WHAT IT IS: Conceived and led by Eric Pulido of Midlake, BNQT is a new indie supergroup. The introductory set includes 10 original songs and features five vocalists—Ben Bridwell of Band of Horses, Alex Kapranos of Franz Ferdinand, Fran Healy of Travis, Jason Lytle of Grandaddy and Pulido—who wrote and sang two tracks each, with backing from other Midlake members McKenzie Smith (drums), Joey McClellan (guitar) and Jesse Chandler (keys). The concept of BNQT (pronounced “Banquet”) came to Pulido while touring for Midlake’s 2013 release, Antiphon. Gathering a number of contrasting yet complementary artists he’d befriended or shared the stage with, Pulido set out to establish a new creative environment untethered from other work. It’s “like a poor man’s version of the Traveling Wilburys,” he says.
ALBUM: Volume 1
RELEASE DATE: 4/28
SINGLE: “Restart”
LIVE: SXSW
INTERNET: Key Spotify playlists include New Music Friday, New Indie Mix, Viral Hits
RADIO: Early AAA radio support at WXRT, KBCO, KCSN, KEXP, WFUV, KCMP, WAPS, Birmingham Mountain Radio, KCRW, KUTX, KXT, KTBG, WFPK, WTMD, KGSR, more; early Alternative spins at WEQX, KBZT, XTRA, WRFF, XMU, more.
PRESS: Pitchfork, Stereogum, Spin, NME, et al
BOOKING: Frank Riley/High Road Touring
PUBLISHING: Self-published/Wixen/Universal/Kobalt
MANAGEMENT: Darin Harmon/3D Management