Dave Sharp, co-founder and guitarist of top British rock band The Alarm, launches a new band -- The Soul Company -- in Lancaster next weekend (Friday 12 December) with a what he calls a ''low key'' gig at the Bobbin.

The band has been rehearsing in the Lancaster area at local rock venue The Yorkshire House for the past month.
Although they never signed directly to a major label, The Alarm can lay claim to a series of 14 Top 50 singles, seven successful albums and over five million sales worldwide where The Alarm's pioneering use of acoustic guitars brought the band into direct contact with the likes of Bob Dylan, Neil Young and U2, who have all appeared and sung on stage with The Alarm.

Dave Sharp left the UK music scene in 1991 and following the trail of American songwriting legend Woody Guthrie he headed to the US in order to grow as a writer and performer. Teaming up with maverick record producer, Bob Johnston, he spent the next few years touring and recording with artists he had long respected and admired, such as Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Larry Crane and Dave Grissolm (The John Cougar Mellencamp band), George Porter (The Neville Brothers), Chris Solberg (Santana).

With two excellently received solo albums and an extensive touring itinerary under his belt, he began to look once again to the British music scene for inspiration.
''I saw fewer and fewer UK rock bands able to make a lasting impact on US audiences,'' Sharp says. ''There has got to be a serious British rock band capable of taking on the United States. British rock has lost much credibility Stateside.''
''The future of rock and roll is at stake here,'' he told Virtual-Lancaster, citing corporate mergers and marketing-driven new badns as just part of the problem the British rock scene now faces.

Following his return to the UK in early 2002, Sharp immediately began touring solo in order to reintroduce himself to British audiences, headlining venues up and down the country. Aiming to broaden his audience base, he took on opening slots with artists such as Nick Harper, Jake Burns (3 Men & Black) Bob Geldof and Lonnie Donnegan. During this time he began searching out musicians for his new band with just one criterion: ''These cats have got to be seriously tested rock players who can deliver.''

Things came rapidly into focus after a chance meeting in Lancaster with one of the UK's finest bass players, Keith Ashcroft (Chris Farlowe, Hamish Stewart). After Sharp laid out his plans, Ashcroft knew exactly what was required and immediately brought in long time associate and master drummer Paul Burgess (10cc, Jethro Tull) to solidify the rhythm section. Both Ashcroft and Burgess, who are well known on the north-west music scene for their work with Lancaster band Free Parking, recommended Carnforth guitarist Moe Witham, who's career has included spells with Micky Jupp and Dr. Feelgood, to Sharp and on Nov 5th 2003, The Soul Company was formed!!

The band will be performing new material at the Bobbin, from a forthcoming EP to be released in the New Year along with material from Sharp's first two solo albums & The Summer Of Love 2002 Parts 1 & 2.