Dusty Cut is the wistful music project of award-winning writer Phil Jones. Dusty Cut craft songs about friendships and loves gained and lost, fights in restaurants, Scottish islands and the sea. The band are based in Cardiff and released their debut album ‘Hawaii’ in 2017.
The band have developed a warm sound that incorporates moody folk, 70s rock and a hint of strangeness inspired by eccentrics like Gruff Rhys, Arthur Russell and Big Thief.
Best Friend’s Wedding is about being the least traditional person at a traditional wedding. It was recorded at King’s Road Studio in Cardiff and mastered by Charlie Francis.
Following on from their last release, ‘Minnie’s Haberdashery’, Scottish four piece Box Of Trash release their fantastic new EP ‘Look At Me’.
Frontman Lyle says of the EP “Our ‘Look at me’ EP is a showcase of the different dynamics of song writing we can bring as a band; we have the hard-hitting rock n roll side and the slower softer ballad side and everything in-between”.
It’s an EP full of dark bass riffs, heavy guitars, a bit of psychedelia and stomping riffs.
The band have been busy touring, pulling in crowds all over Scotland. They have previously released some cracking tracks such as ‘Hypnotised’ and ‘Spaceman’. Keep an eye out for these guys!
Laurie Wright is nothing less than a force of nature possessing a raw and genuine talent that many can only dream of. Having graced the stages of the famous Glastonbury Festival aged just a mere 16, you can start to gauge the level of talent that he possesses.
Life hasn’t always been easy for Laurie though, with opportunities presented to him at such a young age they also brought with them a downside. Things compounded and he found himself regularly facing homelessness between the ages of 19-28.
While the global pandemic and various lockdowns saw many struggling, it was during this time that Laurie really turned his life around once and for all. He cleaned up his act, and began to seriously focus once more on his music. Starting off with him winning The Libertines‘Talented Fans’ Competition and being called the ‘next big thing’ by Carl Barat. Liam Gallagher also proclaimed himself a fan by tweeting ‘I’ve heard him, I like him.’
His album features 3 previously released tracks of ‘Butter Side Up Boy’, ‘West End Lover’ and ‘Wings of Platinum and Gold’ as well as 7 previously unreleased tracks.
Out now are limited early bird tickets for the double headline ‘Get On The End Of It’ tour for 2024 .
Upcoming Gigs
Cheltenham – Frog and Fiddle – April 5th Bristol – Exchange – April 6th Brighton – The Green Door Store – April 12th Leeds – Santiago Bar – April 13th Manchester – Gullivers – April 19th Glasgow – Classic Grand – April 20th Birmingham – Hare & Hounds – April 27th
The totally independent, DIY duo hailing from Essex consists of Silky and Jonny “Top Kat” Hick. The pair self manage and fund their brand of ska pop and have won praise from ska royalty in their home country.
They have been selling out shows fast and pulling in some serious crowds at festivals, these two are definitely ones to watch!
They have recently released the amazing album ‘Be Lucky’, it is literally one great tune after another. It reached 30 in the UK Official Album Charts and 5 in the Independent Album Charts. Thanks to all the amazing support from their loyal fans the band have secured not just one, but two Top 30 Albums!
Death Of Guitar Pop are giving away free signed copies of ’69 Candy Street’ on their website deathofguitarpop.com all they ask is you cover the small shipping cost. If you already own a copy this could be the perfect chance to pass a copy to a friend.
They have officially announced their biggest ever headline show at the iconic 2,000 capacity 02 Shepherds Bush Empire in London! They have hired the venue themselves, no promoter, no agent, completely DIY. They are a huge inspiration to independent bands all around. They have two very special guests in the way of Laurie Wright and James Bone. Pre sale tickets are live now for fan club members.
Upcoming Gigs 10th November – Hare and Hounds, Birmingham 11th November – The Waterfront, Norwich 23rd November – Night & Day, Manchester 24th November – Classic Grand, Glasgow 25th November – Riverside, Newcastle Upon Tyner
Music Scene Wales’ Single Of The Week, chosen by the Indie Revolution Team is the fantastic new single ‘Actions’ by London’s very own Maze. This is their first single since 2022’s debut album ‘Chaos Interrupted’, and it’s a great return.
In a brand new monthly piece, Music Scene Wales will feature a brand new album of the month chosen from the best on the independent music scene by the Indie Revolution team, those being Music Scene Wales, Yr Wyddfa Records, This Is The Music, Upcoming Bands, Wax and Beans Record Shop and In Your Ears Music.
This months chosen Album Of The Month is Liverpool’s finest, The Heavy North’s fantastic new album ‘Delta Shakedown’
“This is a master craft of songwriting and a band at the very top of their game. It oozes class and experience.” – Music Scene Wales
‘Delta Shakedown’ is OUT NOW on 12” gatefold colour vinyl, CD and all download and streaming platforms. Visit www.theheavynorth.com for more information.
Tickets for The Heavy North’s Camp and Furnace show on Friday 1st December are ON SALE NOW. Visit www.theheavynorth.com for more information.
The Heavy North release World Class second album ‘Delta Shakedown’
Liverpool’s finest The Heavy North have just released one of the best albums of 2023 and it’s called ‘Delta Shakedown’. In fact that’s a bit of an understatement! They’ve just released one of the best albums of the past decade! Possibly even the past thirty years? All in good time this will tell I’m sure.
I first heard of The Heavy North when their debut album ‘Electric Soul Machine’ Dropped last year and I was instantly sucked into their riffed up blues rock world. I’m a sucker for great music! What they created on that record was brilliant. On their latest offering they have just gone and created a monster! The best kind of monster ever imaginable! This is one of the best records I’ve heard in my entire life let alone the past decade! It’s a big statement I know, but it is what it is. This record is something special.
From the very first riff of the opening track ‘Delta Shakedown’ I’m instantly transported back into The Heavy North world I love so much! I’m back travelling with them on this laid back, groovy journey in my car! There are so many great influences shining through on this record! The Doors, Thirteen Floor Elevators, The Black Angels, The Eagles, Cream, The list goes on! Its truer to blues as it could possibly be.
With all these great influences shining through they still manage to create something completely original that sounds how only The Heavy North can sound. This is a master craft of songwriting and a band at the very top of their game. It oozes class and experience.
This isn’t a record a young band in their twenties can just make off the cuff! This takes years of crafting your art over time. This isn’t a band making singles for Spotify! This is a band who really understand and appreciate the art of making a real record together! An art that’s lost on 99% of young band these days! I really hope some younger bands use this to educate themselves and one day we get that back!
If I had to pick one album to take with me to the desert today it would be ‘Delta Shakedown’. This is my number one contender for album of the year by far.
As strong as the singles ‘Where Are You Now’ and ‘Round Again’ are you really have to listen to the list the way it’s supposed to be listened to! As a record in full from beginning to end. Then you will truly understand just how great this band are!
Jose Ibanez has proven he’s one of the best producers in the business. The production is world class. In 30 years time we will be all able to look back and realise just how great this record is.
‘Delta Shakedown’ is OUT NOW on 12” gatefold colour vinyl, CD and all download and streaming platforms. Visit www.theheavynorth.com for more information.
Tickets for The Heavy North’s Camp and Furnace show on Friday 1st December are ON SALE NOW. Visit www.theheavynorth.com for more information.
Scott Marsden #MusicSceneWales @MusicSceneWales musicscenewalescymru@gmail.com
The amazingly talented Welsh, hip-hop artist Ren, hailing from Dwyran on Anglesey, made it to number 1 in the UK charts with his independently released album, Sick Boi.
The internet sensation has built up a huge fanbase online, and it was his extremely loyal fanbase who helped push him beyond the line to beat his competition from Rick Astley. In the end it wasn’t even close as Sick Boi had a 6,000 unit advantage when the official UK albums Chart was published on October 20th, thanks to a striking push in the final 24 hours of the cycle.
Sick Boi is released through The Other Songs, it is the indie entertainment company’s first ever UK top 10.
Rens victory sees him joining the long list of Welsh album chart toppers, from Tom Jones, Bonnie Tyler and Duffy to Manic Street Preachers and Stereophonics among many others. This should not be underestimated given that it has been achieved completely as an independent artist.
This has also come as a huge victory for the Welsh star as he has suffered many years from an autoimmune diseases which also resulted in bouts of depression which forced him at one time to withdraw from music. Last year he addressed his struggles in a song called Hi Ren, a phenomenal track where he confronts his illness through the voices in his head. His Youtube video for Hi Ren gained over 20 million views. Sick Boi is a real contender for Music Scene Wales’ Album Of The Year.
Ren refused to be told the results ahead of the charts and tuned in along with his fans on the countdown. A real victorious moment for Ren and also for independent music.
The Goa Express release their long-awaited self-titled debut album on the 1st of December. It’s preceded by their anthemic new single ‘It’s Never Been Better’ on the 27th of November.
Ahead of dates in December, The Goa Express are excited to finally announce their long-awaited and unmissable self-titled debut album this December. Preceded by the addictive hook laden new single ‘It’s Never Been Better’ on the 27th of November, the oldest song on the album, this bold, swaggering singalong is hoisted aloft on a tidal wave of chiming guitars, widescreen drums and bass, that shudder into your solar plexus. This song is a gloriously catchy lament to summer’s spent together. “‘It’s Never Been Better’ existed for many years as a home demo on GarageBand”, say the band. “Reinvigorated in the studio, the song is a match made in heaven for the summer months and reminds us of the moments we used to spend together with those who ended up going different ways.”
The Goa-Express’s self titled debut album is a document that encapsulates growing up, their spirit of friendship and dreams of escape. Together, brothers James Douglas Clarke (Guitar + Vocals) and Joe Clarke (Keys), along with Joey Stein (Lead Guitar), Naham Muzaffar (Bass) and Sam Launder (Drums) create a wall of sound, riven with infectious harmonies, waves of psych laden guitars and playful rhythms, it’s constantly refreshing at every turn. With echoes of the youthful supercharged melodies of early Supergrass, the unstoppable rhythms of early Psychedelic Furs or the loose dreamy melodic qualities of the La’s, yet theirs is a unique combination only captured by these five friends in a room and very much a sound of today.
This exciting five piece’s bond was forged long before they picked up instruments: growing up in Burnley in the rural shadow of the North of England’s industrial centre. Their shared adolescent experiences (late gigs at The Golden Lion in Todmorden, camping underneath the cliffs at Hebden Bridge) shaped their collective friendships, and the sound and spirit of their band
Ocean Colour Scene’s Damon Minchella pairs with Tom Manning on production duties, the band decamping to the Welsh village of Raglan to record the songs that make up their debut album. Opener ‘Honey’ sets the tone: bursting into life, with hooky guitar riffs and crashing percussion careering on the rails. “It’s all about the birds and the bees/let’s make honey” James Douglas Clarke drawls impassionately. Recorded during a post Glastonbury comedown, it’s the besotted sound of the setting of the sun and the joy of finding someone. This band of brothers know the power of pop music, they say: “it’s melodic but instant. It stops you in your tracks. You can hear it coming from a mile away, but it’s still extremely hard to get out of its way in time.”
‘Good Luck Charm’ spirals with kaleidoscopic time signatures and a hammering double tracked guitars of Joey Stein and Douglas Clarke, harking to the era of the Stone Roses yet with its own kick, Riven with a yearning for escape from your surroundings, breaking out of being stuck in a rut with urgent melodies “demands change and asks for more, warm weather and a change of scenery. We can all get stuck in our tracks and it’s important to just get up and go.” Upon its release earlier this year it caught the ears of DIY magazine, and Matt Wilkinson who played it on his Beats show, John Kennedy at Radio X, plus Radio One where it picked up plays from Clara Amfo.
The punky ‘You’re the Girl’ is the shortest song on the album, taking inspiration from Douglas Clake’s summers of love. The scampering bass lines, pianos, fuzzy guitars, are impactful and immediate. ’Small Talk’ ramps up on a wave of shiny jangly guitars and a sneering vocal that captures the moment of festival burnout and wanting to block it all out.
While the previous single ‘Talking About Stuff’ released in May, is another melodic gem, the band describe it as the ‘prettiest’ song on the album, it’s delightful melodic scamper sums up the ups and downs of friendship capturing a “moment spent on the beach during the Summer.” They say “we all have our bad days and we can all fall out with loved ones but don’t let it stick, be a better person next time.” Upon release it was added to Spotify’s New Music Friday (UK) and Hot New Bands playlists.
Recorded in the immediate wake of their Glastonbury debut last year ‘Portrait’ was the first of a string of addictive singles from the album released throughout 2023, that has only built their momentum as one of the best emerging bands in the country. With fuzzy guitars, hyper active pianos and a whirlwind of percussion, its earworm qualities capture feeling good with someone and “the best thing I never had.” Gaining airplay on BBC 6 Music who playlisted it and the attention of Steve Lamacq who premiered it on his show plus praise from Jack Saunders on Radio One, The Times, Independent and So Young Magazine.
Heartbreaking closer ’Prove it’ turns the volume down for a wistful acoustic strum in the verses, before storming into a crescendo as the sun sets, providing the perfect ending to this thrill ride of tunes. “It can often be hard to let go of the things we love and it can be harder to accept when things are over.” The band say “all good things have to come to an end at some point.”
Post-lockdown, The Goa Express played over a hundred UK/EU gigs in 2022, including stops at Glastonbury, Latitude and The Great Escape. With their status as burgeoning hometown heroes, The Goa Express can be seen performing to thousands at Burnley’s Turf Moor stadium in Bank of Dave, Netflix UK’s most watched film upon release week. With a cavalcade of refreshing tunes, and “us vs the world” togetherness, The Goa-Express’s debut album proves they are one of the most exciting emerging bands this country has to offer.
Music Scene Wales’ Single Of The Week, chosen by the Indie Revolution Team is the infectious ‘Laces’ by Merseyside, alternative rock band This Is War. The Liverpudlian five-piece consists of Paul Garden (Vocals), Jonny Roberts (Lead Guitar), Gianluca Rizzoli (Bass), Bertrand Bouyer (Rhythm) and Martyn Leah (Drums)
The band formed in 2021 and have quickly earned themselves a massive following and also Spotify streams.
Of the song Paul says “Laces is about being a child at heart and seeing it from an adults point of view. Be free…Be honest…Be better”
Indie Revolution 