Education
Trinity College.
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Alison Wheeler
Edit ProfileCareer
Wheeler"s career in music began at university in a cover band called Melt City, alongside Hal Ritson, now of The Young Punx, Kev Dowd, now of Lowbrow, James Woods, now of Jam Sandwich and Dom Wilhelm, (of 1990s United Kingdom popular punk act Satellite Beach). On arriving in London she joined indie band Junk, subsequently renamed Treehouse, well known on the Camden & Islington gig circuit (The Dublin Castle, Bulletin & Gate, the Laurel Tree, the Hope & Anchor, Islington). Virginia featured repeatedly as guests on British Broadcasting Corporation Radio, particularly Janice Long, Jonathan Ross, Gyles Brandreth, Nicky Campbell and Ned Sherrin, as well as television appearances in Northern Ireland on the Kelly Show.
Tracks from Virginia"s first album Firstbite had chart success in the United States Billboard charts.
In 2002 her work with London gospel band Citizen K led to an introduction to Dave Hemingway of the Beautiful South. After working on Hemingway"s as yet unreleased solo album, Hemingway promised a recommendation to the Beautiful South"s driving force, Paul Heaton, since a new album was in the making, despite the unexpected departure of former band member Jacqui Abbott.
Gaze was followed by albums "Goldiggas Headnodders and Pholk Songs" and "Superbi". She was dubbed Alison "Lady" Wheeler jokingly by her band mates in The Beautiful South who felt that her demeanour and education at Trinity College, Cambridge was in contrast to the band"s trademark working-class northern image.
She remained busy during her pregnancy in 2005 touring the United Kingdom, headlining the acoustic stage at Glastonbury,T in the Park and Oxygene.
This was followed by nearly 50 gigs in 2006 including 2 United Kingdom tours, the V festival, an Irish tour and an American tour. The band split in January 2007 due to "musical similarities". She spent some time enjoying motherhood and is now back recording a solo project
In 2010 she recorded the track "Move A Little Closer" with Jon Windle formerly of Little Manitoba Tate for his début solo album Step Out The Manitoba
Since 2008 Alison has been working with Amanda Frolich recording children"s albums for "Amanda"s Action Club"
They are currently touring the United Kingdom, playing songs from the new album "Sweet Refrains" as well as old Beautiful South songs.
Achievements
Membership
By 2003, with the release of "Gaze", Wheeler was a member of the band, appearing live first at a Carling Homecoming at the Welly Club in Hull on 18 September 2003. Wheeler is currently in the band "The South" (formerly "The New Beautiful South"), formed of old members of The Beautiful South (minus ex-lead singer Paul Heaton).
