omg wtf - HANSON

Three UK acoustic shows in November

Limited Edition “Underneath Acoustic EP” (FRYCD217) released 8th November

Critically acclaimed Album, “Underneath” due to be released in UK in February 2005

“Hanson … brilliantly displayed what you can achieve when you have talent” – New York Post

“… the songs are still irresistible and hooky with a maturation of craft … proving yet again that these young men have real passion and real talent for making music.” – Boston Herald

Hanson, who have just entered into a licensing agreement with Cooking Vinyl, have announced that they will be doing three acoustic shows in the UK in November, which will provide fans a preview of their highly anticipated new studio CD, Underneath, which is due to be released in the UK and Europe in February 2005. Just as they did on their critically acclaimed Acoustic ’03 tour of the US, Hanson will forgo the large theatres and arenas they are accustomed to in favor of smaller, more intimate rooms that give fans a chance to experience Hanson and their music up close and personal. Allowing the songs to shine through the acoustic performances, Hanson will deliver a powerful set that showcases their three part harmonies. “This tour is something we have wanted to do for a long time,” Isaac said. “It is really a thank you to our most devoted fans for their patience.” “Doing these shows is like inviting people into the songwriting sessions,” Zac adds. “It is all about giving our fans something special and it’s a great way to introduce the new music.” Full dates as follows :

Fri 5th Nov LONDON, Shepherds Bush Empre £17.50 BO : 0870 771 2000

Sat 6th Nov MANCHESTER, Academy 2 £15.00 BO: 0161 832 1111

Mon 8th Nov GLASGOW, King Tuts £15.00 BO: 0870 169 0100

To coincide with these dates, Hanson will also be releasing a strictly limited edition of 1000 four track acoustic EP. Available on CD only, the tracks – Deeper, Underneath, If Only and I Will Come To You were recorded last year during the band’s highly successful US acoustic tour.

Underneath, which debuted at number 25 in the Billboard Top 200 and at number 1 in the Billboard Independent Albums charts, is an epic, organic alternative guitar rock / pop oriented album, packed with fourteen truly great original songs all written by the trio. More than three years in the making and crammed with catchy melodies, plaintive piano playing and the kind of three part vocal harmonies that only brothers can achieve, Underneath has firmly established Hanson’s credentials as both songwriters and artists. Hanson are joined by a number of special guest on Underneath, including Michelle Branch who contributes background vocals on a track and Phantom Planet’s Sam Farrar who adds bass on a song.

As veterans at a relatively young age, the brothers know the importance of owning their own content and the complexities and challenges facing the music industry today. On the forefront of an emerging trend that includes other established artists such as Pearl Jam, The Eagles and Ozzy Osbourne, Hanson recorded and released Underneath independently on their own, newly-formed record label, 3CG Records in the US although they aren’t trying to compete with the majors they are trying to control the way their music is marketed, promoted and sold in a challenging time for the music industry. Says Taylor Hanson of the newly inked deal with Cooking Vinyl, “We’re thrilled to be working with a label like Cooking Vinyl in the UK and Europe. As one of the leading independent labels, they represent the future of the music industry and we feel a strong identification with their approach to doing business.”

Hanson’s willingness to embrace the Internet and changing trends in the music industry has set them apart from many of their peers. The band’s online site created in 1994, developed into one of the largest sites in music history at a time when the Internet’s potential was in its infancy. Indeed, they have been credited with discovering talent as well, including a young Michelle Branch, who as a fan opened for the band for their second album, was then signed and became a star in her own right.

In 1997 Hanson made a place in music history with their debut album Middle of Nowhere which earned them three Grammy Award nominations and has sold over 6.5 million copies in the United States alone.

www.Hanson.net / www.cookingvinyl.com