Bound by a mutual love of the sun-drenched vintage sounds of afrobeat, soukous, highlife and roots reggae, Me and My Friends re-invent these influences around the instantly recognisable voice and finger-style guitar of songwriter and singer Nick Rasle. The band’s sound involves a meeting of diverse musical backgrounds: Fred Harper’s gospel-influenced drumming and James Grunwell’s deep basslines provide the bed for Sam Murray’s growling clarinet tone and Emma Coleman’s strident cello and flawless ear for vocal harmony. The result is something fresh and original, marrying the emotional vocal power of folk music with early jazz and delta-blues singing and the driving rhythms of West-Africa's golden era and the heart and soul of the great roots-reggae songwriters.