The Cornermen were formed in late October 2022 by John Houston. John has run the South Moreton Boxing Club for the last 18 years and in 2022 started (with partner Steve James) The Cornermen Support Service, based at the Club, employing a full time support worker and aimed at men’s mental health and suicide prevention in the local community.

 

During the crowdfunding stage of the project, after playing a slot at a local music festival, John thought The Cornermen also sounded like a great name for a band and so recruited friends and fellow club members Tom Dalby (guitar), Nick Bentley (drums), Dave Oglesby (bass/drums) Ben Heaney (electric violin), Craig Dove (bass & guitar) and John Mitchell (guitar). They operate as a musical collective, forming the most appropriate line up for the occasion.

 

The songs often address issues encountered in the Cornermen Support Service, such as grief, addiction, loneliness and the need for meaning and comradeship. John’s lyrics are woven in with strong guitar riffs and powerful drums to create songs that veer from hard rock to melodic pop. John’s Irish roots also infuse a number of songs with their themes and style, hence the inclusion of fiddle and uilleann pipes on some tracks.

 

Since forming they have released 24 singles; got over 1M Spotify Streams; played over 30 gigs (including a live gig at BBC Oxford, O2 Oxford, Jericho Tavern Oxford, played the Main Stage at Europe’s largest free music festival - Bunkfest, and The Underworld in Camden); received extensive local radio play and were signed by Plastic Head Media in December 2023.

All revenue from streaming and live performances are donated to the Cornermen Support Service, and so far this has raised enough to provide over 300 counselling sessions to men in crisis.

 

Vision: Having released 24 singles since November 2022, the band intend to continue this hectic schedule into 2025, this time in partnership with Plastic Head Media. 2025 will see an album of Trad Songs as well as a new album of original Cornermen songs released and more festivals and gigs in London as well as a Dublin gig.

 

Social Media:

https://open.spotify.com/artist/2AhD877F0KdCQl5qn5Efmt

https://www.youtube.com/@thecornermen

https://www.thecornermenmusic.com/

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559996903632

 

Contact: john@southmoretonboxingclub.com

Mobile: 07981 328326

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