“ACES ARE HIGH” MAKES CHART HISTORY AS IT MAKES
THE TOP 10 IN THE OFFICIAL UK ALBUM CHART

ESSEX-BASED HUSBAND-AND-WIFE DUO ARE THE FIRST INDEPENDENT UK
BLUES ACT TO HAVE A TOP 10 ALBUM IN THE OFFICIAL UK ALBUM CHART

THE CHART NEWS COINCIDES WITH WHEN RIVERS MEET’S
APRIL AND MAY 2024 UK TOUR

TICKETS AVAILABLE FROM:
WHENRIVERSMEET.CO.UK/TOUR & TICKETMASTER.CO.UK

Award-winning rock duo When Rivers Meet, comprised of husband-and-wife Aaron and Grace Bond, are the first independent UK blues act to have an album in the Top 10 of the Official UK Album Chart with their third studio album “Aces Are High.”

The album, which has charted at #9 in the Official UK Album Chart, is the Essex-based band’s first Top 10 album. “We delighted with the support that we have had from our dedicated fans,” says When Rivers Meet’s vocalist, mandolin and violin player, Grace Bond.

“Having a Top 10 album means the world to us,” says WRM’s guitarist, Aaron Bond. “We can’t wait to perform the new songs when we tour the UK in April and May 2024.”

WRM will take the “Aces Are High” album on the road when they perform eight concerts in the UK from April 27th until May 11th.  Tickets are available from https://whenriversmeet.co.uk/tour and ticketmaster.co.uk.

“Aaron and I can’t wait to get back on the road in 2024 to tour the Aces Are High album,” says Grace.  The new songs are powerful and intense. They represent where we are right now as both writers and performers.  It’s an exciting journey and we look forward to sharing the ride with our dedicated fans.”

Since their formation in 2019, When Rivers Meet have been quick to prove themselves one of the most exciting names in British blues rock. Blending Rock, Blues, Americana, and Folk in a distinctly unique manner, they’ve received many awards and accolades.

WRM were the first band to win four awards at the UK Blues Awards 2021 and another three awards in 2022, including Blues Band of The Year on both occasions. In 2023, WRM won Blues Band of The Year, making them the only band to win these category three years in a row, and the only band to be inducted into the UK Blues Awards Hall of Fame for this category.

“Just three albums into their career and husband-and-wife team just seem to get better and better.” – Classic Rock, 8/10

“Aces and stakes are high. This is a royal flush.”– Powerplay

“Another classy release from one of the UK’s most exciting and creative bands.”  – Record Collector

“Aces Are High is the album that will power them to the next level.”– Metal Talk

A Senbla & Friends Presentation
By Arrangement With Neil O’Brien Entertainment Presents

ACES ARE HIGH – SPRING 2024 UK TOUR

WITH SPECIAL GUESTS

PLANET ROCK 48-HOUR TICKET PRE-SALE
STARTS 10AM WEDNESDAY 18 OCTOBER 2023

TICKETS ON GENERAL SALE 10AM FRIDAY 20 OCTOBER VIA
WHENRIVERSMEET.CO.UK/TOUR & TICKETMASTER.CO.UK

The Brook, Southampton

Saturday 27 April 2024

Tickets: TheBrook.com
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466 Portswood Rd, Southampton, SO17 3SD
https://the-brook.com

 Thekla, Bristol

Sunday 28 April 2024

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The Grove, East Mud Dock, Bristol, BS1 4RB
www.theklabristol.co.uk

Gorilla, Manchester

Thursday 2 May 2024

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54-56 Whitworth Street, Manchester, M1 5WW
www.thisisgorilla.com

St Lukes, Glasgow

Friday 3 May 2024

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Calton, 17 Bain St, Glasgow, G40 2JZ
www.stlukesglasgow.com

Brudenell Social, Leeds

Saturday 4 May 2024

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33 Queen’s Rd, Leeds, LS6 1NY
www.brudenellsocialclub.co.uk

Epic Studios, Norwich

Thursday 9 May 2024

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112-114 Magdalen St, Norwich, NR3 1JD
https://epic-tv.com/events

Rescue Rooms, Nottingham

Friday 10 May 2024

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Masonic Place, Goldsmith Street, Nottingham, NG1 5LB
www.rescuerooms.com

The Garage, London

Saturday 11 May 2024

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20-22 Highbury Corner, London, N5 1RD
https://www.thegarage.london

WHEN RIVERS MEET

Since bursting on to the UK Blues scene with their debut record The Uprising EP in April 2019 followed by their second EP Innocence of Youth in May 2020, Grace and Aaron have been going from strength to strength. The British husband and wife duo have an ever-growing online fanbase and have gained the attention of Cerys Matthews’ Blues Show on BBC Radio 2.

Their unique harmonic vocal-led approach to song writing, dirty electric guitar, slide resonator mandolin and fiddle create a unique distinctive and contemporary blues rock sound that echoes 1970s classic rock with hints of traditional blues.

Before lockdown, the duo toured the UK in their self-converted VW camper with an impressive tour schedule. Following lockdown, the duo live streamed on Facebook every week for their Rock the Lockdownseries attracting hundreds of thousands of views.  Fan engagement is second to none, while WRM fans continue to organically multiply on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

On 20th November 2020, the duo released their long-awaited debut album We Fly Free to critical acclaim from the UK radio and rock music magazine media.

Chris Kimsey, the Rolling Stones record producer raved that “The performances are exemplary, the sound is magnificent, the songs are gorgeous. I love the drama. I love everything.”

In October 2020, WRM’s first single from the album, Battleground, was added to the main playlist on the UK’s leading classic rock radio station, Planet Rock.

In late November, the band followed up with a second single, Did I Break The Law, that was played on BBC Radio 2’s The Rock Show with Johnnie Walker. The single was also played on Planet Rock throughout December 2020 and into January 2021. The UK rock music press were unanimous by praising We Fly Free as one of the most striking, refreshing, and impressive debut blues rock albums of 2020.

Classic Rock said of the band’s debut, “Wheel-spinning out of Dodge like Bonnie and Clyde on opener Did I Break The Law, Grace and Aaron Bond prove capable getaway drivers on a debut album that unfolds like a road movie,” while Blues in Britain described it as “A stunning album of pure alchemy.”

Vive Le Rock said that We Fly Free was “urban blues with the brakes off,” and gave the album with a 9/10 rating, while Guitarist Magazine described at album as “electrifying, it’s a great debut.” Fireworks praised it as “One of the best blues rock albums of the year.”

On 26th October, Battleground won Tracks of the Week on Classic Rock’s Louder Sound website, who described it as “Primal old-school blues (more John Lee Hooker than Stevie Ray Vaughan) – dressed up in biker leathers and wreathed in arthouse smoke.”

November 2020 saw two more accolades when WRM graced the magazine covers of Blues Matters and Blues in Britain featuring stylish and photographs taken by one of the UK’s leading rock photographers, Rob Blackham.

The album was also made Rock and Blues Muse’s Top 20 Blues, Rock and Roots Albums of 2020, alongside Joe Bonamassa, Larkin Poe, Walter Trout, Shemekia Copeland, The Allman Betts Band, Marcus King, Kirk Fletcher, Savoy Brown, Bernard Allison, and King King.

WRM’s debut album cemented their name and signified a bold move in their trajectory that ultimately turned them into innovative risk takers, willing to take their influences, and putting their own stamp over it.

Photo Credit: © Paul May

After two years of hard work, everything came together. The WRM buzz was in full swing.

Guitarist Magazine, was quick to catch when they reviewed the debut album by saying, “It’s a tough job to make a new blues-based record that really arrests the listener’s attention; however, WRM’s sound is built of simple but powerful elements, handled with taste but delivered from the gut.”

The reviews continued to pour in. HRH Magazine proclaimed, “For blues lovers, We Fly Free is a purist’s paradise,” while Powerplay Magazine said, “They may be a duo, but they make a big noise.”

Maverick Magazine said, “This is the start of what should be a hugely successful career, while R’N’R Magazine focussed on the album’s production standards by saying, “The use of authentic techniques, including tube tape echoes and reverbs, adds to the overall production, reproducing a splendid live, vintage sound that reinforces the appeal.”

When Rivers Meet released their third single Walking On The Wire on 26th February 2021.  The single had an exclusive 24-hour premiere on PlanetRock.com on Thursday 25th February. The music video featured stunning aerial footage and cinematography filmed by a drone.

In early May, Walking On The Wire was added to Plant Rock Radio’s playlist, making this the third single from the band’s debut album to be played on Planet Rock (previous two singles were Battleground and Did I Break The Law.

On Sunday 9th May 2021, When Rivers Meet won four awards at the 2021 UK Blues Awards including “Blues Band of the Year”, “Blues Album of the Year”, “Emerging Blues Artist of the Year” and “Most Inspirational Online Performance of the Year”.  When Rivers Meet were the first band to ever win four awards on the same night.

In May 2021, the band started recording their sophomore album Saving Grace; released in November 2021.  The album featured the singles Testify and Never Coming Home.

On Friday 11 June 2021, When Rivers Meet won Planet Rock’s “The Rocks” Award for “Best New Band.” In October 2021, When Rivers Meet toured the UK supporting King King to rave reviews.

In April 2022, WRM won Album of the Year (beating Iron Maiden who were at second place” at Planet Rock’s “The Rocks” awards.  They also won the Blues Power Award at Planet Rock’s “The Rocks” awards.

In May 2022, WRM were won three awards at the UK Blues Awards including “Blues Album of the Year” (Saving Grace), “Blues Band of the Year,” and “Blues Vocalist of the Year” (Grace Bond).

WRM embarked on their first headline UK tour in April and May 2022, selling out most of the dates. In October 2022, WRM reprised the Flying Free Tour with further sold-out dates across the UK including The Stables in Milton Keynes.  

In December 2022, they performed a special set at Planet Rock’s Rockstock Festival at Trecco Bay, Wales.

In February 2023, they supported Reef on their UK tour. This was followed by an extensive headline UK tour in April and May. The band performed various festivals in the summer of 2023 including Joe Bonamassa’s Keeping the Blues Alive at Sea Mediterranean Cruise in Athens. Dubrovnik, and Santorini. Their third studio album Aces Are High was released to rave reviews on Friday 13th October 2023.