Submotion Orchestra

Submotion Orchestra is the brainchild of Leeds music heavyweights Tommy Evans (also the drummer in Gentleman’s Dub Club) and international DJ/producer/orchestral player Dom Howard, AKA Ruckspin. The Orchestra are an ensemble of multi instrumentalists at the top of their game, who’ve played with many respected and renowned artists. Since inception, playing live has been a key strength of the band. Formed in Leeds in 2009 the band were formed when Ruckspin and hip underground label Ranking Records were commissioned by the Arts Council to write and perform a live dubstep piece in Yorkminster Cathedral - the largest in Northern Europe. Rising to the challenge, Ruckspin and Tommy brought together an all-star cast from the Leeds music scene to create what would become Submotion Orchestra. This was the first time a full range dub-style sound system had been brought into a venue of this kind and was heralded as a historic event both for York and Dubstep (the mantle was later taken up by James Blake for his Union Chapel performances). A now legendary weekly residency at the intimate Hukaz bar soon followed, and the Orchestra swiftly built a devoted following by giving the fans the opportunity to see them create new material up close and personal. Their debut release, the ‘Finest Hour EP’, released on Ranking Records gained much organic online and DJ support with no marketing or promotion involved. It also brought them to the attention of Gilles Peterson, who instantly became a believer. Heavy rotation on Mr Peterson’s show ensued, followed by a license for ‘Finest Hour’ on his ‘Brownswood Bubblers’ album series, (which had already featured notable talents Jamie Woon, Flying Lotus and Floating Points), plus the aforementioned Maida Vale session. High-end DJ support has come from the likes of Laurent Garnier, Oneman (Rinse) DJ Flight (Metalheadz/Rinse), Simbad (Defected), Tayo (Kiss), plus Ashley Beedle and Rocky. The band worked their way up through a series of ever larger venues and crowds at home and nationwide, fast winning a genuine, old fashioned word-of-mouth live fan base. The gospel spread so rapidly that festivals like the Big Chill, Latitude, Outlook and Bestival soon came knocking, with the band smashing it at each one. Their 13 date UK tour in May more than proved the word is out, with their London Jazz Café show selling out three weeks in advance.