Led by songwriter Paul Doherty, The Vals span across many genre's with their upbeat melodic sounds. Formed in Belfast, the band has seen many line-up changes in its short history with Doherty the only constant member.
In 2009 they released their debut album 'Sticks and Stones' via Electrique Mud, a subsidiary of Unique Records based in Dusseldorf, Germany.
With Electrique Mud they released the singles 'Yesterday Today', 'With You' and 'Things Will Always Be the Same'. In October 2009 they released the album 'Sticks and Stones' which was distributed worldwide via ALIVE!
The album was recorded in just 3 days in Duisburg, Germany and received rave reviews from parts of the music press for its unashamed take on 60's pop, citing songwriting comparisons to the days of Lennon, McCartney, Davies and Townsend.
First single 'Yesterday Today' was used in an episode of popular German soap opera Gute Zeiten, schlechte Zeiten (English: Good Times, Bad Times). The number one show has peaked at 7 million viewers since its first airing in 1992. The single also had heavy airplay on various stations worldwide including BBC Radio One.
Their second
single 'With You' was nominated for 'Single of the Week' on BBC
Radio 2's The Mark Radcliffe & Stuart Maconie
Show.
To coincide with the release of their debut album, the band played a European tour which took in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Ireland and the UK.
Major festival appearances ensued including the famous Haldern Pop Festival, Burg Herzberg, Golzheim Fest, Hard Working Class Heroes and many more throughout this period.
In 2010
they headlined the famous 100 Club in London just weeks before
former Beatle Paul McCartney headlined his own show in order
to save the then threatened building.