The Urban Voodoo Machine

About The Urban Voodoo Machine

Led by the darkly charismatic, Norwegian-born Paul-Ronney Angel, The Urban Voodoo Machine is a supremely talented collective of London-based musicians who have been bringing the spirit of the carnie to an ever-growing audience of dedicated fans these past few years.

Sounding like they should be from the Deep South, the band are self-styled purveyors of 'Bourbon-soaked Gypsy Blues Bop'n'stroll'.

We know what you’re thinking. You’re thinking: “Why should I care about The Urban Voodoo Machine?

They’ve been around for ages, haven’t they?

Aren’t they a novelty band who wears funny make-up?

Don’t they sometimes play jazz?

Aren’t half of them dead or something?”

So bear with us, sunbeam, cos you clearly need educating.

The Urban Voodoo Machine came to him in 2002 as a fully-formed idea. He’d lead a band who’d play ‘Bourbon Soaked Gypsy Blues Bop’n’Stroll’. They’d dress in black and red. There would be a LOT of them. And their music would sound like a great night out in a dangerous part of town.

From the get-go, The UVM fused junkyard blues and stinging rockabilly with mariachi horns, fiddles, sinister cabaret and punk rock tangos. “I wanted to play rock’n’roll music with a different instrumentation,” says Angel, “taking inspiration from everything from delta blues, latin and gypsy music without losing the spirit and attitude of punk.”

His lyrics – part Lemmy, part Bob Dylan – made other (more acclaimed) songwriters sound totally. Fucking. Boring.

“We’re not Americana and we're definitely not ‘retro’,” says Angel. “I write songs about living in London right now. Although having a shit time, no money, heartbreak, mental illness, addiction and suppression from the big guy is kinda universal and timeless, I guess…”

“Yeah-yeah-yeah,” you’re thinking, “but can they cut it live?”

Well, there’s a reason why they’ve played Glastonbury, Download, Latitude, Bestival, Hard Rock Calling and toured with The Pogues and New York Dolls.

With an act honed alongside the burlesque dancers, snake-charmers and fire-eaters they call friends, The UVM have become one of the greatest live acts in the country – terrifyingly bizarre, hysterically funny; a riot for the eyes and sensation for the ears: a sing-a-long, drink-a-long, clap-a-long affair.

WSW are incredibly proud to bring the astonishingly brilliant Urban Voodoo Machine back and so looking forward to another unforgettable evening in Whitby!