Mark Sebastion D’Lacey

Back in the dim and distant past that I refer to as my youth, I was invited to watch a band called Now Here This.

I had never even heard of this band, but I walked into a venue with an incredible atmosphere; it was electric.

Mark Sebastion D’Lacey was the lead singer of the band and the only one I watched for the entire show. What a talent. I watched in awe that night, not knowing that we would develop a friendship and end up playing at the same venue.

Mark is a true character and a born entertainer. In my opinion, he was destined for much bigger things than the Wirral circuit, but Lady Luck never gave him that break. He is passionate, talented, and a lovely guy. Over the years, he has reinvented himself a fair few times, always progressing and looking for a new direction.

Lockdown has been difficult for many people, but for Mark, it was a turning point. He turned a dark, depressing situation on its head and came out with two albums’ worth of material, three new ventures, and a new character. Enter stage left Sebastion and the Poor Valley Marauders.
I caught up with Mark recently and asked him to tell me about his latest venture.

“At the beginning of lockdown, in a bizarre set of circumstances, I ended up alone, in student accommodation in Manchester while my girlfriend was unfortunately elsewhere. There was just me, my phone and a guitar in a tiny room. I struggled at first, I don’t mind telling you, but as time went on, my creative juices started flowing, and I began writing. Once I started, I couldn’t stop. The songs were very different to anything I had written before, but it felt right. As lockdown eased, I realised I needed to form a band as these songs were not solo songs; the group began to take shape.
By the end of the second lockdown, I had two albums worth of band songs and an album full of solo material. I bought an iPad and loaded up Garage Band. After a short while, it became clear that I had outgrown my software, and I promptly bought a Mac and Logic.
A split with my girlfriend led to an offer from a friend to rent a small room in his warehouse, which I accepted with gratitude and put together a studio. As word got out, it quickly developed into a commercial enterprise. The beauty is that now I have an income four days a week, I no longer need to perform covers in pubs. I can instead showcase my own material like I did at Christmas at the Philharmonic Dining Rooms, and boy, does it feel good!

Sebastion and the Poor Valley Marauders are an Americana band. Our music covers blues, soul, and country, and it is very Southern State-based. I took the 30 or so songs I had written and whittled them down to a set, and then I had this idea of it being a theatre show, too. A live band will play the songs and take you on a journey through the American States, featuring music from about 1919 – 1940. The show will be called American Epic.

There is so much happening right now, and I couldn’t be happier.

From January 2022, my studio, Fleur De Lis Studios, will have a record label, Fleur De Lis Records, running hand in hand with it.”

It was great catching up with you, Mark. I think this is your time. I sincerely hope that your musical projects bring you everything you hope for.
If you would like to catch Mark out and about, he will be headlining the Bootle Festival with the band on the 4th of July from 6pm. On 27th, 28th and 29th July you will find him performing solo at The Philharmonic Dining Rooms with support from Helen Downy. Lastly, on 30th September – there will be a livestream show/documentary of the band to celebrate the launch of their first single. Check out Facebook for more details.
Sebastion and the Poor Valley Marauders are Adam Danger Lewis, Simon Jeacock, Alison Crawford, Victoria Goulding, Angela Inkson, Ben Parkinson and Johnny Larson, with occasional appearances from Brian Murphy, Gaz Gaskell and Ian Pierce.

Facebook: Mark Sebastion D’Lacey