Dirty Sunbeams

Shining a light on independent music in the Calder Valley

Wax Tree Cast

It’s hardly surprising, given The Trades Club’s cultural esteem, that such a high number of creative partnerships have been forged there.

The four members of The Lounge Society witnessed an inspiring set by The Orielles at The Trades and promptly decided they’d have a crack. The Short Causeway, too, were born amid a sweaty gig at the famous venue. Add to that list, Wax Tree Cast, although the circumstances for their formation were somewhat different.

Guitarist, Blair Murray, was playing a show at The Trades with his band Secluded Sea. In support that night was another Halifax outfit called Calina, featuring Oolagh Hodgson. Blair was impressed and promptly decided he needed to be in a band with Oolagh.

“I stole her” he says with a grin – and only half in jest. And so Wax Tree Cast came to be.

Prior to that, Blair had been a regular on the Manchester scene for several years, playing drums in Twisted Wheel straight after Uni and then for a group called Man Made. The latter was fronted by Johnny Marr’s son, Nile. Between those two spells he racked up bundles of experience doing session work, most notably for the country artist, Laura Cantrell. But during that whole time, Blair was developing his own songwriting prowess and was itching to explore those capabilities further, within a band set-up he could more truly call his own.

Following their fateful collision at The Trades Club, Blair and Oolagh quit their respective roles in Secluded Sea and Caline, and Wax Tree Cast quickly took shape, Blair writing the songs and playing guitar, Oolagh on bass and vocal duties.

Their sound has been honed around Blair’s Marr-ish range of styles, from the gently melodic to fiery garage, while Oolagh’s smooth vocals project a confident, endearing warmth.

They started in earnest in 2020 and have since been building up a head of steam. A succession of self-released singles led to a publishing deal with Blue Raincoat Music / Chrysalis Records in 2023. Wax Tree Cast are now well positioned for bigger things and are busily plotting their next move.

Discography

Oliver Reed – 2023
She – 2023
Fizzed Up -2022
Sorry – 2022
RUN! – 2021
Skyscraper -2021
Beyond-Love – 2020