To trace the Mason Hill story to its origin, Scott Taylor and James Bird met at school in Glasgow. At the age of 14, Bird was already an accomplished, award-winning, gifted guitar prodigy, who’d shared a stage with Ozzy Osbourne/Black Label Society man Zakk Wylde, a personal hero, toured across the UK, and secured endorsements from leading music brands. The teenage Taylor already harboured dreams of fronting a rock ’n’ roll band, and the pair’s friendship and shared aspirations led them to form a band. In 2013 the pair formed Mason Hill, adding drummer Craig McFetridge, bassist Matthew Ward and guitarist Marc Montgomery in due course. Five diverse, colourful characters, the members of the group were instantly bonded by a shared, singular vision for their band: Taylor relinquished long-held plans to become an Olympic swimmer in order to focus on music, while Ward withdrew from a degree course at the University of Glasgow, where he’d been studying microbiology/virology. For these ambitious young men, Mason Hill was and is priority number one.

Mason Hill are Scott Taylor (Lead Vocals), James Bird (Lead Guitar), Marc Montgomery (Guitar), Matthew Ward (Bass) and Craig McFetridge (Drums)

 

 

THE STORY SO FAR

 

 

Mason Hill has spent their formative years "learning their craft" on stages up and down the UK. This included high profile shows supporting the likes of Graham Bonnet (Rainbow), Snakecharmer (feat. ex-Whitesnake, Thunder & Wishbone Ash members), Toseland, Marco Mendoza (Whitesnake, Thin Lizzy, Ted Nugent, The Dead Daisies) and Stone Broken.

 

 

“this is the best new heavy rock act currently performing in the UK.”

(Fabrications HQ)

“a prodigious talent that belies their fledgling years.”

(Planet Rock)

 

 

In December 2015 the band released their debut E.P, the self titled 'Mason Hill', featuring four tracks which highlighted exactly why this band are turning heads - outstanding songs that demonstrated a maturity far beyond their years. Recorded at The Foundry Music Lab with Sandy Jones (Wet Wet Wet) in the producer's chair, the E.P has been critically acclaimed amongst the music press and fans alike.

 

2016 brought several breakthroughs in the band's career, firstly the invitation to perform on The Rising Stage at Ramblin' Man Fair, headlined by Whitesnake and Black Stone Cherry, winning the UK wide Highway To Hell battle of the bands competition that earned them opening the main stage slot at Hard Rock Hell, alongside the likes of Ugly Kid Joe, Ratt and Glenn Hughes, appearing at Winterstorm Festival, alongside the likes of Ricky Warwick, Last in Line (ex-Dio) and Inglorious to selling out their first ever headline show at the famous Cathouse Rock Club in Glasgow with one month left to spare - a feat only achieved in recent times by Anthrax and Black Stone Cherry.

 

The career progression continued into early 2017 when the band was special guest to Inglorious in London at their sold out second album launch show, appeared triumphantly at Download on The Boardie Takeover Stage, opened for Airbourne at their sold out show in Edinburgh. and returned to their hometown for their second headline show at G2;  again this sold out with demand so great that it was upgraded to the 750 capacity The Garage where the likes of Magnum, Tesla and Symphony X have performed - packing the place to the rafters

 

The first promo video  “'Now You See Me” was released in 2017, which to date has more than a quarter of a million views.

 

The year ended with support for GUN at  Glasgow Barrowlands in December plus an appearance

at Planet Rockstock:

 

"Fresh-faced Glasgow boys Mason Hill were nothing short of a triumph. Completely packing out the room, they served up a rock and roll storm from the offset with anthems like ‘Now You See Me’ before showing off another side of their art with powerful closer ‘Where I Belong’ that delved into rock ballad territory. In fact, the Planet Rockstock faithful were so won over we’ve been inundated with requests for Mason Hill to be bumped up the bill in 2018”(Planet Rock)

 

The band spent a lot of time developing material for their album and the first show of 2018 was at Glasgow’s King Tuts which sold out in three days, ten weeks in advance of show!

 

Ladies and gentlemen - Mason Hill are back with fire in their belly. This group of high achievers carry the pressure of early success but as they take to the stage to the intro tape, it is obvious they have class and confidence..." (Down The Front Media)

 

"There are few up and coming acts in Scotland that have made a notable impression as swiftly as Glasgow rockers Mason Hill. They have grown in popularity and garnered an insane following like nothing else” (SMS, Scotland)

 

“Mason Hill never disappoint, in fact they always take it to the next level every time you see them” (Jace Media)

 

This was followed by an appearance at TRNSMT on the same day as Queen, and Steelhouse Festival in Wales alongside such as Black Star Riders, Glenn Hughes and Myles Kennedy.

 

The latter part of 2018 saw Mason Hill going out on tour supporting The Dan Reed Network at shows across the UK and a return to Planet Rockstock, by popular demand after their performance in 2017, this time on the main stage.

 

In a further development Mason Hill agreed to part ways with Frontiers Records.

 

A further sold out King Tuts show followed in 2019 and a sub headline slot at Planet Rock’s Winters End in February 2020. Since then live activity has been curtailed by the covid 19 pandemic, in common with every other band. However the band has not been idle and the focus has been on the debut album, recorded at Riverside Studios near Glasgow and vocals in New York, and mixed by Chris Sheldon (Foo Fighters, Biffy Clyro).

 

In 2020 the band signed a management contract with Jaba Music and a record deal with 7Hz Productions, and the album release date is planned for 5 March 2021. Three singles have so far been released to date from the album to critical acclaim.

 

2021 promises to be a big year for Mason Hill, despite on going restrictions.

 

Mason Hill are just getting started!

 

 

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

 

 

- Beat 12,000 bands to win Scottish section of Surface Festival competition.

 

- Invited to perform at Ramblin' Man Fair 'Rising stage' alongside the likes of Whitesnake, Black Stone Cherry, Thin Lizzy, Inglorious.

 

- Outright winner for Hard Rock Hell's UK wide battle of the bands 'Highway To Hell'.

 

- Opened Hard Rock Hell 2016 main stage.

 

- Opened for Toseland,  Graham Bonnet, Marco Mendoza, Snakecharmer & Stone Broken.

 

- 2 appearances at Winterstorm Festival alongside like of Ricky Warwick, Toseland, FM, Inglorious, the Quireboys

 

- Sold out first headline show at Cathouse  Glasgow

 

- Supported Inglorious at Islington Assembly Halls, London

.

 

- Appeared at Download, Boardie Takeover Stage

 

- Supported Airbourne at Liquid Rooms, Edinburgh

 

- Sold out second headline show at G2 and upgraded to The Garage

 

- Supported Gun at Glasgow Barrowlands, December 2017

 

- Appeared at Planet Rockstock, December 2017

 

- First headline UK tour, 2017

 

- May 2018 show at King Tuts Glasgow sold out in 3 days, 10 weeks before the show

 

- TRNSMT appearance in July 2018 on the bill with Queen, The Darkness,       Temperance      Movement and Gun

 

- Steelhouse Festival, Wales

 

-October announcement if new single release, “Hold on”

 

- November 2018 UK tour support announced with The Dan Reed Network

 

-December 2018, return to Planet Rockstock on the main stage

 

-October 2019, second sold out King Tuts gig

 

-February 2020. Main stage at Planet Rock’s Winters End

 

-Late 2019 through 2020 debut album recorded, mixed and mastered, release date of 5 March 2021 announced

 

-September 2020, first single from the album, ‘Against The Wall’

 

-November 2020, second single from the album, ‘Find My Way’

 

-January 2021, third single from the album, ‘DNA’