Toploader

Toploader are an English rock band from Eastbourne, East Sussex, formed in 1997, with over two million album sales and several top-20 hits both home and abroad. Their debut album, Onka's Big Moka, sold over one million units and peaked in the top five of the UK Albums Chart, where it remained for six months; it earned them four nominations at the 2001 Brit Awards. They are best known for their 2000 cover of King Harvest's US hit "Dancing in the Moonlight", which became a global hit for them. Their second album, Magic Hotel, reached No. 3 on the UK Albums Chart. The band broke up in 2003, after the release of their second album, but they reformed in 2009 and remain active as of 2025.

Infobox

Origin

Eastbourne, East Sussex, England

Genres

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Years active

1997–20032009–present

Labels

S2EpicUnderdogs MusicBig Lake Music

Members

Joseph Washbourn Dan Hipgrave Rob Green

Past members

Matt Knight Julian Deane

Website

toploaderofficial.com

Tables

mw- List of studio albums, with selected chart positions and certifications · Discography › Studio albums

Title

Album details

AUS

Peak chart position

DEN

Peak chart position

GER

Peak chart position

IRE

Peak chart position

NLD

Peak chart position

SCO

Peak chart position

SWI

Onka's Big Moka

Title

Onka's Big Moka

Album details

Released: 22 May 2000 Label: S2 Format: CD, cassette, LP, digital download

Peak chart position

Sales

UK: 1,200,000

Certifications

BPI: 3× Platinum

Magic Hotel

Title

Magic Hotel

Album details

Released: 19 August 2002 Label: S2 Format: CD, cassette, vinyl, digital download

Peak chart position

—

Peak chart position

—

Peak chart position

—

Peak chart position

—

Peak chart position

—

Sales

UK: 60,000

Certifications

BPI: Silver

Only Human

Title

Only Human

Album details

Released: 6 June 2011 Label: Underdogs Music Format: CD, digital download

Peak chart position

—

Peak chart position

—

Peak chart position

—

Peak chart position

—

Peak chart position

—

Peak chart position

—

Peak chart position

—

Peak chart position

—

Seeing Stars

Title

Seeing Stars

Album details

Released: 12 May 2017 Label: Big Lake Music Format: CD, digital download

Peak chart position

—

Peak chart position

—

Peak chart position

—

Peak chart position

—

Peak chart position

—

Peak chart position

—

Peak chart position

—

Peak chart position

—

"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Title

"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Title	Album details	Peak chart position								Sales	Certifications
Title	Album details	UK	AUS	DEN	GER	IRE	NLD	SCO	SWI	Sales	Certifications
Onka's Big Moka	Released: 22 May 2000 Label: S2 Format: CD, cassette, LP, digital download	4	99	36	43	6	86	3	85	UK: 1,200,000	BPI: 3× Platinum
Magic Hotel	Released: 19 August 2002 Label: S2 Format: CD, cassette, vinyl, digital download	3	—	—	—	36	—	3	—	UK: 60,000	BPI: Silver
Only Human	Released: 6 June 2011 Label: Underdogs Music Format: CD, digital download	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Seeing Stars	Released: 12 May 2017 Label: Big Lake Music Format: CD, digital download	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

· Discography › Compilations

Dancing in the Moonlight – The Best of Toploader

Title

Dancing in the Moonlight – The Best of Toploader

Album details

Released: 9 March 2009 Label: Sony CMG Formats: CD, digital download

Greatest Hits

Title

Greatest Hits

Album details

Released: 3 September 2021 Label: Sony Formats: digital download

Title	Album details
Dancing in the Moonlight – The Best of Toploader	Released: 9 March 2009 Label: Sony CMG Formats: CD, digital download
Greatest Hits	Released: 3 September 2021 Label: Sony Formats: digital download

· Discography › EPs

Toploader

Title

Toploader

Album details

Released: 1998 Label: Far Canal Records Formats: CD

4 Hits

Title

4 Hits

Album details

Released: 16 September 2011 Label: Sony Formats: digital download

Turn It Around

Title

Turn It Around

Album details

Released: 12 February 2013 Label: Imagem UK Formats: digital download

Title	Album details
Toploader	Released: 1998 Label: Far Canal Records Formats: CD
4 Hits	Released: 16 September 2011 Label: Sony Formats: digital download
Turn It Around	Released: 12 February 2013 Label: Imagem UK Formats: digital download

· Discography › Singles

Title	Year	Peak chart positions										Certifications	Album
Title	Year	UK	AUS	BEL(FL)	BEL(WA)	GER	IRE	ITA	NLD	NZ	SWE	Certifications	Album
"Achilles Heel"	1999	8	—	—	—	90	—	32	80	—	—		Onka's Big Moka
"Let the People Know"	2000	52	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
"Dancing in the Moonlight"		7	12	—	—	15	7	21	52	24	44	BPI: 5× Platinum ARIA: Gold BVMI: Platinum FIMI: Gold RMNZ: Platinum
"Just Hold On"		20	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
"Only for a While"	2001	19	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
"Time of My Life"	2002	18	—	—	—	—	—	—	95	—	—		Magic Hotel
"Some Kind of Wonderful"	2002	76	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—		Magic Hotel
"Never Stop Wondering"	2011	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—		Only Human
"A Balance to All Things"		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
"She Said"		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
"Turn It Around"	2013	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—		Turn It Around
"This Is the Night"	2013	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—		Non-album single
"Roll with the Punches"	2017	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—		Seeing Stars
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

· Awards and nominations

2001

"Dancing in the Moonlight"

Role(s)

British Single of the Year

Notes

Nominated

British Video of the Year

Role(s)

Nominated

Toploader

Role(s)

British Group

Notes

Nominated

British Breakthrough Act

Role(s)

Nominated

Year	Nominee / work	Award	Result
2001	"Dancing in the Moonlight"	British Single of the Year	Nominated
	"Dancing in the Moonlight"	British Video of the Year	Nominated
	Toploader	British Group	Nominated
		British Breakthrough Act	Nominated

References

"Achilles Heel" originally peaked at number 64 on the UK Singles chart, before being re-released in May 2000 and reachin
"Dancing in the Moonlight" originally peaked at number 19 on the UK Singles chart, before being re-released in November
"Dancing in the Moonlight" did not enter the Flanders Ultratop 50 but peaked at number 3 on the Ultratip chart.
"Dancing in the Moonlight" did not enter the Wallonia Ultratop 50 but peaked at number 10 on the Ultratip chart.
"A Balance to All Things" did not enter the Flanders Ultratop 50 but peaked at number 27 on the Ultratip chart.
"This Is the Night" did not enter the UK Singles Chart but peaked at number 41 on the UK Independent Singles Chart.
"CD Reviews: The Beta Band, Default, Toploader and many more". Chart Attack, 17 July 2001
https://web.archive.org/web/20010719224341/http://www.chartattack.com:80/damn/2001/07/1701.cfm
Nme.com
https://www.nme.com/news/music/toploader-3-1397127
Bfi.org.uk
https://web.archive.org/web/20200609212951/https://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b82b74942
"Pop band Toploader split"
https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/2885811.stm
Smilefest.co.uk
http://smilefest.co.uk/julian-founder-of-raygun-guitarist-with-toploader/
"Underdogs Music"
http://underdogsonline.com
"Lakefest 2012: Line-up 2012"
https://web.archive.org/web/20120419221052/http://lakefest.co.uk/line-up-2012
[1] Archived 2 November 2012 at the Wayback Machine
http://www.timeisprecious.org/Trust_Supporters/Patron_Trust.htm
"LeeStock Headliners Announced"
http://www.festivalsforall.com/article/leestock-2013-headliners-announced
"Line up || This years amazing line up"
https://web.archive.org/web/20130709100115/http://www.ampthillfestival.co.uk/amprocks/line-up-2013.html
YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7mEUi8HQ5E
NME
https://www.nme.com/news/music/social-media-reacts-to-toploader-performing-at-tory-party-conference-3508950
The Independent
https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/toploader-labour-party-conference-tories-b2424442.html
timeout.com
https://www.timeout.com/london/news/james-blunt-at-londons-o2-arena-start-time-tickets-potential-setlist-and-what-you-need-to-know-021525#:~:text=Are%20there%20any%20support%20acts,Dancing%20in%20the%20Moonlight'%20guys
Motherland
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000qryp
"Toploader – The Official Charts Company"
https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/7842/toploader/
Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010
"Danish Charts > Toploader"
https://danishcharts.dk/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Toploader
"Toploader – Offizielle Deutsche Charts"
https://www.offiziellecharts.de/charts/album-details-3415
Irish Charts
http://www.irish-charts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Toploader
"Dutch Charts – Toploader"
https://dutchcharts.nl/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Toploader
"Toploader – Onka's Big Moka"
http://swisscharts.com/album/Toploader/Onka's-Big-Moka-3415
"Certified Awards Search: Toploader"
https://www.bpi.co.uk/brit-certified/
Bpi.co.uk
https://www.bpi.co.uk/award/10096-121-2
"ultratop.be – Toploader"
https://www.ultratop.be/nl/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Toploader#charts
"Belgian Positions (Wallonie)"
https://www.ultratop.be/fr///song/114d/Toploader-Dancing-In-The-Moonlight
"New Zealand Charts – Toploader"
https://charts.nz/showitem.asp?interpret=Toploader&titel=Dancing+In+The+Moonlight&cat=s
"ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2001 Singles"
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/k9o2q7p7o4awhqx/AADhw4ljwWQtLQiu3AKHh2fEa/2001%20Accreds.pdf
"Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Toploader)"
https://www.musikindustrie.de/wie-musik-zur-karriere-werden-kann/markt-bestseller/gold-/platin-und-diamond-auszeichnung/datenbank/?action=suche&strTitel=&strInterpret=Toploader&strTtArt=alle&strAwards=checked
"Dati della certificazione richiesta"
https://www.fimi.it/top-of-the-music/certification-form.kl#/certificationform/7031
"New Zealand single certifications – Toploader – Dancing in the Moonlight"
https://web.archive.org/web/20240729233033/https://nztop40.co.nz/chart/singles?chart=0000