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.
Blokeacola is the Hangzhou-based, Welsh psychedelic-pop maverick of music.
In October 2023, Blokeacola released a 30 track double album called ‘Quasars and Fluff’. The album was well received by all, the album was described as “ambitious and exciting”, “all killer no filler”.
‘Lost Connection’ was submitted to Fresh On The Net following the double album release last year and was voted a Fresh Fave.
Whilst in 2023 ‘Quasars and Fluff’ was only available on Bandcamp and on double CD, this year sees single tracks from the album slowly released to all the main streaming platforms such as Spotify The latest track to be released is ‘Lost Connection’.
Welsh, Awen Rock band Holy Coves’ Indie Revolution Spring tour kicks off next week, starting in Newcastle and Aberdeen, Followed by Chester and Sheffield, Wrexham’s Focus Wales Festival then Swansea and Birmingham.
The tour will be an Indie Revolution promotion in collaboration with some of the best independent music promoters on the UK tour circuit. DP Events, AGP, Live Rooms, Our Sound Music, Focus Wales, The Bunkhouse & We Believe!
Holy Coves singer songwriter Scott Marsden says “I’ve been working in the background on Indie Revolution over the past couple of years. I’m so happy the Indie Revolution team have pulled together to make this happen! We can’t wait to play all the new cities this year. Holy Coves have had huge growth this year because of independent promoters like the Indie Revolution team. I’m happy we can give something back to them. There will be lots more to come from Indie Revolution & Holy Coves, we’re also planning an Autumn tour together!”
Friday 5th April – Newcastle – Head Of Steam Saturday 6th April – Aberdeen – Tunnels Friday 19th April – Chester – Live Rooms Saturday 20th April – Sheffield – Record Junkee Friday 10th May – Wrexham – Focus Wales Festival Friday 31st May – Swansea – The Bunkhouse Saturday 1st June – Birmingham – Dead Wax
Aaron Spencer & The Memos were formed as a collective at the start of 2023 Aaron previously having been focused on a career as a solo artist. With the addition of 3 other permanent band members joining him in the line-up, being Gary Robertson on bass, Jack Forshaw on lead guitar and Jake Freeman on Drums, the 4-piece have found their niche and plan to make big strides in 2024 and beyond.
Having previously played a sold out headline gig at The Kazimier Stockroom and supported local giants Mexican Dogs at the 700 capacity venue Hangar34, Aaron Spencer &The Memos further cemented their rising star status by playing on the mainstage at The Boof Festival before The Lottery Winners and shared the line up with the likes Red Rum Club, The View and Shambolics.
‘Save Tonight’ is the eagerly anticipated debut release from the band since finalising the new line-up and will be the 7th release from Spencer as a musician in total.
Influenced by the likes of Sam Fender, Courteeners and Blossoms, Spencer holds a mirror up to the grittiness of reality. Taking inspiration from growing up and living in the North-West of England, Spencer’s regional-strong vocals deliver working-class tales of drunken nights out and glad-it-happened heartbreaks all delivered with a kitchen sink social commentary.
Ultimately though, ‘Save Tonight’ is a song about letting go. Lyrically inspired by being in the moment and forgetting the ‘weight of the world’. We all have nights or experiences where everything aligns for us and it feels like magic. That weightless feeling where time becomes irrelevant and the good times take flight. These nights are rare but that’s what makes them so special.
Spencer states “Sonically we wanted a fast upbeat british-summer-festival-esque anthem to match the narrative of the lyrics” / “Nights that are special end as fast as they start”. That’s how I wanted the song to feel.”
‘Save Tonight’ is 2 minutes and 50 seconds of electrifying yet melodic guitar riffs and trademark catchy-choruses with driving drum rhythms setting a euphoric and heady pace throughout.
2024 is undoubtedly destined to be a fantastic year for the band with plans already afoot to take the stage alight with several headline gigs already in the pipeline.
‘Save Tonight’ was written by Aaron Spencer and was recorded at Oscillate Recordings in Knutsford with producer Chris Smith.
Naah Then! is Sheffield’s independent music festival that hosts 3 stages with the best the UK has to offer of up and coming acts, this Saturday, 23rd March. Follow the link below for tickets:
‘Man On Fire’ is the first example of Fruitz’ music since the release of indie banger ‘Visions of You’, which landed in the hands of their loyal fan base in the summer of 2023.
The beautifully composed three and a half minutes of indie bliss captured in ‘Man On Fire’ guarantees to captivate the listener with its nostalgic overtones featuring exceptional layered guitar playing from James Keegan, accompanied by an intricate bass line from Adam Whelehan. .
Fruitz frontman James Keegan declares “This is a statement release from us, it is the start of a new chapter for Fruitz “‘Man On Fire’ is a perfect example of our sound and our vision”
The lads rejoined forces with engineer Cian Synnott on the new track, who they worked closely with on 2021’s successful single ‘Be Like This’ , last year’s single ‘Visions Of You’, and their debut EP,‘ The Pits and The Glamour’.
Dubbed as one of the most exciting emerging bands in Ireland, Fruitz launched into the music scene in late 2017, quickly making a name for themselves as an exciting live band.
Releasing indie rock bangers such as ‘Knotz’, ‘U&I’ and ‘Girl Around The Corner’, just to name a few, Fruitz quickly became the name on the lips of Indie music lovers throughout the country and beyond. Releasing songs to tickle everyone’s taste buds, Fruitz have steadily earned themselves an international following, playing their UK debut to a sold-out crowd in Liverpool’s famous Zanzibar Club and gaining radio play from all around the globe, including support from Dan Hegarty at RTE 2FM, Mickey Bradley’s ‘Record Show’ on BBC Radio Ulster, and radio play on RTE2XM in Ireland, alongside widespread UK and international radio play.
‘Be Like This’, the popular first single and fan-favourite track from debut EP ‘The Pits and The Glamour’ cemented the lads as a serious prospect to watch, with Irish media outlet, Hot Press describing the single as “A modern indie classic”, as well as receiving raving reviews in the UK and further afield.
Returning to the live scene in October 2021 with a sold-out show with Ryan Sheridan, and a tour support slot with Louis Berry, the future for Fruitz blazes brighter and brighter, whilst new single ‘Man On Fire’ promises to be at the forefront as they continue to forge ahead in the indie music scene.
“I wrote this in 2020 the day after we supported Louis Berry. The tune actually came from the name of the tour he announced that day, “The Man On Fire Tour” and it kind of just stuck. Musically as well you may hear his influence. The timing to release this song just felt right, it’s a proper indie banger.” – James Keegan – Vocals & Guitar
“This new song encapsulates lively rock guitar sounds, punchy bass lines and a driving drum progression” – Adam Whelehan – Bass
Indie Revolution 