What kind of indie band forces open the doors of contemporary radio? What’s that distinctive quality that enables a previously-unknown act to vault the barriers and land in heavy rotation on major broadcast stations? Is it some mysterious alchemy? – a combination of talent, willpower, and timing? Well, whatever it is, Winter Circle has got it. This group of ambitious Oklahoma City rockers songs have been played on commercial radio stations from the Great Plains to California. How have they done it? Start with the songs themselves: a gutbusting hybrid of classic rock, power-pop, radio emo, and edgy gutter punk. “Don’t Go”, written before the band had ever played a concert, became a finalist in an Internet poll sponsored by Radio 94.7 KHBZ (“The Buzz”) in the band’s hometown. That top-four finish – ahead of more than three hundred other entrants – earned Winter Circle a shot at the top prize in a live “March Bandness ‘05” Battle Of The Bands. Under the heat of the stagelights, Winter Circle and “Don’t Go” smoked the competition – and the young quartet so impressed the station chiefs that they were named “House Band,” and their debut single was slotted into steady rotation. They’ve honed their skills on the road, and they’ve learned how to move the crowd. They’ve developed a sound to match their aspirations, too: bold, arching, anthemic, passionate, radio-friendly and arena-ready. Informed by the first-person poetics of Jimmy Eat World and Smashing Pumpkins, and as melodic and approachable as the All-American Rejects, the Winter Circle’s music can best be characterized as the huge and hopeful sound of a band on the verge of a major breakthrough. “Streetlight Flicker”, the electrifying follow-up to “Don’t Go”, managed to outperform the lead single – receiving airplay on 94.7, 104.5 (Tulsa), 102.3 (Woodward, Oklahoma), and the IROK Radio podcast. It’s a breathtaking piece of heartfelt pop-punk balladry. The song, which IROK listeners voted the best single cut of 2005, was chosen for featured airplay on a recent episode of MTV’s Road Rules. “Don’t Go” and “Streetlight Flicker” became the twin templates for the scalding recordings on Winter Circle’s debut EP. Fully realized and undeniably entertaining, The Huge And Hopeful captures both the dynamic energy of the quartet’s performances and the optimism of their stance. Recorded at Reeltime Audio in Denton, Texas by Grammy-winning producer Eric Delegard (Bowling For Soup, Edgewater, Cross Canadian Ragweed, Radial Angel), the EP establishes the group as at once a leading light of modern Oklahoma rock and a band bursting at the walls of their local scene, fully ready for national recognition. Blistering debut in hand, Winter Circle plans on hitting the road in support of The Huge And Hopeful, and bringing their sound to clubs across America. The band has already shared stages with Sum 41, Gooding, Unwritten Law, The Exies, and Hawthorne Heights – and the tour schedule promises to match Winter Circle with other compatible modern rock acts. Winter Circle has also become an in-demand attraction at major rock events, playing showcases at the North Texas Music Festival, and Tulsa’s DIVERSAFEST. Keep tabs on this exciting emerging band at www.wintercircle.com!