Born in England and raised in California, Antony Hegarty felt a kinship when he first clapped his eyes on the cover of Culture Club’s Kissing To Be Clever. Relocating to New York in 1990 he found an environment that was comfortable with and more conducive to his avant-garde artistic leanings and flexible approach to sexuality.

Reinventing himself as a cross between Isabella Rossellini in Blue Velvet and the drag queen that graced Soft Cell’s Torch single, Antony performed with the cabaret ensemble Blacklips before forming Antony & The Johnsons. Following the 2000 release of their eponymous debut album, Antony appeared on Lou Reed’s The Raven and Animal Serenade album’s before going on tour in 2003 with the former Velvet Underground frontman.

Antony & The Johnson’s second album, I Am A Bird Now, was released to great acclaim in February 2005 and went on to win the prestigious Mercury Prize.

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Via Trinidad, New York and…er…Hanwell, The Magic Numbers have perfected the craft of harmonious songwriting that guarantees to bring a ray of sunshine whatever the weather.

Upon arriving in England, siblings Romeo and Michelle Stoddard hooked up with another brother – sister couple, Sean and Angela Gannon, and within no time at all Romeo and drummer Sean were playing together in a number of small-time bands. Inspired by classic songwriters such as Jimmy Webb and Brian Wilson, Romeo began to write songs in earnest and soon afterwards the pair was joined by their kid sisters.

The nascent Magic Numbers made their live debut in London’s tiny Betsey Trotwood pub and the enthusiastic word-of-mouth that followed led to their debut single, “Hymn to Her” selling out in less than a week and a furious bidding war amongst the major labels.

With just one single to their name, The Magic Numbers headlined the 2,000 capacity Forum in London at the beginning of summer 2005 before going on to conquer the Glastonbury and V festivals. Their eponymous debut secured the quartet a Mercury Music Prize nomination as well as becoming a regular fixture on the album charts.

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