Alison Wheeler is a British singer, best known as the female vocalist for The Beautiful South from 2003 until they disbanded in 2007. Wheeler's career in music began at university in a cover band called Melt City, alongside Hal Ritson, now of The Young Punx, Kev Dowd, now of Lowbrow, James Woods, now of Jam Sandwich and Dom Wilhelm,. On arriving in London she joined indie band Junk, subsequently renamed Treehouse, well known on the Camden & Islington gig circuit. In 1998 Wheeler responded to an audition for a "girl band" Virginia, masterminded by record producerIan Shaw and then consisting ofLouise Miller and Lee Winnick, the latter shortly afterwards replaced by Laura Matthews. Virginia featured repeatedly as guests on BBC Radio, particularly Janice Long, Jonathan Ross, Gyles Brandreth, Nicky Campbell and Ned Sherrin, as well as TV appearances in Northern Ireland on the Benny Hill Show. Tracks from Virginia's first album Firstbite had chart success in the US Billboard charts. In 2002 her work with London gospel bandCitizen K led to an introduction to Dave Hemingway of the Beautiful South. After working on Hemingway's as yet unreleased solo album, Hemingway promised a recommendation to the Beautiful South's driving force, Paul Heaton, since a new album was in the making, despite the unexpected departure of former band member Jacqui Abbott. By 2003, with the release of "Gaze", Wheeler was a member of the band, appearing live first at a Carling Homecoming at the Welly Club in Hull on 18 September 2003. Gaze was followed by albums "Goldiggas Headnodders and Pholk Songs" and "Superbi". She was dubbed Alison 'Lady' Wheeler jokingly by her bandmates in The Beautiful South who felt that her demeanour and education at Trinity College, Cambridge was in contrast to the band's trademark working-class northern image. She remained busy during her pregnancy in 2005 touring the UK, headlining the acoustic stage at Glastonbury, in the Park and Oxygene. This was followed by nearly 50 gigs in 2006 including 2 UK tours, the V festival, an Irish tour and an American tour. The band split in January 2007 due to "musical similarities". She spent some time enjoying motherhood and is now back recording a solo project. In 2010 she recorded the track "Move A Little Closer" with Jon Windle formerly of Little Man Tate for his début solo album Step Out The Man. Since 2008 Alison has been working with Amanda Frolich recording children's albums for "Amanda's Action Club" Wheeler is currently in the band "The South", formed of old members of The Beautiful South. They are currently touring the UK, playing songs from the new album "Sweet Refrains" as well as old Beautiful South songs.
