In a brand new weekly piece Indie Revolution will be featuring a new single chosen from the best on the independent music scene.
Single Of The Week is the very talented, Scottish singer-songwriter Megan Black with her brand new single ‘Funk For Introverts’.
Megan’s music combines 70’s blues rock with queer feminist pop, she uses her powerful voice to express her own personal experiences and makes them relatable to all through her infectious music, with focus on themes such as feminism, LGBTQ+, mental health, addiction and community, she is a diverse woman. Megan has been tipped as one of Youth Music’s ‘One To Watch’ for 2024, she is most definitely one to watch!
In a brand new monthly piece, Indie Revolution will feature a fresh new album from the best on the independent scene.
First in our feature for the month of April is Glaswegian band Arcade State with their fantastic album ‘Life Is Not Linear’. Despite many personal challenges in 2023 the band decided to plough ahead and record their highly anticipated debut album. The album is hugely personal to the band and is dedicated to Ciaran and Jordan, the founder members sister, Chelsea, who very tragically passed away last summer. The album is highly emotive and passionate, beautiful throughout.
Already boasting a formidable live reputation and dedicated following from all over the UK and Ireland the band have gone from strength to strength and are on their way to selling out headline shows at synonymous venues. The band plan to play festivals and city venues within the UK throughout 2024.
From the Ritz to the rubble back to the Ritz and beyond…It’s true Kyle Falconer has experienced quite the ride in his illustrious 36 years on earth.
Having signed his first record deal back in 2005 under the tutelage & watchful eye of James Endicott, Kyle has subsequently continued to produce a breath taking six studio albums as lead singer and chief song writer fronting his band ‘The View’ and a further two critically acclaimed solo albums ‘No, Thank you’ & ‘No love songs for Laura’.
Kyle’s ‘Bad Choices’ have been well documented over the 20-year span there’s been a microscope on his every move. Since finding his soul mate ‘Laura’ & having three beautiful young children he has since been able to turn a corner in his home & professional life. He now works on more wholesome pursuits, including being a father & giving back to a new crop of musicians hoping to build on the foundations built by him and other rock ‘n’ roll architects like him.
A short two years ago Kyle and long term friend, professional collaborator & powerhouse Scottish promoter Micheal Ward, made the decision to take the time, efforts and finance to build a songwriting retreat in Alicante situated in the south east of Spain called ‘La Sierra Casa’ translated as The Mountain House. The song writing camp has played host to respected & accomplished high profile acts including John McClure (Reverend & The Makers), Callum Beattie, Martin Glover (YOUTH), Blaine Harrison (The Mystery Jets) & Carl Barat (The Libertines) whilst also nurturing a new crop of talent including Ben Walker, Neeve Zahra, The Shambolics, Dennis Kennedy, Cal Roberts, Tom Collins, Prose, Frankie Dobson, Some of which will be supporting Kyle in their respected home cities on this tour.
This intimate venue tour during record store week will highlight the ‘Good Choices’ and steps Kyle has and continues to take. Live in conversation events will take place over the 5 dates in select cities where dedicated fans will get an insight into Kyle’s thoughts and acerbic wit. Meet and greet & signing sessions will be a further occasion to get close to what is the epitome of an iconic British rock ‘n’ roll story. Each event culminating in a classic acoustic set from Kyle’s extensive repertoire”
18th April – The Parish – Wrexham 19th April – Neuadd Dwyfor – Pwllheli 20th April – Jacaranda Baltic – Liverpool 21st April – AMP – Stockport 22nd April – The Grove – Newcastle
By arrangement of ChoiceDNA in association with La Sierra Casa & Big Red Beard.
Holy Coves have just announced the support bands for their spring tour. Joining them to kick start their tour this weekend at Head of Steam in Newcastle is Bosola and Primaveras, at Tunnels in Aberdeen it’s Pitnamoon and Monza Express, Chester Live Rooms it’s Muddy Elephant and Sister Envy, Record Junkee in Sheffield it’s Marseille and Marples, at The Bunkhouse in Swansea it’s The Rivers and The Secret Faces and at Dead Wax in Birmingham, The Institutes and Siracuse.
Friday 5th April – Head of Steam – Newcastle Saturday 6th April – Tunnels – Aberdeen Friday 19th April – Live Rooms – Chester Saturday 20th April – Record Junkee – Sheffield Friday 10th May – The Bunkhouse – Swansea Saturday 1st June – Dead Wax – Birmingham
Northern Irish hard rock legends The Answer have announced the release of a brand new stomping rocker track titled ‘Put Your Money On Me’, ahead of a set of European dates and a very special one-off London show at London Dingwalls.
A fuzzed-up rocker with a filthy groove, ‘Put Your Money On Me’ is a standalone track not included on the band’s last album ‘Sundowners’, and continues to uphold the band’s unique sound, picking up from where ‘Sundowners’ and last non-album single ‘Wild Heart’ left off – soulful, ballsy blues rock underpinned by an outstanding vocal performance from lead vocalist, Cormac Neeson.
Neeson says of the new track, produced by Dan Weller (Enter Shikari, Bury Tomorrow); “This song is a dirty, groovy, feel-good slice of rock n’ soul straight from heart of The Answer. Can’t wait to play this one on the road across Europe this spring. Let’s do this.”
The April European dates will see The Answer perform in Germany, Belgium, The Netherlands, Poland, Czech Republic and France. A following set of shows in May will take them through Spain, before they return to the UK to play a very special one-off at Dingwalls in Camden on 20th June, their only UK domestic show scheduled so far this year.
The latest album ‘Sundowners’ was released in 2023 and achieved Top 40 National Album Chart positions in UK, Germany and Switzerland, including # 1 in the UK National Rock Album Chart. Produced by rising British producer Dan Weller, the album received rave reviews across the board.
“A serious challenger for album of the year” (Get Ready To Rock) *****
“Don’t accept imitations, The Answer are truly showing everybody how this s**t is done. The kind of album truly great bands make” (Blabbermouth) ****
“This album is the sound of a band with nothing to prove to themselves or anyone else. They slot so neatly alongside the blues-rock giants that came before them.” (Classic Rock Magazine UK) ****
Tour Dates: 4th April, Kavka, Antwerp, BE 5th April, Turock, Essen, DE 6th April, De Pul, Uden, NL 7th April, Knust, Hamburg, DE 9th April, 2Progi, Poznan, PL 10th April, Storm, Prague, CZ 11th April, Hirsch, Nurnberg, DE 12th April, Roxy, Ulm, DE 13th April, Colos-Saal, Aschaffenburg, DE 14th April, Betit Bain, Paris, FR 9th May, Razzmatazz 2, Barcelona, ES 10th May, Mon, Madrid, ES 11th May, Stage Live, Bilbao, ES
20th June, Dingwalls, London, support from These Wicked Rivers Get tickets HERE
Since the introduction of social media, many teenagers rarely go anywhere and do not experience live music, hence the future of the industry could eventually die. Many venues are also 18+ preventing teenagers from attending venues. This is a project to try to encourage young people back to live music, while booking venues that allow younger people through the door.
We Believe Music have decided to host a teenage gig ‘The Kids Are United’ at Side Door in Liverpool on April 20th 2pm-7pm. Musicians, promoters etc are invited to attend the show in order to support the future of music in the UK and be there to offer advice to teenagers. Manchester band SHADE recently supported Louis Tomlinson during his tour and have offered to play a full set as well as be there for the duration of the show.
This will be the second The Kids Are United event, the previous was in Manchester, a third hopefully to be hosted in Leeds, to grow the fanbase of our younger musicians which in turn will help them grow and succeed. This really is a fantastic opportunity for young musicians and teenagers who have a love for music!
Sunkisst are a 4 piece band hailing from the North East of Scotland.
RYZY (Ryan Mackay) and Freddy (Kieran Mitchell) met while playing in Kyle Falconer’s (The View) solo band.
The two began sharing demos and decided to embark on a new project, each bringing together their closest musical allies Jack Franklin and Robbie Young.
The variety of inspirations between the 4 was clear from the very beginning, producing a sound that echoes that of an old school rock n’ roll vibe with a modern twist. As a group of multi-instrumentalists the group arrangement varies from track to track with different members taking on the lead role and switching instruments, providing a captivating experience for any audience.
RYZY is perhaps best known for his DJ and Producer works previously having reached no. 3 on the Billboard Breakout Chart and no. 31 on Billboard USA (where he spent 9 weeks on the chart) and most recently for his collaboration with the Still Game and Chewin’ The Fat Star Ford Kieran (whom Kyle Falconer introduced to one another at his songwriting camp in Spain; ‘La Sierra Casa’ ) for the dance track ‘Coffee Man’.
RYZY’s latest project Sunkisst are now set to release their self-titled debut album on the 29th March, the first single from which ‘Amplifier’ will also be released on the same day. The track was initially part of a previous project that RYZY and producer Ryan Enockson were working on remotely during the Covid-19 pandemic and was originally penned by RYZY, Kyle Falconer (The View) and Matthew Hickman (Brownbear).
The track was completed when Sunkisst headed out to Bryan Adams Warehouse Studio in Vancouver to record their debut record. ‘Amplifier’ was in fact a last minute change out by Producer Ryan Enockson. Ryan suggested the band switch out the track ‘Nothing To Hide’ for ‘Amplifier’ to give the record more edge, challenging the band who had never played it before to track it live. After 32 takes they had it!
The lyrics weave a tale of love’s complexities, the challenges of maintaining integrity within a relationship, and the inevitable realisation that sometimes, despite best efforts, love alone is not enough to overcome personal flaws and mutual grievances. The use of ‘Amplifier’ as a metaphor for the voice and true emotions underscores the power of honesty and communication, suggesting that these elements are essential for understanding and possibly reconciling the relationship’s inherent contradictions.
‘Amplifier’ was tracked atBryan Adams, Warehouse Studio in Vancouver BC, was Recorded, Produced and Mixed by: Ryan Enockson (Michael Bublé, Bryan Adams, Motley Crüe, Mumford & Sons, Dolly Parton, Muse, Richie Sambora).Studio Engineer: Annie Kennedy Mastered by:Robin Sutherland, Esko Mastering, Finland and is being released on Sound Town Records.
By the Waves are a dynamic 4-piece band based in Manchester. A uniquely eclectic sprinkle of soul, dream-pop, reggae, rock & indie make their sound exciting and unforgettable in equal measure. They bring beautifully constructed lyrics, delivered with a signature blend of falsetto melody lines and anthemic choruses, which are layered over driving rhythmic beats and groove-ridden baselines, all topped off with sun-drenched, reverb-soaked guitar lines and a pinch of synth.
Their music has a cinematic quality that takes you on a captivating but relatable journey with every song. The ease by which By the Waves blend genres is a testament to the diversity of its members and their influences. Ben Thomas’ vocal range and phraseology is an impressive example of somebody at the peak of their powers, channelling influences from Jim Morrison to Otis Redding and Sting. Sonically beautiful is the guitar work provided by James Murray whose ability to play infectious riffs and chord structures, inspired by Johhny Marr and Robert Smith, make the songs instantly identifiable. Pulsating percussion and engaging grooves are provided effortlessly by Luke Finch and provide the metronomic precision and dynamism of players such as Ringo Starr, Jack Bevan & Nathan Followill. His ability to seamlessly spark a shift in tempo lays the perfect backdrop for Hristo Gerdzhikov’s basslines to drive the rhythm section like a steam-train, whilst also lacing additional melodic sounds with his unique approach to the bass. Like the heart-beat of an Olympic sprinter, he never misses a beat and recalls the essence of the likes of Bootsy Collins to Pino Palladino & Thundercat.
With songs that feature multi-lingual vocals written from experiences spent living overseas, By the Waves manage to do what many strive for, but few can achieve: to create something as familiar as a hang out with friends and yet still manage to remain as fresh as a sea breeze on a hot summer’s day. With lots of upcoming song releases, 2024 is set to be an exciting year for the band.
Vampires – “Ever had a friend who suddenly met a new romance and became unrecognisable overnight, only to make you question everything you thought about the friendship in the first place? They’re seldom ever seen and seldom ever heard. Alas, it seems they’re just vampires.’’
Hard-grunge rockers Stone Angels announce their highly anticipated and sought after new album ‘Up In Smoke’ on CD & bundle only available to order direct from the band HERE. Armed to the teeth with a flurry of sledgehammer riffs, colossal choruses and unabashed wailing solos, and in departure from the norm, the collection of 9 hard-hitting foot stomping songs will be released digitally track-by-track throughout 2024, meaning buying the CD is the way to hear the album first in its entirety as intended.
Setting the scene behind the album title, lead guitarist James Innes tells the tale, “November 7 2019 at approximately midday, a fire broke out in my house while I was inside. The trauma of watching my home, my safe space be destroyed by the blaze sent me into a depressive spiral, especially as the pandemic quickly followed. It’s the closest that I have ever been to becoming an alcoholic as at times it felt like the only release I had.” Taking an adverse and crushing situation to rise up, “I took inspiration to write about the ordeal rather than bottle it up. ‘Up In Smoke’ was the most challenging song that I have written, but with the support of my wife, bandmates, family and friends I was able to heal. It was my way of making a silver lining to that smoke cloud.”
Featuring previous slamming singles ‘Where The Crows Fly’ and ‘Hold On’, which both rapidly racked up streaming and YouTube views, other reasons to play it loud include a take on drummer Loz’s high stakes day job profession in ‘Gambler’ and the full-throttle pedal-to-the metal ‘Supercharged’ that would be the ideal opener to any rockers night out. There’s a contrast in the southern epic ‘Halfway To Nowhere’ evoking imagery of cutting off what has come before, seeking adventure and the death of a relationship that continues to haunt set to an iconic skyline in ‘Ghost Of New York’. On the album closer ‘Western Dream’ the band pose the politically charged question, “Are places like America & the UK still desirable places to live? With the rise in the cost of living, the aftermath of Brexit and lack of gun control, is the West still as desirable as it once was to others?”
Accompanying their sophomore album announcement is the new single & video ‘Over The Edge’ which showcases the kinetic live performance the band possess having previously shared stages with Hot Milk, InMe, Skindred and wowed at the inaugural Pride Rock Festival. Pulling inspiration from the classic LA rock, Seattle’s iconic grunge and legendary UK rock, they present a very fresh take on the classic rock/grunge genre, creating their own cocktail of adrenaline fueled rock having been likened to Queens of The Stone Age and Soundgarden.
Flying at you from the vibrant cornucopia of the ever-expanding music scene in Brighton UK, the soaring 4 piece of Niall Kersey (vocals), James (guitar), Sam Sayers (bass) and Loz Ford (drums) “We actually began recording demos in the summer of 2019 and started shaping and bringing to life our songs, then the pandemic struck. Initially, like everyone else, we were frustrated about having to put our lives on hold, but it turned out to be a blessing in disguise to have more time to make the best album we possibly can.” This turn of events led to working with multi-platinum award-winning producer Mike Krompass (Steven Tyler, Everybody Loves An Outlaw, Smash Mouth), recording at his state-of-the-art studio Base Culture UK.
With this exciting release which bears plenty to please all rock fans which will leave the listener clamouring for more and live shows and festivals to be announced, a flightful future is upon Stone Angels.
Musician, songwriter, producer and music blogger Platinum Mind aka Del Osei-Owusu is a south Londoner with a deep love for music,
Marina Florance is a singer songwriter from Norfolk, with a love for storytelling and poetry.
The pair first came together when they met as moderators for Tom Robinson’s music blog Fresh On The Net. They first started working together on music in 2020 when Del was looking for a vocalist for his track “Live Life Lovin’”. Marina stepped up to the plate to provide vocals and guitar. Since then they’ve written songs that have been played on local and international stations, including their Christmas song “Love Came Down At Christmas” which was featured on BBC Introducing.
Del says: I originally played around with a guitar idea, and thought it would be something that Marina would find a lot of fun. I sent her the bare bones of the idea, and she said she wanted to do something different to what we’ve done previously. Being a Londoner she decided to approach it with spoken word, and told a story of a bus ride she used to take in London in 1974. This is quite an important year as my mum moved to the UK then too, and has memories of it. Marina wouldn’t have known that but it felt like a meta moment for me.
1974 (That’s How It Was In Those Days) is a spoken word track that takes us on an evocative, nostalgic trip down memory lane back to 1974 on the number 16 bus. Musically it’s a gentle harmonic melody, twinkling and gently moving the track along, not seeking to distract from the lyricism but rather to subtly compliment them.
The track features Del Osei-Owusu on keyboards, drums, synths, and guitar and Marina Florance on spoken word, guitar, synths and bass.
1974 (That’s The Way It Was) was recorded in Blackheath and Norfolk and was produced by Del Osei-Owusu and Marina Florance. The track was further mixed by Marina Florance and Mastered by Tonalex Mastering.
Indie Revolution 