{{Short description|British alternative rock group}} {{For|the Superstore episode|Sandra's Wedding (Superstore)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Sandra's Wedding | image = File:Sandra's Wedding 2024.jpg | image_size = | landscape = yes | caption = Sandra's Wedding in 2024 | origin = Goole, East Riding of Yorkshire, England | genre = Alternative rock, jangle pop, pop rock | years_active = 2015–present | current_members = Joe Hodgson, Jonny Hughes, Luke Harrison | past_members = Tom Hill }}
'''Sandra's Wedding''' are a three piece alternative rock group from Goole, East Riding of Yorkshire. They are made up of members Joe Hodgson (vocals), Jonny Hughes (guitars) and Luke Harrison (drums). They released their first album physically and digitally on 14 February 2017 entitled ''Northern Powerhouse''. The band's sound and musical themes address love, loss and life in industrial towns across the North of England, with guitarist Jonny Hughes telling one newspaper that the band try to write songs about things that they can identify with, residing and experiencing life in Northern, working class areas.<ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=http://www.pontefractandcastlefordexpress.co.uk/news/band-s-debut-album-northern-powerhouse-wins-support-from-minister-with-same-title-1-8419413|title=Band’s debut album Northern Powerhouse wins support from minister with same title|website=Pontefractandcastlefordexpress.co.uk|access-date=4 May 2017}}</ref>
Several reviews and articles on the band questioned the origin of the unusual name,<ref name="auto1">{{cite web|url=http://localsoundfocus.com/album-review-sandras-wedding-northern-powerhouse/|title=ALBUM REVIEW: Sandra’s Wedding - ‘Northern Powerhouse’ - Local Sound Focus|first=Frank|last=Roper|date=20 April 2017|website=Localsoundfocus.com|access-date=4 May 2017}}</ref> with singer/songwriter Joe Hodgson explaining that the band had struggled for a name initially, but hoped that the name evoked a certain kind of person, or specifically a woman, who may have a story to tell.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNz6rwREJHU|title=Sandra's Wedding - Interview and Talk of Love (Original)|date=4 April 2017|access-date=4 May 2017|via=YouTube}}</ref>
With the release of ''Northern Powerhouse'', the band gained attention in the press and on radio after the MP for the Northern Powerhouse Andrew Percy commented on the album, stating that after hearing it he enjoyed it so he would try and mention it in Parliament if possible.<ref name="auto"/> The band described this as a "bizarre twist" due to the album's political themes of austerity and working class strife, explaining how they did not expect the demographic to be Conservative politicians, and expressed their surprise.<ref name="auto1"/>
The album received initial praise for its "dramatic, powerful vocals" and the way Hodgson's lyrics dealt with heavy subject matter with wit and variety. The sound of the band and the jangly guitars evoke comparisons to bands from the 1980s such as The Smiths<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.riffpublications.com/single-post/2017/02/08/Sandras-Wedding---Northern-Powerhouse|title=Sandra's Wedding - Northern Powerhouse |date=8 February 2017|website=Riffpublications.com|access-date=4 August 2017}}</ref> and The Housemartins,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gigslutz.co.uk/album-sandras-wedding-northern-powerhouse/|title=ALBUM: Sandra's Wedding - 'Northern Powerhouse'|date=26 March 2017|website=Gigslutz.co.uk|access-date=4 May 2017}}</ref> while others likened the record to having an upbeat feel with an indie folk sound reminiscent of Fleetwood Mac.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://yorkcalling.co.uk/2017/05/19/sandras-wedding-northern-powerhouse/|title=Sandra's Wedding - Northern Powerhouse |first=Andrew|last=Shorthouse|date=19 May 2017|website=Yorkcalling.co.uk|access-date=20 May 2017}}</ref> Another review described it as being a tight recording and praised the record's production.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.reytgoodmusic.com/sandraswedding/ |title=Today’s New Album Review: Sandra’s Wedding 'Northern Powerhouse'|website=Reytgoodmusic.com |date=27 April 2017|access-date=4 May 2017}}</ref>
The band's second album, ''Frame Yourself'', was released in March 2020,<ref>{{cite news|last1=Rains |first1=Kian |title=Castleford band Sandra’s Wedding release latest album |url=https://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/whats-on/arts-and-entertainment/castleford-band-sandras-wedding-release-latest-album-2520367 |newspaper=Wakefield Express |access-date=17 June 2024 |date=27 March 2020}}</ref> followed later that year by ''Banana Bread'', an album recorded entirely during the COVID-19 lockdown.<ref>{{cite web |title=Banana Bread - The new "lockdown album" out now |url=https://www.musicglue.com/sandras-wedding/posts/banana-bread-the-new-lockdown-album-out-now |website=Music Glue |access-date=17 June 2024 |date=4 September 2020}}</ref>
In 2021, they released a compilation of singles and previous album tracks, ''Our Previous Leaf'', in 2021, to raise money for local charity The Moorlands Community Charity after it suffered a spate of break-ins.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Huzulak |first1=Angela |title=Band vow to raise cash for charity |url=https://gooletimes.info/News/article/Band%20vow%20to%20raise%20cash%20for%20charity |newspaper=Goole Times |access-date=17 June 2024 |date=10 June 2021}}</ref> Sandra's Wedding's fourth album, mini-album ''Pleasure Grounds'', followed in late 2021,<ref>{{cite web |title=Sandra’s Wedding Release Their Latest EP 'Pleasure Grounds' |url=http://www.musicistoblame.co.uk/2021/11/sandras-wedding-release-their-latest-ep.html |website=Musicistoblame.co.uk |access-date=17 June 2024}}</ref> before the release of ''The Hopeful Boy Replacement Service'' in August 2023.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Carney |first1=James |title=Castleford band Sandra's Wedding release new album |url=https://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/news/people/castleford-band-sandras-wedding-release-new-album-4238746 |newspaper=Wakefield Gazette |access-date=17 June 2024 |date=1 August 2023}}</ref>
In 2024 the band contributed a song to the BBC sitcom ''Alma's Not Normal'', created by Sophie Willan. "Jupiter Song" appeared in the episode ''The Black and White Movie'' and was performed by Richard (Craig Parkinson) with the band's own version played over the closing credits.<ref>{{cite web |title= "Jupiter Song" - featured in series two of BBC Sitcom Alma's Not Normal|url=https://www.musicglue.com/sandras-wedding/posts/jupiter-featuring-in-series-two-of-bbc-sitcom-almas-not-normal |website=Musicglue.com |access-date=9 October 2024 |date=7 October 2024}}</ref>
==Discography== ===Studio albums=== *''Northern Powerhouse'' (2017) *''Frame Yourself'' (2020) *''Banana Bread'' (2020) *''Please Grounds'' (2021) *''The Hopeful Boy Replacement Service'' (2023)
===EPs=== *''Good Morning, Bad Blood'' (2018) *''Another Rugby League Town'' (2023)
===Compilation albums=== *''Our Previous Leaf'' (2021)
===Singles=== *"Spite Christmas" (2017)
==References== {{Reflist}}
Category:English alternative rock groups Category:Musical groups from the East Riding of Yorkshire