Hailing from Mid Wales, The Vulcan Straight Release their latest single ‘Monkey’, the song is filled with heavy riffs and a great beat, some all original rock.
The three piece band consists of Dave Findley, Marc Reynolds and Steve Brooks.
March 2nd sees The Vulcan Straight play Live At The Wyeside in Builth Wells.
Emily Marsden – Editor
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Will Pope is a folk artist from Rotherham, UK whose debut release “Stormy Seas” received acclaim from the likes of Mahogany and Alexrainbird music. Having been declared The Soundsniffer’s One to Watch for 2024 he has continued to release a wave of new material which has been well-received appearing on official Spotify playlists like “Fresh on Friday ” growing in thousands of streams. His signature style originates from a love of Chet Atkins fingerstyle guitar modernised by contemporary folk acts The Tallest Man on Earth and Luke De-Sciscio and a vocal style like that of Jeff Buckley stemming from a love of rock and soul.
‘At Once’, is the label (Revolver Records) debut for Will Pope. In this track, Pope seamlessly creates an atmospheric soundscape that takes the listener on a journey with textural swells and lulls throughout creating emotional points of interest. Pope’s vocal performance echoes this perfectly with emotional delivery throughout the composition. The overall composition is built on top of a delicate fingerpicked guitar which provides the base for all of the rises and falls throughout.
Emily Marsden – Editor
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Charm are an Indie/Alternative Rock band based in Birmingham, forming in the Easter of 2023, they have found local success with their debut single “Roll Against the Tide” and follow up EP “The Live Sessions”. This has helped land them support slots for bands such as The Assist, Spangled, Rosa Caelum, Flake and Sovereigns, ultimately leading to the sell out of their hometown debut headline at the end of 2023.
The roots of the band were established through an organic encounter in a Birmingham rehearsal room, where Matt (Lead Guitarist) and Ky (Frontman) connected instantly. Longing for a raw, driven, and ballad-infused sound reminiscent of the bands that shaped their formative years, they recognised the opportunity to carve out their niche amid the clean-cut sounds prevalent in the UK at that time. After recording and producing a solid collection of “Bedroom Demos”, the pair were able to recruit close friends Tom (Bassist) and Cal (Drummer), completing the lineup.
Charm prides itself on its large, yet intricate sound. Crafted within the early months of their formation, they relentlessly gigged around the West Midlands, knowing that the more hours they put in, the better their live sound would become. This clearly paid dividends, catching the eye of promoters like The Future Sound Project, This Feeling and What’s Happening Concerts.
Storytelling is another key aspect of Charm’s music, most notably evident in their newly released single, “Shadow of Time”. The lyrics reflect on how, throughout our lives as adults, time seems to slip through our grasp uncontrollably. The way these lyrics intertwine within a moody blend of trippy psychedelia and fierce alternative rock, alongside a more layered and professional recording process, sees the band entering a new sonic dimension.
VENTRELLES are the Manchester-based quartet headed by Phil Knox on lead vocals and guitars, Connor Long on Guitars/Lead Guitar, Paul Winny Mawhinney on Bass and Gaykord Knott on Drums/Percussion. They describe their sound as ‘Fleece Pop’ fusing the styles of 80’s guitar groups such as Pale Fountains and Echo and the Bunnymen and sometimes darker tinged edges of The Chameleons and The Jesus and Mary Chain with a punchy delivery, sun-soaked guitars, energetic rhythms, life-affirming vocals and soulful bass lines.
Formed from the embers of past collectives and distant echoes of teenage knock about bands, Phil came home from living in Chicago in 2014 ready to take on the world of music, so with the help of some band mates old and new, the VENTRELLES sound was born.
The unusual band name came about by combining the Chicago Transit Authority ‘Ventra’ card and The ‘L’ train to form what the band admit sounds a bit like a Phil Spector produced female soul-pop group!
Having previously toured with cult indie favourites Cabbage and having had repeated radio support from Jim Salevson on XS Manchester, the band are now currently putting the finishing touches to what they describe as the first ever Fleece Pop album, the debut single from which ‘Acid Flower’ is out now.
‘Acid Flower’ is 3 minutes and 30 seconds of equal parts pulverising shoegazing wall of sound and shimmering acoustic-led foot tapping rhythms, laced with acid chiming melodious lyricism Perfect for fans of The La’s, Super Furry Animals, Ride and Echo & The Bunnymen.
Front man Phil Knox has said of the track;
“I was listening to Johnny Marr’s solo back catalogue quite a lot at the time, it was definitely influenced by him guitar wise, lyrically, I just scribbled out anything that sounded like it was coming from an indie band in 2023/4. I wanted a more old school direct but not obvious feel. I wanted to leave some space for the listener to make their own mind up about what this particular song was about. I always try to keep them as open books, keep the magic in there, it’s rare nowadays, a lot of modern songwriters don’t leave any mystery. It’s a disappearing art in a world that’s constantly telling you what to feel.”
‘Acid Flower’ was written by Phil Knox and was predominantly recorded at Vibe Studios in Manchester with additional vocals being added to the track in Phil’s living room!
Upcoming Gigs/Tours –
Ventrelles will undertake a mini headline tour this year amongst other things taking in Grimsby, Blackpool, Manchester, Liverpool and Glasgow for starters. Fans are advised to keep an eye on the band’s socials or sign up to their mailing list for updates.
Next up for the band will be the upcoming release, the soulful stomp of ‘’Sand Crawl’ followed by the promise of the bands seminal album in Summer 2024.
Welsh, female artist Megan Wyn releases another great single ‘Are You Bored Yet?’ Megan’s sound has grown in maturity and as always her voice is spot on, such a fantastic talent for such a young age.
Megan has an exciting year ahead with her debut EP set to be released and a headline UK tour with a gig in London set for March 13th.
Megan says of the song:
“Are You Bored Yet is a song about holding on to someone who isn’t good for you. It’s a song about that period of time when a relationship is coming to an end and you keep asking yourself if you’re bored of trying to make a toxic situation work.”
Emily Marsden – Editor
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Energetic four piece Rock Band The Black Vultures, hail from the heart of the Gwent Valleys, South Wales. They recorded both ‘Treat Me Like an Animal’ and their follow up single ‘Never Say’ with Local Welsh Producer Tom Williams (De’Lour) at Unit 13 Studios, Tredegar. Both singles were mastered by Chris Peet of North House Studio, Ebbw Vale.
The Black Vultures are Huw Williams (Singer & Rhythm Guitar), Aled Owen Jones (Lead Guitar), Mitch Casey (Bass & Backing Vocals) and Brandon Pritchard (Drummer).
‘Never Say’ Focuses on a relationship, whereby one person within the relationship realises that there is a need to move on. Having come to the conclusion that things aren’t working, the party ending the relationship is hopeful that the other person doesn’t present themselves back in their life, in the hope that they agree to walk away in a different direction without further issues or problems, keeping things amicable.
The band plan on releasing their third single in April 2024, the band will also begin recording their debut album during early-mid 2024.
The Black Vultures have played relentlessly throughout 2023 and they look forward to new upcoming shows and festivals during 2024. The band plan to grow their name across Wales and the UK by playing energetic, catchy songs, engaging crowds through their growing stage presence. Watch this space!
Just two months on from the band’s biggest show to date at the Camp and Furnace in Liverpool, blues rockers The Heavy North will return to the newly reopened Arts Club on Friday 2nd February 2024 as part of Independent Venue Week.
The Heavy North’s critically acclaimed second album ‘Delta Shakedown’ was released in October last year and marked the band’s first release to climb into the Official UK Charts – peaking at #10 in the Independent Album Breakers Chart.
The band’s Independent Venue Week show on Friday 2nd February is part of the UK’s annual 7-day celebration of independent music venues and the people that own, run and work in them. The first edition of Independent Venue Week took place in 2014 and since then, more than a million tickets have been sold for IVW events.
Over the years Arts Club building has been a series of venues from Barfly, through to the Masque Theatre, and the Seel Street venue closed in late 2022 before relaunching in November last year with two sold out hometown shows with The Wombats. The venue is currently independently operated by Tokyo Industries, the Manchester-based team behind Gorilla, The Deaf Institute and Factory251.
The Heavy North will be joined at the Arts Club by Liverpool singer-songwriter MT Jones and Yorkshire-based blues rock duo The Hazy Janes.
For tickets and more information please visit www.theheavynorth.com
Emily Marsden – Editor
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Formed in 2013 in the Vale, Guernsey, Coastal Fire Dept. serves as a throwback to the heady days of 90s alt rock & grunge guitar bands with a modern twist and other influences thrown in from time to time. CFD is all about big driving melodic guitars with catchy choruses that stick in your head.
The band consists of guitarist/vocalist Ollie Goddard, bassist Saad Frihmat & drummer Ozzy Austin.
‘Crank’ is a soaring catchy post-grunge/altrock track set in today’s (almost) post COVID world. It’s about folks who think they’re always ill with every little cold, cough, headache, something serious etc.
Band member Ollie got the lyrical idea after reflecting on how he sometimes feels when he faces mental and physical health headwinds from colds to coughs to herniated discs and tinnitus!
The layered guitars and choruses build up throughout ‘Crank’ to end in a crescendo of an outro.
‘Crank’ is the lead single from their EP ‘Flood The Saltpans…Save The Vale’ out now.
HIGHLY RATED BRITISH BLUES ROCKERS THESE WICKED RIVERS ANNOUNCE EXTENSIVE HEADLINE UK TOUR DATES AND LAUNCH NEW SINGLE ‘THE RIVERBOAT MAN’
Third single announced from forthcoming ‘Force of Nature’ album due March 1st.
Hotly tipped Derbyshire rock n’ rollers These Wicked Rivers have announced details of a new UK headline tour kicking off in May, as well as a third single, ‘The Riverboat Man’, taken from their highly anticipated new album ‘Force of Nature.’ The new track, is a barnstorming tale which celebrates the underdog spirit, and champions those who dare to be different.
‘The Riverboat Man’ is supported by a brand new video and sees the band continue the upward momentum generated by their recent December 2023 headline tour, which saw them sell out shows around the country and add yet more converts to the ever growing ‘Rivers Family’.
Vocalist/guitarist John Hartwell says of the new single: “On the surface it’s a story but, as always, it goes much deeper than that. Rich in metaphor, it explores the darkness and light within us all. It’s a blast to play live and it’s been great to see such positive audience reactions to it at our recent shows.”
Guitarist Arran Day is similarly excited about getting back on the road for the UK headline dates, which the band have dubbed the ‘Peace, Love & Lampshades Tour’: “‘The ‘Force of Nature’ tour was such a massive success for us in terms of getting out and playing for new faces in new places, so we really wanted to hit the road as soon as possible and do it all over again. Fresh from the release of our second album ‘Force of Nature’ we’ll be bringing our signature stage show up and down the country, decorating each room as if it were 1974 and your nan’s just put the kettle on.
In times of greed, turmoil and darkness let yourselves escape by joining us for a celebration of peace, love and of course… lampshades.”
Collectively These Wicked Rivers are aiming for the top. Described by Classic Rock Magazine as “The sound of what might’ve happened if Clutch got a bit stoned with Audioslave and Zakk Wylde – and then jammed late into the night”, the band blend subtle blues touches with a hard rock edge, adding soulful vocals to create a sound that is as dramatic as it is exhilarating.
Preaching a simple gospel of ‘peace, love and lampshades’ (a reference to the bands intimate stage set up), These Wicked Rivers have toured the length and breadth of the UK with the likes of Hayseed Dixie, Those Damn Crows, Phil Campbell & The Bastard Sons and Kira Mac, building a devoted fanbase and gaining new fans in every town and city they play. Now signed to the freshly minted Fat Earth Records label, the band are also setting their sights beyond the UK, with a debut European tour set for April
THESE WICKED RIVERS FULL TOUR DATES 2024
Feb 04 Huddersfield The Parish
Mar 09 Wolverhampton Uglyfest KK’s Steel Mill
Mar 16 Matlock Bath The Grand Pavilion (‘Force of Nature’ Album Celebration Show)
These Wicked Rivers ‘Peace, Love & Lampshades’ 2024 Headline UK Tour Dates
May 17 Bridgwater Cobblestones
May 18 Stoke Sugar Mill
May 19 Manchester Night & Day
May 24 Cardiff Club Ifor Bach
May 25 Bournemouth Bear Cave
May 26 Call Of The Wild Festival
May 31 Leicester 02 Academy
June 01 Edinburgh Bannermans
June 02 Leeds Brudenell Social
Pre-order new album ‘Force of Nature’ (out 1st March 2024) HERE
Ahead of his album release on the 1st of March Dan Patlansky releases his latest single ‘Movin’ On’ and previously ‘Who I Am’.
With a discography of 10 studio albums and more than a decade of being revered as a global blues icon, DAN PATLANSKY has solidified his status as one of the most exceptional blues- based storytellers of his generation, earning legendary recognition worldwide.
The album comes after the release of his previous album, ‘Shelter of Bones’ in 2022, which was voted #2 Best Blues Rock Album of 2022 by Blues Rock Review USA. Voted the #4 Best Guitarist in the world, DAN – alongside Joe Bonamassa – remains the only artist in the world with two worldwide #1, as well as two worldwide #2, Best Blues Rock albums to his name, as voted by Blues Rock Review USA.
DAN started writing MOVIN’ ON in January 2023, collaborating with a writing trio comprising of himself, Andy Maritz, and Greg Van Kerkhof. Marking a departure from his prior work and opting for a different approach, he consciously chose not to rely primarily on his own solo writing. DAN describes Andy and Greg as exceptional songwriters who introduced a distinctly fresh perspective and approach to the creative process.
The album was produced by DAN PATLANSKY and Andy Maritz and recorded at Andy’s studio in Johannesburg, South Africa called Drumheadz. DAN chose Andy as co-producer because he understood and shared his vision for the new record and was willing to record the new material according to his desired perspective.
“MOVIN’ ON is all about going back to my roots musically; playing and writing music that I love the most. This is without a doubt my most honest and raw offering to date. The older I get, the more important it is for me to play what I truly believe in.” – DAN PATLANSKY.
Emily Marsden – Editor
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@MusicSceneWales
musicscenewalescymru@gmail.com
Indie Revolution 