British alt-pop artist Starling has today returned with her shimmering new single Cool Girl. Taken from her long-awaited new EP, due in the coming months, the track's unassuming intro quickly builds towards its towering pop sensibilities and infectious melodies as it takes hold and lets you know it's okay to be okay with your feelings. Adding about the new track, she said, “Cool Girl marks the new sound of pop meets therapy, sad meets hopeful, light meets dark - I want my music to encompass all parts of me and therefore, free all parts of you, the listener. We are all so multi-faceted and full of so much hope as well as fear, sadness, grief - it is safe to be it all. At least, that is what I would like to share through my song.” Take a listen for yourselves below.
Returning with their anthemic single, Like No Other, Birmingham's Overpass have unveiled news of their 'Dependent' EP, set for release this November. With the lead single showing their euphoric choruses and driving percussion in fine detail the track offers up a blistering introduction to what lays ahead for their ever evolving sound. Speaking about the new single overpass say: “'Like No Other' captures the magical moment when you realise you've met someone truly unique, even if the love isn't returned. It's about that overwhelming rush of emotions and the sense of finding a connection unlike any other, alongside the bittersweet ache of unrequited love. Through this song, I wanted to convey the depth and intensity of falling for someone who feels like they were meant just for you, even when your feelings aren't reciprocated.” Expanding on the EP, the band add: “Dependent is a journey of growing up and figuring things out. It’s about finding where we fit in the world, with songs that dive into deep, introspective moments and the challenges of understanding ourselves. These songs capture the highs and lows of young adulthood and the lessons learned along the way. As our second EP, Dependent pushes our sonic boundaries and offers something fresh for our fans. The production process was an evolution for us, our second time recording multiple tracks in a single session and experimenting more than ever. This new approach allowed us to refine our sound and reflect where we are as a band in 2024, and we couldn't be more excited to get it out into the world.” Take a listen for yourselves below.
Live Dates 25 July | Mama Roux’s, Birmingham SOLD OUT 26 July | Truck Festival, Oxfordshire 2 Aug | Y-Not, Derbyshire 12 Aug | The Hundred, Birmingham 28 Sep | Gathering Sounds, Stockton 5 Oct | Neighbourhood Festival, Manchester 26 Oct | London Calling, Amsterdam
New York trio Sunflower Bean have today announced their charging new single Shake, taken from the band's forthcoming EP of the same name due out September 27th via Lucky Number. Taking things back to their DIY roots, the track sees and onslaught of guitars and thrashing percussion meet head-on with their signature grungy vocals and empowering live energy. “SHAKE was inspired by our first years as a DIY band, the spirit that birthed us and gave us the chance to have this enduring journey together,” Sunflower Bean explain of the EP. “We wrote, recorded, engineered, and produced these songs so nothing was filtered through anyone else’s idea of us. We always felt like rock and roll was a feeling, not a sound. But sometimes there is no subverting it or explaining it. We're now offering it exactly as it occurred to us.” Take a listen for yourselves below.
Tour Dates October 2 – Brooklyn, NY – Baby’s All Right October 9 – Los Angeles, CA - Zebulon October 12 – Chicago, IL – The Empty Bottle November 16 – Austin, TX – Empire Control Room
Australian folk singer Hazlett has recently released his emotively-charged new single Shiver via Nettwerk, taken from his upcoming new 6-Track EP out 4th October, which will see him complete his Goodbye to the Valley Low-project. Making exceptional use of the track's space comes a heart wrenching 3 minute 34 ode to self reflection as he questions the control he has on life's choices. Speaking about the single, Hazlett says, ‘I’ve always had this tug-o-war in my head of how much control do I really have of my life? Do I have to be petrified of every decision I make? Or do I just say whatever will be will be and sit back? I think to some extent whatever path we take life has a funny way of taking us to our destination anyway. But that only happens when we’re led by our gut, we have good intentions and we’re not scared to make the wrong choice. Sometimes it is just about choosing a door to open and being irrationally confident that the universe will guide you to where you need to go either way.’ Speaking further about the album's conception he shares, ‘Truth be told there was never meant to be a Side B to Goodbye to the
Valley Low, but the more that I tried moving on from it the more I kept
getting pulled back,’ Hazlett explains.‘I think being out there in the cabin brought out a lot of
initial feelings that I worked through and then after that I was left
with all these half thoughts and feelings that needed a little more work
to figure out. Which might be why it sounds a little
bit darker at times. If Side A was the curiosity of the cabin then Side
B is working through all the questions that it left behind.’
Returning with his new single, Foals’ frontman Yannis Philippakis has undertaken his Yannis & The Yaw moniker once more to deliver the stunning Rain Can't Reach Us. Teaming up with legendary drummer Tony Allen the track's another brilliant insight in to his artistic flair as his powerful vocals ignite across a backdrop of swirling synth melodies and spiralling percussion. Speaking about the track Yannis says, “We actually referred to "‘Rain Can't Reach Us" as "The Tornado" for a long time because it feels like a gale blowing through your house and it's just cool to hear Tony at the heart of that. There’s a chance it could have become a Foals track, but sharing that idea with Tony made it become this other thing. I think that's really exciting, it's like putting in random coordinates, getting in your car and driving and not knowing where you're going to show up. You could be led anywhere.” Take a listen for yourselves below. The new single is taken from his forthcoming Lagos Paris London EP Out August 30 via Transgressive.
Taken from their acclaimed number 1 album, Prelude To Ecstasy, which debuted earlier this year as one of the fastest selling records by a guitar band this century, not bad for a band that only played their first ever gig in 2021, The Last Dinner Party have shared an official video to their single The Feminine Urge. Once again enlisting director Harv Frost, who previously shot videos for their early singles, ‘Caesar On A TV Screen’ and ‘My Lady Of Mercy’, the clip sees their extravagant sound come to life in its own glamorous way. Take a watch below.
The Last Dinner Party Live: 23rd July – The Hordern Pavilion, Sydney SOLD OUT 27th July – Fuji Rock Festival, Naeba Ski Resort, Niigata 31st July – The Truman, Kansas City SOLD OUT 2nd August – Hinterland Music Festival, Saint Charles, IA 4th August – Lollapalooza, Chicago 6th August – Gothic Theatre, Englewood SOLD OUT 7th August – The Complex, Salt Lake City SOLD OUT 9th August – Outside Lands Festival, San Francisco 10th August – The Fonda, Los Angeles SOLD OUT 22nd August – Rock en Seine, Paris 24th August – Reading Festival 25th August – Leeds Festival 18th September – The Telegraph Building, Belfast SOLD OUT 20th September – O2 Academy, Glasgow SOLD OUT 21st September – O2 Victoria Warehouse, Manchester SOLD OUT 23rd September - O2 City Hall, Newcastle SOLD OUT 24th September - O2 Academy, Leeds SOLD OUT 25th September – Octagon Centre, Sheffield SOLD OUT 27th September – The LCR, UEA, Norwich SOLD OUT 28th September – The Engine Shed, Lincoln SOLD OUT 29th September – Tramshed, Cardiff SOLD OUT 1st October - O2 Academy, Birmingham SOLD OUT 2nd October – Rock City, Nottingham SOLD OUT 4th October – O2 Academy, Bristol SOLD OUT 5th October – O2 Guildhall, Southampton SOLD OUT 7th October – 3Olympia Theatre, Dublin SOLD OUT 8th October – 3Olympia Theatre, Dublin SOLD OUT 10th October – O2 Academy, Glasgow SOLD OUT 11th October – O2 Victoria Warehouse, Manchester SOLD OUT 12th October – Mountford Hall, Liverpool SOLD OUT 14th October – Corn Exchange, Cambridge SOLD OUT 16th October – Eventim Apollo, London SOLD OUT 17th October – Eventim Apollo, London SOLD OUT 19th October – Eventim Apollo, London SOLD OUT 28th October – L’Olympia, Paris SOLD OUT 29th October – Cirque Royal, Brussels SOLD OUT 31st October – Paradiso, Amsterdam SOLD OUT 2nd November – E-Werk, Cologne SOLD OUT 3rd November – TivoliVredenburg, Ultrecht SOLD OUT 5th November – L’Épicerie Moderne, Lyon SOLD OUT 6th November – TonHalle, Munich 7th November – Uber Eats Music Hall, Berlin 9th November – Inside Seaside Festival, Gdansk 10th November – The Roxy, Prague 12th November – MuseumsQuartier Wien – Halle E, Vienna SOLD OUT 13th November – X-TRA, Zurich 14th November – Barezzi Festival @ Teatro Regio, Parma 16th November – Rockhal Club, Luxembourg 17th November – 013 Poppodium, Tilburg
Following a run of sold-out UK and US headline tours, a Glastonbury debut, opening for Stevie Nicks at BST Hyde Park, and delivering a performance of her break-out single ‘labour’ on Later…with Jools Holland, Paris Paloma returned ahead of the weekend with the final single leading to her debut album ‘Cacophony’, which will be released on 30th August via Nettwerk. The Warmth sees her build on previous sounds with an orchestral uprising that slowly builds across a backdrop of rolling percussion and soaring vocal layers. Take a listen for yourselves below with the official video, directed by Yoni Ben-Haim and Beau Pritchard-James.
‘Cacophony’ tracklisting: 1. my mind (now) 2. pleaser 3. his land 4. drywall 5. labour 6. boys, bugs and men 7. knitting song 8. as good a reason 9. triassic love song 10. escape pod 11. last woman on earth 12. bones on the beach 13. hunter 14. the warmth 15. yeti
September European headline tour: Fri 6th – Paris, Trabendo Sat 7th – Brussels, Le Botanique, Orangerie Mon 9th – Amsterdam, Paradiso Wed 11th – Cologne, Gloria Theatre Thurs 12th – Hamburg, Mojo Club Sat 14th – Berlin, Heimathafen Neukölln Sun 15th – Copenhagen, Small Vega Tues 17th – Stockholm, Debaser Strand Wed 18th – Oslo, Parktreatret
Festivals: Fri 16th August - Oslo, Norway - Langs Akerselva Festival Fri 23rd -Sun 25th August – Reading & Leeds Festival
Despite the weather looking less than optimistic following a sunshine performance the night before, Catfish and the Bottlemen were back in the Welsh capital for their second sold out show at the historic castle grounds on Saturday July 20th.
Following a brief hiatus where speculation was quick to take place on the band's future, 3 years on from their last performance, a cryptic PR campaign through their mailing list earlier this year saw them share
a set-time poster depicting a 6pm stage time. Much to fans delight this was the announcement they'd all been waiting for. A euphoric return to music with their new single Showtime, coinciding with a run of summer shows taking place in addition to their Reading & Leeds festival appearances.
Selling out both nights in just a matter of minutes, it was clear to see their fans devotion, if anything, had only grown stronger in their absence as they eagerly packed themselves in to the walled grounds.
Following a triumphant performance by The Big Moon, as if by some miracle, the forecasted rain had shifted and as the sun set on the picturesque backdrop over the castle walls, a palpable sense of anticipation filled the air before The Beatles - Helter Skelter began to play out. As the final notes faded and an elongated wait enfolded, cheers began to rise through the crowd as their anticipation piqued, all waiting to catch their first glimpse of Van McCann and co.
In what felt like a lifetime, but was probably just a matter of moments, the band finally emerged as they launched in to "Longshot". The crowd erupted as frontman McCann's raw and powerful vocals cut through the air. With a set-list curated truly of nothing but the hits, they certainly came thick and fast as they charged through "Kathleen," "Soundcheck," and "Pacifier" as the audience sang along at the top of their lungs, all beneath a sea of floating inflatable crocodiles. Elsewhere tracks from their most recently released album The Balance showcased the band's evolution and maturity as "Sidetrack" and "2all" saw swinging guitar melodies and gritty lyrics lead up the charge.
Catfish and the Bottlemen - Cardiff Castle, 20 July 2024
Having garnered their reputation for a live show like no other, the band certainly pulled out all the stops as their vehement energy and electrifying musicianship transcended in to the crowd who jumped in unison, front to back.
Despite a rocky road over recent times with line-up departures and new members joining, things seemed to have gelled well, and you'd be none the wiser as Van raced back and forth with a smile stretched ear to ear. And with that playful mood at the forefront, he regularly stepped back from the mic, basking in the choir recitation from the crowd that echoed throughout the iconic venue. There's a reason why Wales is known as the land of song, and tonight's evidence why, noticeably so on "Homesick".
Followed up with a passionate thank you to the Cardiff fanbase, Catfish weren't quite finished with the night just yet. Playing an almost 90 minute set with back to back hits, anyone would expect a lull in energy, yet this is a band where
faltering ceases to exist in their vocabulary and tonight was to
be no exception.
Rolling out the closing tracks with "7" and "Cocoon"they were determined to squeeze every last drop from the evening as Van screamed "Louder", commandeering the crowd to sing in acapella with for extended refrain of "I’d beg you, but you know I'm never home, I’d love you, but I need another year alone". And it's a good thing he had them warm up. With some technicality difficulties on their closing track with his microphone breaking, he egged them on a final time to take the lead. Improvisation at its finest.
In what was an anthemic night of epic proportions, few band's can claim quite so many hits on three records as Llandudno's finest, but with all thriller and no filler, it's a testament to their long standing status. And with these 2 sold out Welsh shows on home soil firmly under their belts, they're back to reaffirming themselves as one of the best live acts in rock today.
Following on from last month's release of Tooth Fairy, US indie heavyweights Hippo Campus have returned with their latest single Paranoid. Filled with luscious guitar melodies and their signature soft vocals and rolling percussion, the track serves as another fine taster of what's to come from the band's forthcoming fourth LP ‘Flood’, set for release September 20th via revered indie label Psychic Hotline (Sylvan Esso). Speaking ahead of their latest single release, the band explained: “‘Paranoid’ is the collection of sun flares plastered against your eyelids after falling asleep outside. What’s left of whipping shitties in your self-conscious for too long. It’s a hard look in the unforgiving mirror and the sobering realization that not all questions have answers.” Take a listen for yourselves below.
2024 Live Dates 7/18 -Indianapolis, IN -Rock the Ruins 7/20 -Saint Paul, MN -Minnesota Yacht Club 8/2 -Saint Charles, IA -Hinterland Festival 8/3 -Chicago, IL -Lollapalooza 8/4 -Chicago, IL -Metro -Lollapalooza Aftershow 8/8 -Ogden, UT-Ogden Twilight ^ 12/4 -Shepherd’s Bush Empire, London
Returning today, London's Lazy Day has unveiled their glistening new single Falling Behind. Taken from the forthcoming debut album, Open the Door, due out November 8th though Brace Yourself Records (Panic Shack, JOHN, Nuha Ruby Ra), the track sees brainchild songwriter Tilly Scantlebury take a self reflective look on themselves as rushing guitar melodies and frantic percussion make up the backdrop. Scantlebury explains: "This song is full of frustration — at the world and at myself — for feeling like things should be different and I could do better." Take a listen for yourselves below with the official video directed and produced by CLUMP Collective. Of the video, CLUMP say: "Our latest music video for Lazy Day, inspired by the evocative photography of Catherine Opie, captured the essence of identity and rebellion. It was so much fun to work with Tilly and Ellie, they both brought incredible energy to the shoot, and their chemistry on camera was beautiful to watch. We're really proud of this one!"
Tour dates: Feb 6th | Manchester, UK - YES (Basement) Feb 7th | Glasgow, UK - Broadcast Feb 8th | Edinburgh, UK - Sneaky Pete's Feb 9th | Newcastle, UK - Three Tanners Bank Feb 11th | Nottingham, UK - Rough Trade Feb 12th | Birmingham, UK - The Victoria Feb 13th | Bristol, UK - Louisiana Feb 14th | London, UK - The Lower Third
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