One Direction’s Niall Horan has selected three Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA) graduates to be part of his band for his solo world tour.
One Direction’s Niall Horan has selected three Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA) graduates to be part of his band for his solo world tour.
Bassist John Bird (2008), keyboard player Louis Querelle (2010) and drummer Gerry Morgan (2009), who all completed the Music degree, have joined the singer-songwriter as he promotes his new album Flicker. It’s the highest profile tour John and Louis have done. “The success Niall’s had with One Direction and in his solo career mean we’re playing sold out venues all over the world,” says Louis. “The schedule is so extremely busy, spending so much time on the road is something I’ve really had to adapt to.” “I’d toured Europe pretty extensively,’ adds John, “but this gig has taken me across the world, playing to different audiences and experiencing different atmospheres. Tokyo was the loudest and quietest crowd we’ve played to. Silence when you play and screams when you stop.
That the band features three ex-LIPA students is no coincidence. Louis says: “Many of the contacts I made at LIPA I’m still working with now, those connections have proven to be a very important source of work.” “LIPA without doubt was the best place to network,” says John. “While I was there I formed good relationships with people musically and as friends, which is the ideal combination if you’re touring together.” Since leaving LIPA all three have been busy working as live and session musicians. Among others, Gerry’s toured with James Bay, Louis has worked with Charlotte OC and Nell Bryden while John was part of Jack Savoretti’s live band. It was drummer Gerry who met Niall first while touring with another band. He was asked to recommend some players, with both John and Louis called to audition. Since joining Niall they’ve played some of the industry’s most iconic venues, including The Ryman Auditorium, Nashville; Wembley Stadium and The Hollywood Bowl. “That venue has always been on my bucket list,” says Louis, “so it was a dream gig to play there with the Hollywood hills as a backdrop.” They’ve also appeared on some of the world’s biggest TV shows, Ellen DeGeneres, The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, The Jimmy Kimmel Show, The One Show and The Today Show, which was a highlight for John. “Live from outside the Rockefeller Tower on the streets of New York City, performing in the middle of thousands of fans, some of whom camped out for days. “Lobby call at 3am, makeup at 5am, sound check at 6, live on telly at 7 and finished by 8am. Dream day at work!” Flicker was released in October and the band have been busy with promotional work before heading off on a world tour. Between the end of this year and September 2018 they’re due to play the UK, US, Canada, Mexico, Chile, Brazil, Australia and New Zealand with more European dates to be added.
