The Bevis Frond

Born in Walthamstow, East London, The Bevis Frond developed from 1986 around Nick Saloman, singer, guitarist and principal songwriter, initially as a project largely recorded solo and later as a live band. The Bevis Frond occupies a crossover between indie rock, alternative rock, neo-psychedelia and jangle pop, featuring prominent guitars, melodies rooted in the 1960s and a songwriting style often more rough-edged than nostalgic. The early records were released on Saloman’s Woronzow label, notably Miasma, Inner Marshland and Bevis Through the Looking Glass in 1987, followed by a steady recording output in the late 1980s and through the 1990s with releases including Any Gas Faster (1990), Magic Eye (1991, recorded with Twink), New River Head (1991) and London Stone (1992). Long centred on Saloman’s studio work, The Bevis Frond also took on a collective dimension on tour with various musicians such as Paul Simmons, Adrian Shaw and Dave Pearce at different times. After Hit Squad in 2004 the project resumed with The Leaving of London (2011), White Numbers (2013), We’re Your Friends, Man (2018), Little Eden (2021) and Focus on Nature (2024). The Bevis Frond also intersected with artists like Mary Lou Lord within a British and American independent scene that remained loyal to the album format and alternative circuits.