The Quicksilver Kings

In 2008 Lead singer and poet Keith Hagger was found aimlessly wandering the streets of deepest darkest Hull carrying only a shoe-box full of lyrics and singing random Everly Brothers tunes. He was picked up by a local music mogul Stewart Baxter, who gave him refuge in the Warren – a community project helping young people in the city.
Keith’s jovial wit and love of tracksuits later led him to appear in an episode of Channel four’s The Secret Millionaire in 2009. He helped secure £20,000 for The Warren, enabling them to start a record label and shortly thereafter Keith cut his first demos and went on to play the main stage of Hull’s Freedom Festival in front of several thousand music lovers.

He eventually found his band in the summer of 2012. The legend goes that stumbling home one balmy night mid-July, he happened upon the cross-roads where he met a local character by the name of The Kinky Wizard, who made him an offer he couldn't refuse, the red pill... or the blue pill. Keith took both. And borrowed some tobacco while he was at it. A friendship was formed and a week later they met Jamie fresh from rehab from excessive procrastination. Armed with a Bo Diddley cover, three guitar chords and a battered fiat, the trio embarked on an intensive, year long, world tour of open mics – at the same 4 Hull pubs. Local musicians Dan and Rob loved the way The Quicksilver Kings made plagiarism cool. Growing increasingly jealous, one night they decided it was their mission to destroy the band and all that it stands for. But eventually, after half an hour’s contemplation, they gave up and decided to join them instead. Due to musical similarities they are currently locked away in a cupboard, only to be let out on special occasions.

Their journey since has seen The Quicksilver Kings walk a fine line between chaos and harmony, writing tunes from another era - simple songs that punch above their musical weight and capture the attention and imagination of all who hear them. Amassing a loyal following, they have received airplay on both local and national BBC radio and play support slots with the likes of Dodgy, The Beat, The Christians and the CC Smugglers. 2016 also saw them play on the main stage of Hull’s Humber Street Sesh festival.

After a successful crowdfunding campaign, 2018 saw them release their first full length album - BACK IS THE WAY FORWARD on Vinyl, CD and download. Most recently (Feb 2019) they were invited to write a ‘Song to Europe’ live on the BBC Humberside breakfast show. After receiving such positive feedback, the song was recorded in a studio and released as a single for download.