MEET THE SKBS COLLECTIVE
The SKBs are not a traditional band.
What began as a personal music project has grown into a collective of musicians, singers, producers, performers and creative contributors, each bringing their own experience, sound and personality to the project.
Some have toured the world. Some have worked with major artists. Some have known each other for years. Others have joined because the songs connected with them.
That mix is what makes The SKBs what it is: real people, real experience, and no fixed formula.
Al Sharp
Founder / Songwriter / Occasional Lead Vocals
Al Sharp is the founder and driving force behind The SKBs, bringing the project together, writing the material and occasionally taking lead vocals.
After a long stint on the covers and corporate circuit - and an even longer time away from music - Al returned to fulfil a lifelong ambition: to make an album, with no intention of doing anything more than recording it. That decision, somewhat unintentionally, grew into something much bigger.
Drawing on a wide range of influences, Al focuses on writing honest, well-crafted songs and bringing together the right musicians to bring them to life. What began as a personal project has evolved into a growing collective of contributors, collaborators and friends, all connected by a shared love of making music.
A natural frontman with an easy, understated presence, he's as comfortable leading a room as he is working behind the scenes, helping steer the project forward while keeping the focus firmly on the songs.
The SKBs contribution:
Founder, songwriter, project lead and occasional lead vocals.
Photo credit: Ian Robinson
www.flickr.com/photos/axis68
Leon Cave
Drums/Backing Vocals - Both Albums
Leon Cave is a multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and producer from Nantwich, Cheshire, best known as a member of Status Quo.
He first worked with Francis Rossi during the One Step at a Time solo project in 2010 before joining Status Quo in 2013. Alongside his work with the band, Leon has recorded and performed with artists including Bonnie Tyler, Jim Kirkpatrick, The Middlenight Men and Ska Wars.
When not touring, Leon runs Cave Audio Lab, his remote recording studio, where he records drums, guitars and vocals for artists and bands across a wide range of genres.
His musicianship, versatility and experience have become an important part of The SKBs, contributing far beyond the drum stool and helping shape the sound of both albums.
Away from music, Leon is a huge Formula 1 and tennis fan, an avid traveller and a firm believer in the value of a good glass of red wine.
The SKBs contribution:
Drums, backing vocals and additional musicianship across both albums.
Photo credit: Nicola Arber
Sara Davey
Vocals - Both Albums
Sara Brimer Davey is from East Tennessee and moved to the UK in 2009 to join the Grammy Award-winning a cappella group The Swingle Singers.
Alongside nearly a decade of international touring with the group, Sara established herself as an in-demand session and recording vocalist, working with artists including Gary Barlow, Heather Small, Jamie Cullum, Sam Smith and Ellie Goulding, and touring with Gareth Malone.
A versatile performer, Sara is equally at home singing country, rock, jazz, early music and opera. Her warmth, range and expressive delivery have become a defining part of The SKBs sound.
The SKBs contribution:
Lead vocals on all tracks except Welcome to My Life, where she provides backing vocals, and The Whale Edge.
Lincoln Grounds
Guitarist
Lincoln Grounds joined The SKBs for the first live dates and, having enjoyed himself far more than was probably sensible, doesn't appear to be going anywhere anytime soon.
A self-taught musician, composer and producer, Lincoln now describes himself as retired and playing music purely for the joy of it. Fortunately for The SKBs, that joy comes backed by decades of experience.
As a performer, Lincoln has appeared at the Royal Albert Hall, including Teenage Cancer Trust shows and Oh What A Night alongside artists such as Kid Creole. His live credits also include Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel, Sister Sledge, Tom Browne, Gil Scott-Heron, Reg Webb and countless solo and duo performances over the years.
Away from the stage, Lincoln has built an impressive career as a composer, with writing credits on more than 600 published works. His music has featured in productions including Yellowstone, Virgin River and The Substance, the Oscar-nominated 2025 film.
As a producer and engineer, Lincoln has worked at studios including Abbey Road and Nashville's Blackbird Studio, produced and mixed hundreds of tracks, featured in Sound On Sound videos and earned endorsement deals with SSL and Warm Audio.
His experience, musicianship and enthusiasm have made him a natural fit for The SKBs both on stage and behind the scenes.
The SKBs contribution:
Guitar for live performances and ongoing involvement with the project.
Jim Kirkpatrick
Guitars/Vocals - The Next Stop
Jim Kirkpatrick is a British guitarist, songwriter and vocalist with more than 25 years' experience across blues, rock and melodic guitar music.
Best known as lead guitarist with FM, Jim has also worked with and supported artists including Bernie Marsden and Thea Gilmore, performing on stages around the world and building a reputation as one of the UK's most respected rock guitarists. Critics have even described him as "England's equivalent to Joe Bonamassa".
His playing brings a more guitar-driven edge to The SKBs' evolving sound, combining technical ability with a strong sense of melody.
On The Next Stop, Jim contributes guitar work across seven tracks and takes lead vocals on "Sanctuary", adding another dimension to the collective's growing sound.
The SKBs contribution:
Guitars and lead vocals on The Next Stop.
Ronnie Miller
Steel Guitar
Ronnie Miller was born in San Diego, California, and began playing steel guitar at the age of five after his mother, a keen fan of the instrument, encouraged him to take lessons.
At nineteen, he moved to Denver, Colorado, where he spent many years playing the club circuit and establishing himself as one of the region's leading steel guitar players.
In 1993, Ronnie joined legendary country star Charley Pride and later relocated to Dallas, Texas. Over the years, he built an outstanding reputation within the country music world, earning induction into the Colorado Country Music Hall of Fame in 2000, being named Texas Steel Guitar Player of the Year in 2011, and joining the Texas Steel Guitar Hall of Fame in 2013.
Following Charley Pride's passing, Ronnie has continued to perform and tour with a variety of artists, including Charley's son, Dion Pride.
Ronnie and his wife Ginger have become good friends of The SKBs, and we look forward to working with them again in the future.
The SKBs contribution:
Steel guitar on Everything Must Change.
Rhion "Rhino" Davies
Bass Guitar - Both Albums
Rhion "RHINO" Davies has been playing bass since the age of thirteen and, over the years, has covered just about every style imaginable.
At heart, though, he's always been a funk player. His trademark "slap and tickle" style - as more than one sound engineer has described it over the years - sits at the centre of his playing and can be heard in his contribution to The SKBs.
Although bass remains his main instrument, Rhion is equally comfortable on guitar, drums, keyboards and vocals. These days he spends much of his time writing and recording his own material, continuing a musical journey that began with homemade demos on a four-track recorder back in the late 1980s alongside a certain Al Sharp.
A firm believer that creativity is one of life's great rewards, Rhion continues to embrace new ideas and technologies while bringing decades of experience, groove and musicianship to every project he becomes involved in.
The SKBs contribution:
Bass guitar on Welcome to My Life and Room in My Heart.
Tom Donovan
Producer - Both Albums
Tom Donovan is a UK-based music producer, audio engineer and owner of Tom Donovan Studio.
Over many years, Tom has worked with a wide range of artists and bands, helping shape recordings with energy, character and clarity. His production work was recognised by Sound on Sound with CD Production of the Month awards in May 2007 and June 2008, and in 2013 he was selected to attend the prestigious Mix With The Masters seminar led by acclaimed producer Joe Barresi.
Known for combining technical expertise with a strong focus on performance and songwriting, Tom has built a reputation for helping artists create records that sound both polished and authentic.
For The SKBs, Tom has been instrumental in shaping both albums, helping transform a collection of songs into fully realised records and giving the project much of its sonic identity.
The SKBs contribution:
Producer and audio engineer across both albums.
Ben PORTEUS Butler
Keyboards - The Next Stop
PORTEOUS is a Colchester-based artist, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist whose influences span pop, indie, funk and rock, drawing inspiration from artists including Stevie Wonder, Radiohead and Led Zeppelin.
Known for his work as a performer across the UK music scene, PORTEOUS has appeared as a drummer, guitarist and keyboard player at events including Latitude, SXSW, Radio 1's Big Weekend and Kendall Calling, performing with a variety of artists and projects.
Bringing together funky keys, danceable indie songwriting and soulful energy, PORTEOUS adds another dimension to The SKBs' evolving sound and was a natural fit for the project's second album.
The SKBs contribution:
Keyboards on The Next Stop.