Costa Rock

Costa Rock are a four piece band from the Málaga region of Spain who play classic Pop/Rock songs from the 70’s through to today. The line up consists of Pete Carter on Vocals Stephen Toal on guitars, Keith Bradshaw on Basses and backing vocals and Hodge on drums and backing vocals. All four members are accomplished, experienced musicians in their own right but together they make a great sound.

Costa Rock’s sets are so varied that they can play anywhere from weddings to Rock festivals and their sets contain songs that everyone can enjoy. Costa Rock make every song sound like it is one of their own which they think sets them apart from many other cover bands around and with their dynamic style and energy, everyone is guaranteed a great night!!

2012 started well for Costa Rock and they seem to be building on last year by casting their reputation all along the Costa del Sol and inland areas as well. It is a reputation that has even reached Spanish ears and they are now a regular fixture at renowned music venue’s The ZZ Pub in Málaga and The Zeppelin Bar in Alhaurin El Grande. “The key to a great band is whether they are asked back” Pete explains “And we get asked back everywhere we play, with one venue even booking us for regular appearances throughout next year after we’d finished our first set!”

You can go and hear anyone play the old standards like The Eagles, Phil Collins, Rolling Stones etc, and we know that people still want to hear that, but we wanted to start being a bit different. so we started to look at material you hardly ever hear covered” All being of a similar age, the boys started looking back at music from the last 20 years, which explains why the boys favour classic hits from the 1980’s. Costa Rock don’t just tip a hat to the Rock legends of the 60’s and 70’s, but now they also pay tribute to acts such as The Mission, Kings of Leon, Snow Patrol, Radiohead, Duran Duran, Gary Numan, Level 42 and even Nik Kershaw get the Costa Rock treatment.

Lead Vocals: Pete Carter

Pete first appeared on stage at the age of seven when his renditon of Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head brought the ballroom of Butlins Holiday Camp, Dungeness to it’s feet in admiration. Since that bright start Pete’s singing career has gone from strength to strength.

He has sung with members of Jools Hollands Big Band, Squeeze, Dr Feelgood, The Blues Brothers and supported acts such as Eddie Izzard, Jo Brand and Phil jupitus.

He spent 5 years singing with acclaimed 7 piece function band Sneaking Sally, all over the UK, entertaining audiences at venues such as the Grosvenor House Hotel, Winter gardens Margate, The Fairfield halls in Croydon and Broadstairs Carnival. All these and a lively time in Working Mens clubs all over London and the South East taught him the value of a wide range of styles and music.

Pete joined up with Costa Rock in 2009 and has seen the line up go from strength to strength, and is positive it’s just going to keep getting better and better.

Also hear Pete every morning, Monday to Friday 8am – 11am, hosting the Breakfast Club on Heart FM 88.5fm between Marbella and La Linea, inland on 96.1fm and worldwide at www.heartfmspain.com

Guitarist: Stephen Toal

Stephen first picked up a guitar at ten years of age and soon began figuring out the chords to such classics as “Classic” by Adrian Gurvitz.

Soon he began to dissect riffs and solos from all the Dad Rock bands of the Seventies. This gave him a grounding to play most styles: “You can fit Uncle Pentatonic into anything, really. The minor pentatonic scale, where would we be without it?.”

Stephen took a break from music for a number of years, but felt the time was right to pick up a guitar again when a chance meeting with Hodge at a Shirelles gig soon led to a jam between the players. “Hodge and I clicked from the beginning and it really just developed from there, and with Pete and Keith, this is easily the best line-up I’ve been involved with.”

Bassist & Backing Vocals: Keith Bradshaw

‘Keef’ plays bass guitar for the aptly named Costa Rock, most of them live on the coast and are partial to a little rock (music)… He is the newest member of the band, and for once in his career, not the oldest!!! ‘Keef’, as he likes to be known, is in charge of providing, alongside The Nator of famed psychobilly band The Sharks, the low-end sound of Costa Rock. Together, they make a good team and have been responsible for shattering a number of passers-by’s ears as well as windows and local landmarks.

Keef started his life as a professional bass player back in the mid-nineties with earth-shattering rock/metal outfit Cosmic Joker, they enjoyed a brief tour with Motorhead, the band members could not cope with the copious amount of alcohol and other naughty things and disbanded soon after due to mental health issues. The surviving members of Cosmic Joker formed another band called TwelvePointHead (Keef and Just, the singer), this time the music changed to Nu-Metal due to the young fresh input from the new faces in the band, these guys played with Fun Lovin Criminals, The Almighty, Rose Tattoo, Saxon, Jethro Tull, Hawkwind and The Alabama Three.

Just as the band were about start recording their second album, a difference-of-opinions on hairstyles led the band to split in late 2008… Next came Emcoil, who are still going-strong, except, without Keef, who due to personal reasons fled the UK in mid 2009 to live his life in Spain to pursue his career as a Chillout Artist named Antarctica Chill Zone, he’s completed his debut album Chillax In The Deep Freeze and is hard-at-work on his second album already…

Drummer: Hodge

Hodge has an impressive discography and has played on over 50 releases. He cut his teeth in 80’s Rockabilly band The Sharks who toured Europe, extensively before later playing with 90’s Brit popsters Johnny Panic. Hodge has been lucky enough to have worked with some top musicians and producers including Alain Whyte & Gary Day (Morrissey) Phil Vynal (Placebo, Radiohead) Steve Evanson (Siouxie & the Banshees). Hodge believes that his hard hitting, dynamic style fits perfectly into the Costa Rock Powerpop sound.

To learn more and/or to contact the band click here