Howie Payne (aka Howard Eliott Payne) is a solo artist, producer, songwriter and the driving force behind Liverpool group The Stands, which he formed in 2002, and with whom he scored four top 40 singles and two top 40 LPs in over just three years before disbanding in 2005.

Following The Stands, Payne teamed up with legendary producer Ethan Johns and recorded his highly influential debut solo LP Bright Light Ballads which initially released as a digital download only, reached No 13 in the iTunes Album chart.

After a whirlwind decade of near constant live performances that took him around the globe, Payne took a hiatus from touring and recording to focus on songwriting and production, remaining in the public conscience through his music, with a host of artists recording and performing his songs while both The Stands LP’s, and Bright Light Ballads quickly achieved cult classic status.

September 2016 saw Payne tour the UK for the first time in 3 years, and this winter he will begin work on his next record to be released 2017.