BILLY BIBBY & THE WRY SMILES are an unsigned, four-piece alt rock ensemble from North Wales/Chester UK comprised of Billy Bibby/lead vox & guitar; Rob Jones/lead guitar & vox; Matt Bassy/bass & vox; Mike Pearce/drums.
Since playing their first full band gig in November of 2015, the band have tallied over 100 gigs and festivals in 50+ UK cities, and released a début EP and four singles, including the most recent ‘Hamburg’.
Hard work is paying off in the form a growing, grassroots fan base, as well as music industry recognition with two grant wins from Horizons/BBC Launchpad and Arts Council of Wales toward new music development and touring. Billy Bibby & The Wry Smiles have caught the attention of numerous tastemakers such as Adam Walton of BBC Introducing, Tim Cocker of Virgin Radio UK, Jim Gellatly of Amazing Radio, Radio X, NME, BBC Radio Wales, and over 100 radio and media outlets in the UK and abroad.
Despite forming recently, reviewers consistently remark that the group chemistry and level of musicianship are such that they play like a veteran ensemble. Bibby has surrounded himself with talent, initially holding auditions with the help of Simon Jones of The Verve. Experience also plays a key role considering Bibby's history as a UK Platinum Certified recording artist with Catfish and the Bottlemen (The Balcony), bringing to bear seven years of gigging and songcraft to every show and in every heartfelt song he's written.
In 2017, Billy Bibby & The Wry Smiles continue to tour relentlessly, winning over fans one by one with their energetic, tuneful, and optimistic rock. Perhaps Tim Cocker of Virgin Radio summed up the band's future best when he said, "This fella knows how to write a chorus that one day a crowd–a BIG crowd-will sing back to him."
