With leanings toward ambient, funk, electronica, grunge, pop, and anything groovy, the men of Beta certainly embrace the unique and un-ordinary. At their live performances, homemade films and instruments, DJs, human beat boxes, costumes, and multimedia visuals abound. It’s easy to see why Radiohead were inspired by them and invited the Beta Band to join them on their recent North American tour.

The band – formed by three friends from Edinburgh and a newbie from England – found the favor of manager/designer Brian Cannon just a few months after formation. Their first EP, Champion Versions, was set loose in 1997 and featured a mixing by Nick McCabe of the Verve.

From their succession of hit underground EPs came a collection, appropriately titled 3 EPs. After that was the self-titled full length debut in 1999 and most recently, Hot Shots II, which was released in July of this year.

The Beta Band are being fingered as a part of the new, “great” bands scene emerging from the U.K., but they got a huge boost from prominent placement in a distinctly American movie, High Fidelity.