User:Aleph Null/Sandbox

The Coopers are an Anglo-Australian folk pop band, formed in 2009 in Bradford, United Kingdom. The band consists of Chelsea Carins (vocals, acoustic guitar, tambourine, djembe, and handbells), Ryan Carins (vocals, acoustic guitar, mouth piano, and harmonica), David Chatziliadis (guitars), and Ben Hulse (drums). They describe their sound as "happy folk sung by happy folk"; reviews have noted that though "not terribly original", the band are "a cracking little break into the sunnier side of the musical world", and "a massive crowd-pleaser".

History
In 2006, family friends Ryan Carins and Chelsea Foley, both of Queensland, Australia, formed novelty folk two-piece The Biggenden Exit. The two toured minorly and released an EP, The Chosen One Demos, before moving to Bradford in 2008 and releasing another EP, this time self-titled. After a brief name-change to Ryan & the Real Girl, the two-piece was disbanded and reformed with guitarist Dave Chatziliadis, bassist Tom Lancaster, and drummer Ben Hulse, fellow members of Abundant Life Church.

Early in 2010, the group self-released an EP, entitled She Set Off.... The song "Ripples"—recorded in the same sessions, but not placed on the EP—was featured in the third season of UK sitcom The Inbetweeners. Later in the year, Tom Lancaster left the band; there is as yet no permanent replacement bassist.

In July 2011, The Coopers won Best Overall Act in Futuresound, a Leeds local band competition that featured Wild Beasts and Pulled Apart by Horses in previous years. As a prize, The Coopers played the Festival Republic stage of that year's Leeds and Reading festivals; the same weekend, they performed at UK Christian festival Greenbelt.

The group have recorded a third EP, produced and mixed by Roni Szpakowski and mastered by Streaky Mastering. It is set for release in July 2012.

Band members

 * Chelsea Carins – vocals, acoustic guitar, tambourine, djembe, handbells (2009–present)
 * Ryan Carins – vocals, guitars, bass, mouth piano, harmonica (2009–present)
 * Dave "the Greek" Chatziliadis – guitars, bass (2009–present)
 * Ben Hulse – drums (2009–present)

Former members

 * Tom Lancaster – bass (2009–2010)

EPs

 * 2008: The Biggenden Exit
 * 2010: She Set Off...
 * 2011: Untitled EP

Demos

 * 2006: The Chosen One Demos