support from June Holland.
