The Graveltones
Australian duo bringing heavy blues rock from London.
The Graveltones are a two-piece heavy blues rock and roll band, currently based in London. The group consists of Jimmy O on guitar and vocals and Mikey Sorbello on drums. Their sound draws on influences including Captain Beefheart, John Lee Hooker, and Queens of the Stone Age.
The band formed in London in 2011 after two Australians, Jimmy O and Mikey Sorbello, met in Tin Pan Alley. Three days after their first studio jam, they played their debut gig at London’s 100 Club in February 2011. Over two days in August 2011, they recorded a five-track self-titled debut EP at Miloco Studios with producer Sean Douglas (Wire). Released digitally in October 2011 on their website and iTunes, the EP was described by London’s Grapevine Music as “My pick for a Christmas stocking filler.”
In February 2012, the duo toured Australia, playing venues such as The Tote Hotel, Cherry Bar, and Black Bear Lodge. On 21 May 2012, they released a free download single, “I Want Your Love,” which was later used in an Irish Lotto advertising campaign featuring a character named ‘Happy Tony’ dancing outside a betting shop. That August, they began a UK and European tour, including Standon Calling and a headline slot at Rotherhithe Festival for Teenage Cancer Trust. By this point, they had played over 250 gigs since forming.
In April 2013, The Graveltones supported Rival Sons on their European tour, starting at London’s Shepherd’s Bush Empire. Following that tour, they were booked for the Jägermeister Acoustic Stage at Download Festival.
In May 2013, the band announced they were recording their debut album at Monnow Valley Studios. The first single, “Catch Me On The Fly,” received airplay on stations like Team Rock Radio. In August 2013, they were nominated for the ‘Best New Band’ award at the Classic Rock Awards and signed with booking agency TKO. In September, they supported The Temperance Movement on UK shows. In October, they were confirmed as support for The BossHoss on a 13-date arena tour of Germany, Switzerland, and Austria. Their debut album, *Don’t Wait Down*, was released exclusively to pledgers that month, with international distribution through RSK Entertainment on 21 October.
In February and March 2014, The Graveltones co-headlined a short UK run with The Cadillac Three, supported by Buffalo Summer. They then played 16 headline dates across Germany with Buffalo Summer. They
- formed
- 2011
- origin
- London, England
- genre
- Heavy blues rock and roll
- members
- Jimmy O (guitar/vocals), Mikey Sorbello (drums)
- notable_tours
- Support for Rival Sons (2013), The BossHoss arena tour (2013), Download Festival (2014)
- debut_album
- Don't Wait Down (2013)
Lore & Background
The Graveltones formed in London in 2011 after two Australians, Jimmy O and Mikey Sorbello, met in Tin Pan Alley. Three days after jamming together, they played their first gig at the 100 Club in February 2011. Their self-titled debut EP was recorded in two days at Miloco Studios and released digitally in October 2011. The band quickly built a reputation through relentless gigging, playing over 250 shows since forming.
In 2012, they toured Australia and released the single 'I Want Your Love', which was used in an Irish Lotto advertising campaign. They supported Rival Sons on a European tour in April 2013 and were nominated for 'Best New Band' at the Classic Rock Awards that year. Their debut album Don't Wait Down was released in 2013, followed by a second album Love Lies Dying in 2015.
Reader's Guide
The Graveltones represent a modern revival of heavy blues rock, blending raw two-piece instrumentation with influences from blues legends and stoner rock. Their significance lies in their DIY ethic and rapid rise through extensive touring, including support slots for major acts and festival appearances at Download and Standon Calling. Their music gained commercial exposure through inclusion in the NHL15 soundtrack and an Irish Lotto campaign. While not mainstream household names, they carved a niche in the European rock scene, particularly in Germany and the UK, and their nomination for a Classic Rock Award underscores their impact within the genre. Their legacy is one of energetic live performance and a stripped-down sound that honors blues traditions while embracing modern rock energy.
Did You Know?
- The Graveltones played their first gig at London's 100 Club just three days after meeting in a studio.
- Their single 'I Want Your Love' was used in an Irish Lotto advertising campaign featuring 'Happy Tony'.
- They were nominated for 'Best New Band' at the Classic Rock Awards in August 2013.
- Their song 'Forget About The Trouble' was included in the soundtrack for NHL15.
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