Photo: Shane Kelly · CC BY-SA 1.0 · credits
Timeline
15 events▣ Album 7+ Member joins 5◆ Formed 1★ Debut release 1− Member leaves 1
2000s
· Member joins
Chris Wee joins the band
membranophone
source: musicbrainz
· Member joins
Johnny Adger joins the band
bass guitar
source: musicbrainz
· Member joins
Rory Friers joins the band
guitar
source: musicbrainz
· Member joins
Tony Wright joins the band
guitar
source: musicbrainz
· Debut release
Debut release: This Is Our Machine and Nothing Can Stop It
First documented EP in the MusicBrainz discography.
source: musicbrainz
2010s
· Member leaves
Tony Wright leaves the band
guitar
source: musicbrainz
· Member joins
Niall Kennedy joins the band
guitar
source: musicbrainz
2020s
Biography
English biography206 words · 2 sectionssource: wikipedia-en · licence CC BY-SA 4.0 · revision 1336869631
Biography
And So I Watch You from Afar is a Northern Irish instrumental rock band from Belfast, composed of guitarists Rory Friers and Niall Kennedy, bassist Ewen Friers and drummer Chris Wee.
The band released two albums with former member Tony Wright, who was replaced by Niall Kennedy in 2011. The band signed with Richter Collective, and in October 2011 announced a deal in North America with management and record label Sargent House.
They released their self-titled debut studio album on 13 April 2009. Their second studio album, Gangs
GangsSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 8 tracks1BEAUTIFULUNIVERSEMASTERCHAMPION5:522Gang (starting never stopping)5:263Search:Party:Animal5:1847 Billion People all Alive at Once5:445Think:Breathe:Destroy4:436Homes - Ghost Parlor KA -6 to…2:467Homes - …Samara to Belfast9:508Lifeproof5:05 (2011), was met with favorable reviews. The band released their third studio album, All Hail Bright Futures
All Hail Bright FuturesSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Eunoia2:132Big Thinks Do Remarkable3:523Like a Mouse2:404Ambulance4:285The Stay Golden, Part 13:256The Stay Golden, Part 2: Rats on Rock2:597The Stay Golden, Part 3: Trails…1:598Mend and Make Safe4:229Ka Ba Ta Bo Da Ka4:0010Things Amazing1:3211All Hail Bright Futures4:1112Young Brave Minds7:22, on 15 March 2013 on Sargent House. Their fourth studio album, Heirs
HeirsSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Run Home4:332These Secret Kings I Know2:393Wasps2:404Redesigned a Million Times4:415People Not Sleeping3:516Fucking Lifer2:407A Beacon, A Compass, An Anchor6:178Animal Ghosts2:489Heirs7:2910Tryer, You5:45, was released in 2015. Their fifth studio album, The Endless Shimmering
The Endless ShimmeringSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 9 tracks1Three Triangles4:582A Slow Unfolding of Wings4:163Terrors of Pleasure5:204Dying Giants7:265All I Need Is Space4:146The Endless Shimmering4:107Mullally3:538I’ll Share a Life6:249Chrysalism3:19, was released on 20 October 2017. On 18 February 2022, the band released their sixth album, Jettison
JettisonSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Jettison (Full Score)38:44, an ambitious "multimedia long form ensemble piece" with spoken word features throughout from Emma Ruth Rundle and Neil Fallon. The band released their seventh studio album, Megafauna
MegafaunaSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 9 tracks1North Coast Megafauna6:272Do Mór4:153Gallery of Honour5:334Mother Belfast (Part 1)5:515Mother Belfast (Part 2)3:476Years Ago5:147Any Joy3:108Button Days3:209Me and Dunbar5:52 on 9 August 2024.
Band members
Current members
Rory Friers – guitar
Niall Kennedy – guitar
Ewen Friers – bass
Chris Wee – drums, percussion
Former members
Jonathan Adger – bass guitar
Tony Wright – guitar
Discography & profile
Normalised profile
Percentiles are computed over every artist in the database, so a tier-3 artist can still sit in the 95th percentile on a single axis.
| Metric | Value | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Wikipedia language versions | 8 | 49.7th |
| Spotify monthly listeners | — | no data |
| Release groups in DB | 28 | 89.8th |
| Studio albums | 7 | 87.5th |
| Awards recorded | 0 | 0th |
| Timeline events | 15 | 91.2th |
| Recording span (years) | 18 | 41.7th |
| Genres | 5 | 88.3th |
Percentiles are computed at render time; missing values mean the artist has no data on that axis.
Discography (28 release groups · 7 studio albums)
Albums · 7
2009 · studio album
Search SpotifySearch YouTube Music
Tracklist · 11 tracks · 1:04:47
1Set Guitars to Kill5:302A Little Bit of Solidarity Goes a Long Way3:263Clench Fists, Grit Teeth… Go!6:204I Capture Castles7:185Start a Band4:546Tip of the Hat, Punch in the Face4:227If It Ain’t Broke… Break It6:228TheseRIOTSareJUSTtheBEGINNING4:499Don’t Waste Time Doing Things You Hate7:3210The Voiceless6:2811Eat the City, Eat It Whole7:462011 · studio album
Search SpotifySearch YouTube Music
Tracklist · 8 tracks · 44:44
1BEAUTIFULUNIVERSEMASTERCHAMPION5:522Gang (starting never stopping)5:263Search:Party:Animal5:1847 Billion People all Alive at Once5:445Think:Breathe:Destroy4:436Homes - Ghost Parlor KA -6 to…2:467Homes - …Samara to Belfast9:508Lifeproof5:052012 · studio album
Search SpotifySearch YouTube Music
Tracklist · 12 tracks · 43:03
1Eunoia2:132Big Thinks Do Remarkable3:523Like a Mouse2:404Ambulance4:285The Stay Golden, Part 13:256The Stay Golden, Part 2: Rats on Rock2:597The Stay Golden, Part 3: Trails…1:598Mend and Make Safe4:229Ka Ba Ta Bo Da Ka4:0010Things Amazing1:3211All Hail Bright Futures4:1112Young Brave Minds7:222015 · studio album
Search SpotifySearch YouTube Music
Tracklist · 10 tracks · 43:23
1Run Home4:332These Secret Kings I Know2:393Wasps2:404Redesigned a Million Times4:415People Not Sleeping3:516Fucking Lifer2:407A Beacon, A Compass, An Anchor6:178Animal Ghosts2:489Heirs7:2910Tryer, You5:452017 · studio album
Search SpotifySearch YouTube Music
Tracklist · 9 tracks · 44:00
1Three Triangles4:582A Slow Unfolding of Wings4:163Terrors of Pleasure5:204Dying Giants7:265All I Need Is Space4:146The Endless Shimmering4:107Mullally3:538I’ll Share a Life6:249Chrysalism3:192022 · studio album
Search SpotifySearch YouTube Music
Tracklist · 1 track · 38:44
1Jettison (Full Score)38:442024 · studio album
Search SpotifySearch YouTube Music
Tracklist · 9 tracks · 43:29
1North Coast Megafauna6:272Do Mór4:153Gallery of Honour5:334Mother Belfast (Part 1)5:515Mother Belfast (Part 2)3:476Years Ago5:147Any Joy3:108Button Days3:209Me and Dunbar5:52
EP · 7
| Cover | Year | Title | Notes | First release |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | This Is Our Machine and Nothing Can Stop ItSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 7 tracks · 32:381I Capture Castles7:10 2Holylands, 4am2:06 3The Voiceless6:51 4The Machine, Part 11:03 5The Machine, Part 25:48 6WPB, 6am2:57 7Mount Kailash6:43 | 2007 | ||
| 2007 | Tonight the City BurnsSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 6 tracks · 26:261These Riots Are Just the Beginning4:41 2The Torch0:41 3Tonight the City Burns6:08 4Marching Over the Coals3:02 5Something More Than Power7:42 6La Plata Es el Asesino4:12 | 17 October 2007 | ||
| 2010 | The LettersSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 4 tracks · 16:011S Is for Salamander3:58 2D Is for Django the Bastard2:31 3B Is for B-Side2:49 4K Is for Killing Spree (An Ode to)6:43 | 22 February 2010 | ||
| 2013 | Audiotree LiveSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 9 tracks · 28:371ASIWYFA Intro0:47 2Eunoia1:31 3Big Thinks Do Remarkable4:05 4ASIWYFA Discussion #11:58 5Like a Mouse2:42 6ASIWYFA Discussion #23:00 7Beautiful Universe Master Champion6:44 8Gang6:08 9ASIWYFA Outro1:42 | Interview,Live | 26 October 2013 | |
| 2015 | Audiotree Live (Session #2)Search SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 5 tracks · 25:471Run Home5:01 2Wasps2:45 3Think:Breath:Destroy4:55 4Search:Party:Animal6:16 5A Beacon, a Compass, an Anchor6:50 | Live | 24 September 2015 | |
| 2020 | SuccessorsSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 3 tracks · 13:171Arpanoid5:02 2Odd Seal4:23 3Radaghast3:52 | 3 July 2020 | ||
| 2022 | IV in AirSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 4 tracks · 15:331I Dive Pt 13:55 2I Dive Pt 24:47 3III Lung1:57 4IV In Air4:54 | 25 January 2022 |
Single · 13
| Cover | Year | Title | Notes | First release |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Set Guitars to KillSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 2 tracks · 8:58ASet Guitars to Kill5:29 AAA Little Bit of Solidarity Goes a Long Way3:29 | 13 April 2009 | ||
| 2009 | Bethlehem / D Is for Django the BastardSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 2 tracks · 7:301Bethlehem4:58 2D Is for Django the Bastard2:32 | November 2009 | ||
| 2010 | Straight Through The Sun Without A ScratchSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 2 tracks · 10:361Straight Through the Sun4:46 2Without a Fucking Scratch5:50 | 29 November 2010 | ||
| 2011 | Search:Party:AnimalSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 2 tracks · 9:04ASearch:Party:Animal5:20 BSearch:Party:Animal (Kabdriver remix)3:44 | 28 April 2011 | ||
| 2011 | 7 Billion People All Alive at OnceSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 3 tracks · 15:1917 Billion People All Alive at Once (Jape remix)6:10 27 Billion People All Alive at Once (radio edit)3:25 37 Billion People All Alive at Once (album version)5:44 | 22 August 2011 | ||
| 2017 | A Slow Unfolding of WingsSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 1 track · 4:161A Slow Unfolding of Wings4:16 | 21 August 2017 | ||
| 2017 | Dying GiantsSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 1 track · 7:261Dying Giants7:26 | 2 October 2017 | ||
| 2021 | I Dive Pt 1 and Pt 2Search SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 2 tracks · 8:421I Dive Pt 13:55 2II Dive Pt 24:47 | 14 December 2021 | ||
| 2022 | III LungSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 3 tracks · 10:391I Dive Pt 13:55 2I Dive Pt 24:47 3III Lung1:57 | 6 January 2022 | ||
| 2024 | Do MórSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 1 track · 4:151Do Mór4:15 | 16 May 2024 | ||
| 2024 | North Coast MegafaunaSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 2 tracks · 10:421North Coast Megafauna6:27 2Do Mór4:15 | 12 June 2024 | ||
| 2024 | Years AgoSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 3 tracks · 15:561Years Ago5:14 2North Coast Megafauna6:27 3Do Mór4:15 | 10 July 2024 | ||
| 2025 | Live at the Fleece, BristolSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 2 tracks · 11:461Gang (live at the Fleece, Bristol)6:00 2Search:Party:Animal (live at the Fleece, Bristol)5:46 | Live | 3 September 2025 |
Album · 1
| Cover | Year | Title | Notes | First release |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | ASIWYFA Live 10 Year AnniversarySearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 11 tracks · 1:10:211Set Guitars to Kill5:58 2A Little Bit of Solidarity Goes a Long Way3:29 3Clench Fists, Grit Teeth… Go!6:59 4I Capture Castles7:28 5Start a Band5:09 6Tip of the Hat, Punch in the Face4:35 7If It Ain’t Broke… Break It6:11 8These Riots Are Just the Beginning5:15 9Don’t Waste Time Doing Things You Hate7:11 10The Voiceless7:54 11Eat the City, Eat It Whole10:12 | Live | 8 November 2019 |
Stats & PK
Percentile within all 23,672 published artists.Put And So I Watch You From Afar head-to-head →
| Metric | Value | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Wikipedia language versions | 8 | 49.7th |
| Spotify monthly listeners | — | no data |
| Release groups in DB | 28 | 89.8th |
| Studio albums | 7 | 87.5th |
| Awards recorded | 0 | 0th |
| Timeline events | 15 | 91.2th |
| Recording span (years) | 18 | 41.7th |
| Genres | 5 | 88.3th |
Awards & honours
Line-up
| Name | From | To | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chris Wee | 2005 | present | membranophone |
| Johnny Adger | 2005 | present | bass guitar |
| Rory Friers | 2005 | present | guitar |
| Tony Wright | 2005 | 2011 | guitar |
| Niall Kennedy | 2011 | present | guitar |
| Ewen Friers | — | present | bass guitar |
Where this record comes from
portrait—Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 1.0 · retrieved 11 October 2026
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:And_So_I_Watch_You_From_Afar_-_Glasgowbury_Music_Festival_2009.jpgaliases/urls—musicbrainz · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://musicbrainz.org/artist/0fb7d725-4dfd-45d2-944c-6ffa375a142ddiscography—musicbrainz · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://musicbrainz.org/artist/0fb7d725-4dfd-45d2-944c-6ffa375a142dcore—wikidata · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q489577genre—wikidata · CC0 · retrieved 11 October 2026
https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q489577seed-list—wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/And_So_I_Watch_You_from_Afarbiography—wikipedia-en · CC BY-SA 4.0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/And_So_I_Watch_You_from_Afar
Why this artist is in the database
- List of progressive rock artists
Tier rule: curated genre/region list
Image: Shane Kelly · CC BY-SA 1.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Wikidata: Q489577 · MusicBrainz: 0fb7d725-4dfd-45d2-944c-6ffa375a142d
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