The Valley Five was a emo/ hardcore band formed in 2000 in Hutt Valley, New Zealand, emerging from the remnants of two local acts, Discenter and Barzell. The lineup consisted of Paul Herschell (guitar), Andy Young (vocals), Alex Young (drums), Jonny Fairclough (guitar), and Chris Vartan (bass), all of whom attended Hutt Valley High School. Herschell, Andy, and Alex Young previously played in Barzell, while Fairclough and Vartan, alongside Alex Young, were members of Discenter. The two earlier bands had collaborated on a split CD titled The Valley 8 in 2000.
The Valley Five made their live debut on April 20, 2001, at Valve in Wellington, sharing the stage with Product and Residue. That year, they recorded a five-song EP of demos with producer Peter Jamieson, released on June 6, 2001. In October they performed at Punkfest 2000. Shortly after, Paul Herschell left and was replaced by Ryan O’Leary, formerly of Hutt Valley hardcore band Diecast and also playing in Backyard Burial and School of Meat.
In December 2002, the band recorded their second five-song EP, Total, at their practice space in the Oriental Bay boatsheds. Throughout 2002 and 2003, The Valley Five played extensively around Wellington alongside bands like School of Meat, Brubeck, The Deadline, and Shumway, and opened for U.S. band Strung Out in March 2003. The band played their final show on December 12, 2003, at Valve. Following their breakup, three members relocated to Melbourne, where they formed a new band, The Rain Forest.
| Origin | The Hutt Valley |
| Genre | emo, post-hardcore |
| Years Active | 2001 – 2003 |
| Associated Acts | Barzell Discenter Diecast Product |
| Past Members | Andrew Young (vocals) Alex Young (drums) Chris Vartan (bass) Jonny Fairclough (lead guitar) Paul Herschell (rhythm guitar 2001) Ryan O’Leary (rhythm guitar 2001 – 2003) |
Releases
| Title | Date | Label | Type | Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Demo(n) | 2001, June 6 | EP | CD/ DL | |
| TOTAL | 2002 | EP | CD/ DL |
Timeline
2001, April 20, Valve
The Valley Five (1st gig), Product, Residue
2001, June 6, Demo(n)
2001, September 1, Indigo
Brubeck, Foamy Ed, The Valley Five
2001, October 19-21, Punkfest
2001, November
Paul Herschell replaced by Ryan O’Leary on guitar.
2001, December, Oriental Bay, Boat Shed 40
2002
2002, TOTAL
2002, September 14, Valve
2002, December 27, Valve
2003
2003, January 30, Harvesters
Flesh D-Vice, The Valley Five
2003, The Valley Five
2003, March 6, Valve
School Of Meat, The Valley Five, Side Project
2003, March 15, Alternative Routes
2003, March 23, Indigo
Opening for Strung Out, with Brubeck
2003, April 4, Valve
The Valley Five, Captain Sergeant Major, DIY
2003, May 2, Indigo
The Valley Five, 1QA, The Deadline, Mottob
2003, June 10, Indigo
The Valley Five, Residue, 1QA
2003, July 11, Mango Music/ Guvnors (P Nth)
The Valley Five
2003, December 12, Valve
New Way Home, The Valley Five, Shumway
