Red Snapper are best known for their unique sound and passionate live performances where they embrace dark funk, hip-hop, dub, psychedelic surf, afro-jazz and beautiful, fragile soundscapes.

Formed in 1994, Drummer – Rich Thair, Double Bassist – Ali Friend and Guitarist – David Ayers released three EPs on Rich Thair and Dean Thatcher’s label Flaw Recordings. The first EP ‘Snapper’ featured Beth Orton on vocals.

The compilation of the EPs ‘Reeled and Skinned’ was released on Warp Records who consequently released the acclaimed Prince Blimey in 1996 (with Ollie Moore from Pigbag on sax and Anna Haigh on vocals).

The following album ‘Making Bones’ which featured MC Det and Alison David on mic duties was heralded as ‘pioneering’ music. Their final album on Warp ‘Our Aim is To Satisfy Red Snapper’ once again featured MC Det and guest vocalist Karim Kendra.

Over these initial years the band toured globally and supported the likes of Massive Attack, Bjork, The Prodigy, De La Soul and The Fugees. They also acquired a reputation for innovative and expansive remixing – reworking tunes by Trouble Funk, Garbage, Lamb and Edwyn Collins amongst others.

After a break, in 2003 the band released the eponymous ‘Red Snapper’ on Lo Recordings, a mix of new tracks and live recordings.

Following more touring Lo Recordings released ‘A Pale Blue Dot’ in 2007 with Tom Challenger joining the band on sax and clarinet.

The album ‘Key’ was released on V2 Records in 2011 and featured vocals by Eliza Carthy and Gavin Clarke (Clayhill and Unkle).

In 2013 Red Snapper composed a new soundtrack to the 1970’s Senegalese, psychedelic road movie ‘Touki Bouki’ which had been restored by Martin Scorsese. The band toured Europe performing the soundtrack live to the film, culminating in the celebrated sell-out show at The Queen Elizabeth Hall on London’s Southbank.

In 2014 the album ‘Hyena’ was released on Lo Recordings featuring all the music from their original film score.

In 2016 Red Snapper toured a performance of the full 1996 album ‘Prince Blimey’ for the first time ever to mark its 20th anniversary. It was incredibly well received.

The band continue to tour; in Summer 2019 they played Beatherder and Shiiine-On festivals in the UK, and then performed brand new material to sell-out crowds in Russia in October.