Early years (2002–2004) Sonic Boom Six first appeared on the Manchester
punk scene in April 2002. Some of their members were previously in the band Grimace. Their self-titled demo, recorded with Jerry Melchers, was self-released in October 2002. To promote the CD, they toured the UK with
second wave ska veterans
The Toasters and London
ska punk/hip hop band
King Prawn. They also toured with
Coolie Ranx and performed as his backing band. In September 2003, they released
The Turbo EP, their first release for
Moon Ska Europe. This was produced by
Ace (of
Skunk Anansie) and Christophe. After a series of good reviews, Sonic Boom Six were invited to perform a session on
BBC Radio One's
The Lock Up. After further touring with
Catch 22, as well as on the Moon Ska
Launchpad Tour 2004 (alongside Zen Baseballbat, Graveltrap,
Babar Luck and Dumpster Pop), the band re-united with Ace and Christophe to record their second EP.
Sounds to Consume was released on
Moon Ska Europe in August 2004, and include the
Turbo EP as bonus tracks. After tour dates with
Leftöver Crack and
The Suicide Machines, the band appeared on
BBC2's Asian arts programme
Desi DNA performing in a scrapyard, as well as being interviewed by
Adil Ray for his show on the
BBC Asian Network.
Deck Cheese to Rebel Alliance (2005–2009) .
Leeds Festival,
Bramham Park, 27 August 2006 In early February 2005, Sonic Boom Six replaced guitarist Dave "Hellfire" Kelly with guitarist Ben Childs, who used to play sax, thus making SB6 a four-piece. Ben's old saxophone parts were played through a sampler when performing live, or by musicians from other bands, such as
Grown at Home and The Flaming Tsunamis. In 2005, the band opened the
Love Music Hate Racism event on the Leftfield Stage at the
Glastonbury Festival, played Belgium's Sortie 23 festival and performed at the premier of the
Rock Against Racism film
Who Shot the Sheriff? with
HARD-Fi and
Roll Deep. 2005 also saw the release of the
Champion Edition of Sounds to Consume, which featured four of their original demo tracks (remixed by Tim G), three remixes, an acoustic track and a video. They also embarked on several dates on the inaugural
Good To Go Tour alongside
The Aquabats and Never Heard of It. In 2006, the band recorded their second session for BBC Radio 1's
The Lock Up, which was broadcast on 27 June. They were joined by Pete and Tucker from Jesse James and Itch from
The King Blues. Their debut full-length album,
The Ruff Guide to Genre-Terrorism, was released on 10 July 2006 on London label Deck Cheese Records, also home at the time to
Phinius Gage, Sick On The Bus and Jesse James. In August 2006 the band played the
Reading and Leeds Festivals as a last minute replacement for
Paramore. They were joined again by Itch of
The King Blues for a performance of "All In" (singing the parts of the song written by
Coolie Ranx) and Nick 'The Blade' Horne of
Howards Alias, partner of vocalist Laila, who played trombone on the songs "Bigger Than Punk Rock" and "Until the Sunlight Comes". In February 2007 the band embarked on the inaugural
Ruff and Ready Tour, a multi-band package tour put together by Sonic Boom Six. This initial tour featured the band with support from
The King Blues,
Failsafe and Mouthwash. In May 2007 they played at the Slam Dunk Festival at Leeds University Union with Paramore and
Reel Big Fish. During Reel Big Fish's set, Laila joined the band on stage to sing parts of "She Has a Girlfriend Now" alongside Aaron Barrett. She joined them again during Reel Big Fish's
Monkeys for Nothin' winter tour in 2008. They played the Reading and Leeds Festivals again in 2007, on the Lock Up stage, playing not only their own material but covering the song "Sound System" by
Operation Ivy. During this song, Itch from the King Blues once again joined them on stage to sing it. November 2007 saw the release of the band's second full-length CD,
Arcade Perfect, on their own Rebel Alliance Recordings. In May 2008 the band embarked on the
Rude Awakening 2008 tour, alongside
Big D and the Kids Table and
Random Hand. 2008 also saw a second Ruff and Ready tour. This was followed by the release of a remixes, b-sides and rarities album entitled
Play On: Rare, Rejected and Arcade Perfected, which the band toured in support of in late 2008. Nick Horne also joined the band as a full-time member, now playing guitar and bass live as well as trombone. They played at the
Hevy Music Festival on 1 August 2009. The second tour
Ruff and Ready Tour began in October 2008, again with SB6 headlining, and this time with support from
Chris Murray, The JB Conspiracy and Chief. In May 2009 Sonic Boom Six released their third album
City of Thieves, once again on Rebel Alliance Recordings. August 2009 saw Sonic Boom Six open the Main Stage at the Reading and Leeds Festival.
Childs's departure and Sonic Boom Six (2009–2015) in February 2014 On 8 October 2009, it was announced on the band's official website that Ben Childs would be leaving the band after the forthcoming "Boom or Bust" tour and that he would be temporarily replaced by Matthew Reynolds – current vocalist and guitarist with rock band Drawings and also formerly of
Howards Alias. In February 2010 new permanent member James "Jimmy T Boom" Routh, formerly of Myth of Unity, joined the band on guitar. Lee Hartney from
The Smith Street Band joined the band on two tours in 2011, playing guitar & keytar. On 4 February 2012, in a radio interview with Matt Stocks on
Kerrang Radio, Paul Barnes and Laila Khan announced that their new album would be
eponymous. During a free gig sponsored by HP Live and Last FM at The Roadhouse in Manchester on 19 April 2012 Barney Boom/Paul Barnes announced that the band were due to sign a deal the following Saturday and that the new album would be released in September 2012. Sonic Boom Six played the main stage at 2000 Trees Festival in Gloucestershire on 13 July 2012.
McMinn's departure and The F-Bomb (2015 to present) It was announced on 14 May 2015 on their official site and via their Facebook page that founding member Neil "Macca" McMinn had decided to leave the band as he wanted a new challenge after 12 years with the band. The release of Sonic Boom Six's next album was delayed to allow the band time to recruit a replacement drummer. It was confirmed on 21 May 2015 that Luke Hesketh would be taking over drumming duties from Neil McMinn. Luke, along with bandmate James Routh, would be splitting his time between Sonic Boom Six and The Karma Party. After receiving funding via the
PledgeMusic crowdfunding website the release date of the fifth album
The F-Bomb is 27 May 2016, on
Cherry Red Records. In June 2017, the band released an eight track 'mini-album'
Cardiac Address. The record was funded via crowdfunding, as with the preceding release. It featured a less produced and more aggressive sound. Funds raised supported the bands
Vans Warped American tour, June through August. ==Sponsorship==