Glasgow, Scotland-based indie rock band formed by Adele Bethel (b. 18 September 1978, Lanark, Scotland; vocals, guitars, keyboards), Ailidh Lennon (b. 8 August 1975, Bellshill, Lanarkshire, Scotland; bass, mandolin, keyboards), David Gow (b. 27 July 1975, Falkirk, Scotland; drums) and Scott Paterson (b. 6 August 1979, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; guitar/vocals). Each of the members was already ingrained into the alternative music scene in Glasgow, but Sons And Daughters was finally conceived when Bethel and Gow were part of Arab Strap in 2001. The pair had known each other for quite sometime, and had toured as session musicians with several bands, each sharing a love and admiration for alternative folk music. Bands such as fellow Scots Belle And Sebastian, coupled with US artists Smog and Johnny Cash, inspired them to try their own slant on the alt folk genre. Lennon joined the band initially on bass, although she played mandolin on some tracks as well. Paterson joined the line-up later on, adding more vocals and guitars, which proved to be a pivotal moment in the band's evolution.
The members of Sons And Daughters retired back to their Glaswegian environs and spent the best part of 18 months writing songs and perfecting their sound. In 2003, they released their debut EP, Love The Cup, on Ba Da Bing! Records. The music was a mixture of Celtic storytelling with folk rock melodies, reminiscent of a new millennium Levellers in part. The stand-out track, "Johnny Cash', was a more rockabilly construction, but overall the sound was very bucolic and not entirely accessible. One thing in Sons And Daughters" favour was that there were no other bands around pursuing the same sound, which helped them to get signed to leading independent label Domino Records in 2004. The band went back into the studio with producer Victor Van Vugt (PJ Harvey, Nick Cave), who took their parochial sound and gave it a well-needed makeover. Domino released the band's album debut, The Repulsion Box, in summer 2005. The whiskey-soaked twist and beefed-up sound gave the impression of a raucous party at an after-hours party in a Glaswegian drinking hole.
