Nigel Powell
Nigel Powell is an English multi-instrumental musician from Abingdon.
Powell was born in Bromley, London, and educated at Abingdon School. While at school he was in a band called Illiterate Hands, which also featured future Radiohead lead guitarist Jonny Greenwood and Andy Yorke, brother of Thom Yorke.
He is best known as the former drummer for Frank Turner's live and studio backing band; the Sleeping Souls. Nigel is also a member of the Oxford-based alternative rock band Dive Dive. and Unbelievable Truth. He is endorsed by Pro-Mark Sticks and Sabian Cymbals. Frank Turner and the Sleeping Souls headlined at Wembley Arena in April 2012, and played at the Opening Ceremony of the 2012 Olympic Games in London. On October 23, 2020, Powell announced via his social media that his tenure with Frank Turner and the Sleeping Souls was ending, and he would be focusing on his solo project, the Sad Song Co.
The Sad Song Co.
The Sad Song Co. is a solo project of Powell that also features bass player Jason Moulster, begun in 2000 in Oxford.Powell took the songs he had been writing for Unbelievable Truth and recorded them for the debut the Sad Song Co. album miseryguts, which was released in 2003. Moulster contributed bass throughout.
Following a few years touring with Dive Dive in support of their first two albums Powell recorded his second album Poignant Device. Marillion contributed use of their Racket Studios while they were on tour, and it was completed with George Shilling at his Bank Cottage Studios later that year. By the time of its release in 2007 three quarters of Dive Dive had begun acting as Frank Turner’s backing band on record and on tour, so there was little opportunity for touring, outside of the release show for the album supporting Marillion at their fan weekend in Port Zelande, the Netherlands.
During breaks in touring in 2014 and 2015, Powell wrote and recorded another album titled in amber. After crowdfunding through PledgeMusic, the album was released on 26 August 2016, and he undertook a UK tour in October, between tours with Frank Turner.
Another album entitled Worth was released in 2018.
Discography – as musician
Studio albums
- Almost Here – UK No. 21 Unbelievable Truth
- sorrythankyou Unbelievable Truth
- SmileSunset Mark Mulcahy
- Misc. Music Unbelievable TruthAsianblue Emm Gryner miseryguts the Sad Song Co.Tilting at Windmills Dive DiveThe Great Lakes Emm Gryner Poignant Device the Sad Song Co.Revenge of the Mechanical Dog Dive DiveSleep Is for the Week Frank Turner Simple Andy YorkeLove Ire & Song – UK No. 72 Frank Turner The First Three Years – UK No. 72 Frank Turner Poetry of the Deed Frank Turner – UK No. 36 Frank Turner Ciao My Shining Star: The Songs of Mark Mulcahy Various Artists Memoria : A Tribute to the Alternative 90s Various Artists One Light Is Gone Josienne Clarke Potential Dive Dive England Keep My Bones Frank Turner UK No. 12 Tape Deck Heart Frank Turner UK No. 2 Positive Songs for Negative People Frank Turner UK No. 2 In Amber the Sad Song Co.Worth the Sad Song Co.Be More Kind Frank TurnerSaudade the Sad Song Co.
EPs
Stone – EP Unbelievable Truth Higher Than Reason – EP Unbelievable Truth Settle Down / Sea Dune – EP Unbelievable Truth Solved – EP Unbelievable Truth When I Wank on My Guitar the Whole World Wanks With Me Dustball Sounds All Wrong Dustball Campfire Punkrock Frank Turner The Real Damage Frank Turner Bad Moon Rising LazareiTunes Festival: London 2010 Frank TurnerRock & Roll Frank Turner Liar ''Dive Dive''Singles
Building Unbelievable Truth Higher Than Reason – UK No. 38 Unbelievable Truth Solved – UK No. 39 Unbelievable Truth Settle Down / "Dune Sea" – UK No. 46 Unbelievable Truth Agony Unbelievable Truth Landslide Unbelievable Truth Advice to a Lover Unbelievable Truth Good Show Dive Dive555 For Film Stars UK Indie No. 6, UK Chart No. 48 Dive DiveThe Sorry Suitor UK Indie No. 10, UK Chart No. 54 Dive DiveVital Signs Frank Turner The Game Dive DivePhotosynthesis Frank Turner Reasons Not to Be an Idiot Frank Turner UK Chart No. 124 Long Live the Queen Frank Turner UK Chart No. 65 The Road Frank Turner UK Chart No. 62 Poetry of the Deed Frank Turner Isabel Frank Turner Try This at Home Frank TurnerOther
The Greatest Shindig ShindigDVDs
All About the Destination Frank Turner Take to the Road Frank Turner Frank Turner Live From Wembley Frank TurnerDiscography – as producer
Studio albums
Almost Here Unbelievable Truthsorrythankyou Unbelievable Truthmiseryguts The Sad Song Co.Tilting at Windmills Dive DiveThe Bigger Picture Milow No. 10 No. 78 Gold Poignant Device The Sad Song Co.Revenge of the Mechanical Dog Dive DiveMilow Milow No. 26 No. 3 No. 38 No. 17 Platinum Take to the Road Frank Turner Potential Dive DiveSingles / EPs
Stone – EP Unbelievable Truth Monster / Plastic 7" Single Beaker Higher Than Reason – EP Unbelievable Truth Solved – EP Unbelievable Truth Settle Down / Sea Dune – EP Unbelievable Truth More Familiar Milow One of it Milow No. 64 Excuse To Try Milow Landslide MilowDemos
Radiohead as On A Friday – various demos between 1986 and 1990- ''Dial F For Frankenstein''