Grade 2 is an English band from Ryde on the Isle of Wight. Their music is described as a classic punk sound,[1] and features lyrics about everyday problems.[2][3] Louder Than War described their album Graveyard Island as "Upbeat stripped back punk’n’roll with a bit of yobbo thrown in.".[4]

Grade 2
Grade 2 playing live in Newport, Isle of Wight, 2019
Background information
Origin	Ryde, Isle of Wight, England
Genres	punk rock, Oi!
Years active	2013–present
Labels	Hellcat Records
Members	Jack Chatfield Jacob Hull Sid Ryan
Website	grade2official.co.uk

History

Formation and early history

The band was formed in May 2013,[3] initially playing covers from the punk era by The Stranglers and The Jam, as well as Oi! music by Booze and Glory and Lion’s Law.[5] They began to write original songs and performed regularly in local pubs and clubs, and gained exposure by successfully supporting established bands.[6]

Contra Records

From November 2013 until 2018 the band was signed to German record label Contra Records.[7]

Hellcat Records

In 2018 Grade 2 signed with US-based Hellcat Records.[8][9]

Live performance

Since 2013 the band have played regularly across Europe with performances in countries including Germany, Switzerland, Spain, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Norway, Sweden, Greece, Italy, Ireland, the Czech Republic, Austria, Slovakia, Serbia, the UK, and the Isle of Man.[3] From 2018 the band have also toured in the US and Canada.[10]

During 2016 for some European live dates drummer Jacob Hull was substituted by Ryde drummer Toby Jenkins.

In autumn 2018 Grade 2 was support for The Interrupters UK tour, and in spring 2019 the band toured as support for the Dropkick Murphys.[11]

Discography

• Early demos were recorded in October 2013,[12]
• A debut EP of original music, "Broken Youth", was released on Contra Records. June 2014
• 7" 4-track split with Saints and Sinners "Die With Out Boots On". June 2015[13]
• Grade 2 contributed a track to the ongoing compilation series Oi! This Is Streetpunk Vol.5. May 2015
• The 14-track album 'Mainstream View' was released on CD and vinyl. 16 February 2016.[14]
• 7" 4-track EP "Heard it All Before". 15 December 2016
• The album 'Break the Routine' was released in August, 2017.[15]
• The album 'Graveyard Island' was released in 2019 on Hellcat Records.[16]

References

На других языках

[de] Grade 2