Welcome to the site.

The Sanction were formed in 2007 by Steve Horne, Hayley McCarthy, Alan Hill and Alan Baker under the name Proximity Effect. In January 2008, the band performed for the first time at a local venue, playing original material. In the Spring of that year, Alan Baker became ill and soon after, tragically took his own life. The band decided to continue with the plan to record the songs that the band had begun to arrange, rehearse and perform as 'that was what Alan would have wanted', although it was felt a name change was necessary. The idea of 'replacing' Alan so quickly was unpalatable to the band, so it was decided that Steve, as well as producing the songs, would take charge of drum programming for what was to become an 8 track album, (recorded on antiquated equipment over 18 months). Despite barely being able to hear the mixes due to the failing technology, the songs were eventually completed. The band played a full length set at the Millenium Hall in Essex in January 2009 which was to prove Alan Hill's last commitment with the band as he was moving to Scotland to start a new life with his wife to be. The gig was recorded and mixed as a memento - Stacey Plant guested as drummer on the night.

Steve continued to mix the songs while both Hayley and Steve auditoned musicians for a live band. Steve Langford (drums) and Alan Engel (bass) joined soon after and rehearsals for a few live shows began. This was a happy time for the band.

Steve mixed the Millenium Hall performance (available as a download) and there then followed another series of auditions for a possible permanent live line up. Steve was contacted by Mark Wabe (drums), who proved not only talented but highly enthusiastic at audition. A few months past and the trio were joined by Alex Burchell on bass.

The band 'hit the road' and played such venues as The Haymakers in Cambridge, the 'Hope and Anchor' in Islington, the 'Monto Water Rats' in Camden, finishing up in April '11, by performing as the opening act at the Rock for Haven's Sake Festival, headlined by the still excellent Dr Feelgood.

Despite the evident musical progression the band had made, a huge contributory factor being Mark's rock solid drumming and Alex's snaky bass lines, this line up of the band would not continue beyond the final perfomance at the Rock for Haven's Sake Festival.

Almost a year to the day of the final Sanction peformance of 2011....and what has happened since?

Well....Hayley has re-located to Kent and is due to get married on Friday....

...Steve has been completing a project he started 'sort of by accident' in 2009 which he has returned to intermittently since and has combined this with learning about music technology, which has been the biggest focus of any spare time he has. He has been engaged since December.

Future plans for the band...are unclear, (due to re-locations, (pending and on-going)). Thank you if you've stuck with us and re-visited the site every so often only to find it closed. We're back open for business, although are not presently gigging. There are tentative plans for recording in the Autumn....

There have been some developments; the Hope and Anchor gig was recorded last year. The gig itself was marred by a horrible electrical buzz, which has taken a lot of work to get rid of in the mixes. The tracks are rough and ready and may be available to download at some point in the future as will be a 'studio' version of 'Vegas' which is yet to be mixed.