it began in exeter...

...the jazz wolves started out as a loose jazz band project set up by a guy called ian in early 2001. they had a double bass, sitar, freaky dancers, a giant snake and ian would read out poetry jotted down by members of the audience. they played a few times at the casbar, supported by djs john sealey and johnny dbini. when various wolves left the project to pursue other things (including children of the drone) the 2 djs played a season of thursday nights, once a month at casbar.

that autumn, adopting the name and adding the collective, the 2 johns started playing tuesdays at the mud dock, and wednesdays at the phoenix bar, recruiting russ and matt to join in the fun. unfortunately, there's not much fun on the quay on a winter's tuesday evening, so that didnt last either. meanwhile, an old buddy from up-country had moved to town, and dan became initiated into the wolfish way...

18 months later, still playing the phoenix for the love of it, with a party here and a party there, and a couple of new faces: lisa and dave, they slowed down to once a month, and started seeking fresh venues. zoom to winter 2003 and john sealey doesn't get out much because his family has expanded, marcus is officially invited to join as the wolf technician, and they start playing the last friday of each month at three fat fish, much to the delight of the locals and staff who appreciate the variety of styles and the low-ego approach to playing records.

spring 2004 brought more expansion, with a residency at the vibraphonic jazz festival, and regular radio sessions on VIBRAPHONIC FM 106.2, paving the way for a once-a-month session at the angel on queen st, and a residency at exeter festival in july.

autumn 04 - dan moves away, so he and john now feature as special guests, and 2 new djs step up - stephen (dj pinks) who we met in a field in cornwall, and lazy al - the station manager at vibraphonic fm. the 3ff residency is expanded to 2 fridays in every month, and radio wolf takes to the airwaves again on ELR 106.2 - thursday and saturday evenings throughout october.

spring 05 brings the 2nd vibraphonic festival, with radio wolf once again on the airwaves on thursday nights, and various wolfy solo shows during the daytime. 3ff accomodate us 3 saturdays a month now, with the other one at the angel. there's a collaboration with the milkstars to set up a new night in the cellar bar at the city gate, and the vibraphonic residency sees us practically living in the phoenix bar again.

summer 05, and it goes a bit wonky, with a split in the ranks. mo'jo jones goes off to pursue a more dancefloor-friendly vibe with lazy al and pinks at 3ff, while johnny, dave, russ and lisa get more mellow and eclectic, guesting for juicebox reggae nights at the amber rooms and milkstar indie nights all over the place.

winter 05 brings a new residency at the stylish veuve bar on queen street, 2 saturdays a month, and rounding off the year with a slot at the nye party at the phoenix.

06 kicks in with johnny leaving the area to pursue fame and happiness in rural south wales, the remaining 3 wolves fall into a blind panic, but soon emerge unscathed as exeter's finest eclectic 7inch warriors, residing in the phoenix bar whenever there's a decent band playing in the main space, and headlining the vibraphonic lounge at the ultra-popular beatz and bobz NYE extravaganza every dec 31st. meanwhile poppa wolf flies the jw flag in cardiff as semi-resident at meltdown, spinning obscurities between bands.