The Levellers

ANYONE that owns an album by The Levellers will know by the Celtic design artwork on the sleeve alone, that they are a band firmly holding on to their roots.

Since 1988 they have been a steady beat in the heart of the British music industry.

Headlining Glastonbury Festival three times, a run of top-selling albums and a dedicated following which has driven them to play more than 200 gigs in a year across Europe, The Levellers are showing no signs of dropping the pace.

With the release of their eighth album next month, they have come a long way from the days when bass player Jeremy Cunningham met lead singer Mark Chadwick in a Brighton pub as he tried to sell his guitar because he couldn't afford a drink.

"He said he would have bought it but he was completely broke too," said Jeremy.

"But when Mark said he was a musician as well, we decided to write a few songs and put a band together."

Two years later, the band would be rocking the largest crowd that Glastonbury had ever seen at the time, and getting ready to unleash tracks One Way and Beautiful Day, which for many have become two of the most memorable anthems of the 90s.

Today, 18 years later, the band are still just as busy, sticking to their alternative folk roots as they have done since day one.

The only difference now is they own a bar to sell instruments from, and it lies within their own recording studio in Brighton.

Here they not only work on new material, but also help other music acts break into the music scene with their own record label and Beautiful Days festival.

"There are some really good British bands around at the moment," said Jeremy.

"I've been listening to Magic Numbers who are going to be massive, British Sea Powder who are on our label and are getting really popular, and Southampton band Delays are another great act to listen to."

But despite success and a massive fan base that spans across most of Europe, Jeremy insists the band still have and always look for the cult attitude that won't bow down to commercial pressures and fight for what they believe in.

An attitude that has inspired the band and fans alike since the beginning.

"We haven't changed what makes us the band we are," he said.

"We still feel strongly about how we do things and we believe our fans do too, which is why they have been so loyal over the years."

But while sticking to their guns on what motivates them, the band who are often described as folk punk, aren't afraid to try out new things.

"Our last album didn't do as well as we hoped," said Jeremy.

"We tried a more heavier rock sound and we enjoyed performing it live, but it seemed a little too different for many fans."

"With the new album, we have brought Matt Savage to the band. He has worked with us before and has now got involved as a full member so you can really hear his influence in the new tracks."

"We are very excited about this one," said Jeremy.

"It's a little different because things change and you can't just stay the same, but this time we think it will be more accepted."

After so many years the band are now playing to second generation fans.

"You can see people jumping in the front row while their parents listen at the back," he added.

As more gigs are added across the continent, the band's strength continues to lie in reaching out to the revellers who are looking for a little more than just One Way of life.

The Levellers will play the Salisbury City Hall on April 10 and their new single, Make You Happy will be available from April 18.