# The Alfonz
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{{Short description|English rock band}}
{{More citations needed|date=June 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2021}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2013}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = The Alfonz
| background = group_or_band
| origin = [Swindon](/source/Swindon), [Wiltshire](/source/Wiltshire), England, UK
| genre = [Rock](/source/Rock_music)
| years_active = {{start date|2006}} – {{end date|2010}}
| label = Unsigned
| past_members = Adam Wiltshire
Sam Lee
Charlie Rowe
}}
'''The Alfonz''' was a rock band from [Swindon](/source/Swindon), [Wiltshire](/source/Wiltshire), England. The band consisted of Adam Wiltshire ([bass guitar](/source/bass_guitar), vocals, occasional keyboard), Sam Lee (guitar, vocals) and Charlie Rowe (drums, vocals).
==Origins, foundation and early career==
Wiltshire, Lee and Rowe had been playing together in various bands ranging from [pop punk](/source/pop_punk) to [jazz](/source/jazz) for many years. They came together as ''Slow Mo'' and the ''Armbreakers'' in the summer of 2006, during learning to [GCSE](/source/GCSE) at [Commonweal School](/source/Commonweal_School). Later that year, they changed their name to The Alfonz. At first their set mainly consisted of [covers](/source/cover_version), but before long they began writing their own material.
==''The Alfonz EP'' (2007)==
On 12 December 2007, The Alfonz released their debut self-titled [EP](/source/Extended_play), which included four songs:
# "Summer Sun"
# "Light of Day"
# "Willis"
# "Give It Up"
==Growing with live performances (2007–2009)==
The Alfonz played "Summer Sun" in [Zane Lowe](/source/Zane_Lowe) radio show in [BBC Radio 1](/source/BBC_Radio_1), on 27 November 2007, before the EP was released.[{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/zanelowe/tracklistingarchive.shtml?20071127 |title=Zane Lowe Tracklisting - Tuesday 27th November |publisher=BBC Radion 1 website |accessdate=27 October 2012}}] Following the release of the EP, The Alfonz embarked on a mini-tour to promote it, playing at London Water Rats, [Bristol, Louisiana](/source/St._Landry_Parish%2C_Louisiana), Oxford Port Mahon and The Victoria in Swindon. In the following months they continued to play live across the south of the UK, building up a larger fan base.
After seeing The Alfonz live at the Bull & Gate in London in 2008, Martyn Berg told [Colin Lester](/source/Colin_Lester) about them, and soon after The Alfonz were being managed by CLM Entertainment under Lester. In the summer of 2008, The Alfonz went on another mini-tour, this time around the south coast of England. The Alfonz also experimented with recording techniques around this time, with Stuart Rowe and [Andy Partridge](/source/Andy_Partridge) ([XTC](/source/XTC)) co-producing.
In early 2009, The Alfonz began being played regularly on [BBC Radio 1](/source/BBC_Radio_1) and [BBC 6 Music](/source/BBC_6_Music), by [DJs](/source/Disc_jockey) such as [Tom Robinson](/source/Tom_Robinson) and [Huw Stephens](/source/Huw_Stephens). In March Radio 1's Big Weekend came to Swindon. The Alfonz were selected by Radio One DJs, including [Huw Stephens](/source/Huw_Stephens), to headline the opening night of the Fringe Festival at Swindon's 12 Bar. A couple of months later The Alfonz were asked by the [BBC](/source/BBC) to play on the [BBC Introducing](/source/BBC_Introducing) Stage at [Glastonbury Festival](/source/Glastonbury_Festival).[{{cite web|title=The Alfonz|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/glastonbury/2009/artists/alfonz/video3.shtml|publisher=BBC|accessdate=5 August 2012|author=BBC Music|year=2009}}] Following this, London's Dirty Boots Club asked The Alfonz to play on their stage at Glastonbury as well.
== First two singles (2009–2010)==
The Alfonz released their debut [single](/source/single_(music)), "Sitting on Your Radiator", on 10 August 2009, and went on their first UK tour in September to promote it. The single included the original song, a remix and a life performance on BBC Wiltshire Introducing.
On 12 April 2010 The Alfonz released their second single, "One Minute Longer".
==Breaking up and ''Jumble Sale''==
On 13 August 2010, The Alfonz officially broke up, playing a final sell out gig as part of the Swindon Shuffle. They produced a free EP, ''Jumble Sale'' which was available at their last two gigs.
==One Night Reunion==
On 3 October 2014, The Alfonz had an impromptu reunion, playing two songs at Adam Wiltshire's wedding.
==Songwriting and recording==
The Alfonz wrote all of their songs collectively. With a few exceptions, such as "Sitting on your Radiator", which was recorded at [Moles Studio](/source/Moles_(nightclub)) in Bath, all tracks are recorded at Lighterthief Studios in Swindon, produced by The Alfonz and Stuart Rowe (father of Charlie Rowe, one of the band members.
==Discography==
* ''The Alfonz EP'' (2007)
* "Sitting on Your Radiator" (2009)
* "One Minute Longer" (2010)
* ''Jumble Sale'' (2010)
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
* [http://www.myspace.com/thealfonz Official MySpace page]
* [http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Alfonz/23478848808?sk=info Official Facebook page]
* [http://www.last.fm/music/The+Alfonz/+wiki Biography at Last.fm]
* [https://www.bbc.co.uk/glastonbury/2009/artists/alfonz/ The Alfonz performing at Glastonebury 2009 - BBC website]
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Alfonz}}
Category:English rock music groups
Category:Musical groups from Wiltshire
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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [The Alfonz](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Alfonz) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Alfonz?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.