The Sleeping Years is the new project for singer-songwriter Dale Grundle.

Born in Coleraine, Northern Ireland to an Irish father and a Scottish mother, Dale started his first band Catchers while at school. Their first single ‘Cotton Dress’ came out on Setanta Records and became single of the week in Melody Maker.
Their debut album ‘Mute’ was recorded with Mike Hedges in France. Dale went on to tour with Pulp, Edwyn Collins, The Divine Comedy, Dr. John and Oasis.
Catchers recorded their second album ‘Stooping to Fit’ with Nick Drake’s arranger Robert Kirby writing string and brass section parts for some of the songs.

Recently signed to Rocketgirl in the UK and Talitres Records in France, The Sleeping Years’ music has been featured on Huw Stephens’ BBC Radio 1 podcast, on Gideon Coe's BBC 6music show, in the Guardian writers’ playlist and on a cd sampler with Rolling Stone magazine. Dale has also been heavily played on French radio with each EP being championed by Bernard Lenoir.

The Sleeping Years have released three EPs so far, ‘You and Me Against The World’, 'Setting fire to sleepy towns’ and 'Clocks and clones'.

On the debut album ‘We’re becoming islands one by one’ Dale sings and plays guitar on most songs, but he also takes on the bass, piano, Hammond organ, Rhodes piano and e-bow parts. Michelle So joins him on cello and piano and Tom Page from Rothko plays the drums. Ben Eshmade guests on French horn.

'We're becoming islands one by one' is currently available in France, Germany, Benelux through Talitres and in the UK and Ireland through Rocketgirl.

'his voice breaks exquisitely between hope and despair in songs that the acoustic guitar was invented for'
The Guardian

'a one-man show that owes his lilting metaphysical lyricism to the likes of Nick Drake, Elliot Smith and John Martyn. It's good to know that there are people like him out there'
Dazed and Confused

'Just as Sufjan Stevens has been moved to celebrate the quirks and character of the United States, so Dale Grundle is devising his own charts, full of wonder, dread and reverie. Can't wait to see where he takes us next.'
Stuart Bailie (BBC Radio)

’Superb!'
Gideon Coe (BBC 6Music)

‘A very beautiful mini-album’
Rolling Stone

‘Absolutely gorgeous'
Hot Press

’Engagingly mournful, melodic songcraft'
Time Out

All artwork for The Sleeping Years has been designed by Pika Pika.

All portrait photography is by Nial Pollock.

Website by TSY