SACRED MOTHER TONGUE have announced Craig Daws as their brand new bass player, replacing recently-departed Josh Gurner. Ex-Army man Craig (below, second from right) hails from Swindon and got into playing bass through his love of METALLICA and the late, great Cliff Burton.

Craig says: “I‘m really excited to be asked to join Sacred Mother Tongue and can’t believe my first show with them is going to be main stage at Download! I saw that Josh had left and they were looking for a replacement from a post on Facebook. I thought I would give it a shot as the music is killer and with the latest release the band are certainly set to go places. I can’t wait to be a part of that ride! I will be bringing my own fingerstyle bass grooves to the mix to complement SMT’s bad ass riffs and melodies.”

Lead singer Darrin commented: "We had a lot of auditions, many of them really good players and it was a tough decision. Craig's name kept coming up in our talks right from the start as we'd seen something special in him. He submitted a video play through of 'Bleeding Out' and it just blew us away. He's such a dominant player, stands his ground and holds a really fat groove that's bursting with tone and feel, and he's jaw-droppingly tight! There's a lot to be said for a musician that's completely in charge of his instrument and he's exactly what we needed. Furthermore Craig is an awesome guy and we get on great - it’s really important for our new bass player to become our brother. He's a welcome addition to the family and I'm sure people will love him. We're really excited to get on stage with him and present the new Sacred lineup in full force. "

And that new Sacred lineup will be debuted at this year’s Download Festival, a place that holds a special place in both Sacred Mother Tongue and Craig’s heart. The band have played there twice already and are proud and privileged to be opening the Main Stage on Sunday this year. They’re intending to blow everybody’s hangover well away with a tour de force performance that’s not to be missed!

And as for Craig, not only did he go AWOL from the Army in 2004 to attend Download and meet Vinnie Paul and Dimebag Darrell while he was there (well worth the army detention he had to serve as punishment), but last year he got down on his knee, in the mud, while Metallica played ‘Nothing Else Matters’ and proposed to his girlfriend. She’s now his wife!

So the 2013 Download Festival promises not only sunshine and good times for everyone, but for Sacred Mother Tongue this will be the first stage in a new chapter where they can showcase their critically acclaimed new album Out Of The Darkness to a main stage crowd. And for Craig, he’s going to be looking out as a performer from the same stage that twelve months ago his heroes inspired him to marry the girl he loves. Not a bad turn of events all round...

Sacred Mother Tongue follows this year’s Download Festival before heading out on a UK and European tour with HELLYEAH and P.O.D (dates below). Further shows and their brand new single and video will be announced very soon.

Upcoming Sacred Mother Tongue dates:

June

15 - UK - Download Festival
17 - London, UK - Electric Ballroom*
18 - Southampton, UK - The Cellars**
20 - Geneva, Switzerland - L’Susine*
23 - Romagnano, Italy - Rock N Roll Arena***
24 - Munich, Germany - Backstage*
25 - Cologne, Germany - Essigfabrik*
26 - Vaureal, France - Le Forum*
28 - Aschaffenberg, Germany - Colo-Saal***

*with HELLYEAH and POD

**with POD

***with Hellyeah