The 2023 Full Pelt Awards are here and you can have your say from our shortlists below!
Votes here will be tallied with those on Social Media, plus weighted votes from our Full Pelt staff with the winners all revealed in a special Magazine on New Year’s Day!
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Festival season is in full swing and rock fans once again descend on Upcote Farm in Cheltenham for 2000trees! A true music fans festival, this year there is an absolute smorgasbord of the best new and established acts to savour across three full days of relentless entertainment.
However, before the event proper begins though those with early entry have an additional evening of music on tap in the beautiful forest area. The âForest Stageâ has always been a unique and special feature of this festival which is now on its fifteenth iteration.
Wednesday
The privilege of opening the festivities this year goes to Snayx who, despite playing whilst many are still pitching their tents, still attract an eager and excited crowd. The band are able to seize upon this excitement to whip the crowd up even further with their brand of punk rock. A benchmark is set for the weekend early here and thankfully the organisers have a bill curated to ensure that the quality never drops!
The other stage in operation today is the small âThe Wordâ stage which over the weekend will host various activities such as further bands, live podcasts, comedians and more. Over the next few hours we are able to catch delighted spots from B-Sydes, Masca, Polyanna and Gaz Brookfield.
Over on the âForest Stageâ though, the handful of selected bands combine to deliver a highly memorable evening. Delaire the Liar are up next and are able to continue to build their growing reputation with another assured performance.
A real special moment follows as one of the most talented yet underappreciated bands of the last decade Press To MECO play their final show. Such a moment really deserved a bigger stage and longer setlist but those present are able to bathe in those glorious riffs one more time with an emotional âA Test of Our Resolveâ a highlight of the whole festival.
Next are a band just getting started. Saint Agnes are tipped as the future of rock music by some, and again on the evidence of their set tonight those people are very much correct! Debut album âBloodsuckersâ canât arrive soon enough; thankfully we only need to wait on July 21st!
The latest Tigercub album is already out and next up the band bring âThe Perfume of Decayâ to life with a solid showing as the forest area begins to fill up in anticipation of the nights two headline acts.
Both Holding Absence and Bob Vylan will play two sets over the weekend but before gracing the main stage, they both thrill those packed into the woods! Holding Absence are first and they captivate the crowd with a cleverly selected mix of rarities and fan favourites. This band continues to grow and evolve and itâs scary how good they could be.
Bob Vylan also continue to elevate the game with their headline set tonight they bring carnage to the forest! A spectacular off the cuff collection of on point punk rock more than whets the appetite for their main stage appearance, even showing that they arenât too far away from being able to headline the biggest stage next time they play the festival.
THURSDAY
Each night the now infamous silent disco takes over the site as the party continues into the early hours, but come Thursday morning the arrival of the rest of the attendees ensure even the first act of the day, Blush Puppy on the âForest Stageâ get a good turnout. The duo perform a delightful run-through of adapted favourites which starts the first full day off perfectly.
With the outdoor stage, three tented stages and the âForest Stageâ all rotating throughout each day an avid music fan can fill their boots with live music and literally catch non-stop music for nigh on sixteen hours a day if they wanted to. We donât quite have that stamina but we give it a good go and are rewarded by great sets from Kite Thief, Beach Riot and Gaffa Tape Sandy.
Following that run we then head to first catch recent âDiscoverâ New Music Podcast guests CARSICK over on the âNEU Stageâ. The group proceed to smash through their set to the delight of those present with the likes of âAnaconda Frankâ showing real bite.
Another act to impress early in the weekend are Lake Malice in âThe Caveâ. The group have been winning over all who see them this summer and their future appears to be very bright indeed.
Thank you @2000trees_festival that was incredible đ¤
You made our debut appearance a special one đŤś
Next malicious festival is @rdrfestival on 30th July. Link in bio for đŤ
Lambrini Girls, Graphic Nature and the official debut of new group Unpeople who have formed from the ashes of Press To MECO all follow and continue to hot run of great sets. Unpeople in particular are able to really tease what is to come and make a fantastic first impression.
The main stage soon literally takes centre stage as first Kid Kapichi and then Bob Vylan deliver two of the sets of the weekend. Kid Kapichi are effortless in their delivery of impassioned punk rock which sees an endless sea of crowd surfers on an inflatable burger! Bob Vylan then reinforce the message that their headline set sent last night, that the duo are as advertised â the most important band in the world!
We then head back to the two larger tented stages, firstly for Jim Lockey and the Solemn Sun who preview their upcoming new album âColourâ. The record will arrive on July 28th and the band really do a good job of convincing those in attendance that despite the decade plus wait for a new album, the wait will be worth it. All the new material this evening sounds absolutely massive. Then in âThe Axiomâ, The Joy Formidable deliver a delightful little set that evidences the eclectic mix of rock music presented at 2000trees.
Soon enough itâs time for the final run of bands that will close out day one. Skindred are well established as a great live act and tonight they have the crowd at their whim. The Newport Helicopter needs no introduction either as the crowd make the most of the groups big finale.
Back in the big tent next for Eagles of Death Metal who give a festival friendly, crowd pleasing set including the likes of âI Only Want Youâ, âComplexityâ, âCherry Colaâ and âI Want You So Hard (Boyâs Bad News)’.
Finally itâs over to the returning Soft Play (the artists formerly known as Slaves) to close out the day. The duo pick up where they left off and play as if theyâve never been away. Itâs great to have the band back and fans revel in the likes of âCheer Up Londonâ, âFeed the Mantarayâ and âThe Hunterâ.
Friday begins with an early run of Beauty School, RXPTRS, The St. Pierre Snake Invasion, BLACKGOLD and New Pagans all of whom play their rules well and make the most of their short sets.
After an overcast first couple of days, today is a scorcher and the heat is intense as LostAlone arrive on the stage. The band donât let that phase them though as they pull out all the stops to get the crowd engaged. Itâs mission accomplished by the time they deliver the double header of âThe Final Call For Foreverâ and âThe Last Drop Of Foreverâ.
2000trees do very well to bring together the best new music from home and abroad and the next run of Militarie Gun, Zulu, Microwave and Kublai Khan TX shows the keen eye for upcoming talent that the organisers have.
Itâs this mix of new with the established acts that perfectly balances out the line-up and Hell Is For Heroes are a great nostalgic party next on the main stage. The quality overall is again on show when you can then head immediately to the âNEU Stageâ for an excellently run set from As Everything Unfolds, before returning to the main stage for a very enjoyable Dinosaur Pile-Up show and then jumping straight to the always intense Cancer Bats in âThe Caveâ!
Bullet For My Valentine are the act who close out the night with a huge headline performance. Attracting one of, if not the biggest crowd of the weekend, the band are in confident mood as they showcase their headlining credentials. Older tracks such as âScream Aim Fireâ and âHearts Burst Into Flamesâ naturally receive big reactions, but itâs telling newer tracks also are well received.
A surprise AxeWound reunion with Liam Cormier is another festival highlight before âTears Donât Fallâ and âWaking the Demonâ ensure that come the next morning everyone is talking about how great Bullet were tonight!
The festival has been a whirlwind as per usual for 2000trees and itâs a testament to the quality of line-up that to this point there hasnât been a bad performance. Of course some ultimately standout more than others such as that headline set last night or Bob Vylan destroying the forest but the chilled out atmosphere amongst attendees is reflected by the respect the bands pay the crowd. The reciprocal ambience creates a synergy that elevates every aspect of this event.
SATURDAY
Come Saturday the crowd may be sapped from the previous days heat but over on the âForest Stageâ Xtra Mile Recordings acts (and previous âDiscoverâ New Music Podcast guests) Hannah Rose Platt and Guise are serenading the early crowd with their beautiful music. They are both well received despite the heat being supplemented today by a lot of the wet stuff!
Xtra Mile Recordings has a great relationship and past with 2000trees and new Xtra Mile favourites (and double Full Pelt Podcast guests!) PET NEEDS attract a big crowd to âThe Axiomâ next. This is no doubt due to some guerrilla advertising from their fans, but everyone that ventures into the tent leave hailing the band as one of the bands of the weekend.
Thank you @2000trees_festival for the most insane midday slot.
Thank you FRACTURED PARTY PEOPLE (official PET NEEDS fan group) for being the best street team in the world.
That concludes three months of touring across 11 countries.
One of the elements that makes the âForest Stageâ so special are the sets from acts playing on the biggest stages which are often acoustic and unique. Next, Electric Six frontman Dick Valentine does a great job of distracting the audience from the deteriorating weather with a highly fun acoustic set.
After catching Dead Poet Society and Enola Gay strutting their stuff we are then able to catch Electric Six themselves who attract another big crowd to the main stage. The crowd lap up the likes of âGay Barâ and âDanger! High Voltageâ as youâd expect, and the band do their job with aplomb.
One Step Closer then cement their hype in âThe Caveâ before Black Honey demonstrate why they are one of the best newer live acts in the country. Tracks from new album, âA Fistful of Peachesâ sound massive as the band achieve another of those more memorable sets of the weekend.
The reshuffled Dream State then show that they still have a big future ahead of them in âThe Caveâ before Deaf Havana battle through a torrential downpour which decimates their crowd at the main stage. We brave the rain until the end before heading into the forest for a short but very fun set from Lynks.
Talking to people across the site, the opinion is unanimous that this has been a spectacular weekend. You feel as the weekend comes to a close that it canât get any better, but then Hundred Reasons deliver perhaps the best set of the weekend. The band get the audience onboard from opening number âIâll Find Youâ and never lose them despite more heavy rain. One of the moments of the weekend comes when Enter Shikari man Rou Reynolds joins the band for a superb âSilverâ.
Jamie Lenman then plays his latest masterpiece âThe Atheistâ in full over in the forest before Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes come out of hibernation to finish the festival with a welcome career-spanning set.
Whilst the band may lack a certain volatility of their early days they donât lack in swagger or controlled ferocity when required. The final run of âMy Townâ, âDevil Inside Meâ, âJuggernautâ, âLullabyâ and âI Hate Youâ is the perfect way to bring an incredible weekend of music to a close.
2000trees has established itself at the heart of the summer as a trusted and respected event. From their humble beginnings to now fifteen events later, the festival lays on the infrastructure but the audience makes the event the special weekend that it is!
Welcome everyone to another edition of our weekly music News Report!
Fresh from conquering Glastonbury Festival, The Hives have a UK Tour set in the diaries for next year!
The band will release their latest album, ‘The Death of Randy Fitzsimmons’ on August 11th, and will take their new material on the road for a highly anticipated run of dates.
We move our News Report on now to the best new releases from the past week and we begin with the iconic talent of Paul Rodgers.
Rodgers has announced details of a new album, ‘Midnight Rose’, which is set for release on September 22nd.
You can listen to the first single from the album, ‘Living It Up’, above!
“My new album ‘Midnight Rose’ grew from sparks of ideas I had,” says Rodgers. “The sparks developed into a raging fire when the band and everyone involved brought their absolute ‘A’ game. I think it is my best album to date, I like it. I hope you do too.”
Asking Alexandria have shared their latest single, ‘Psycho’, which you can check out above.
The song comes from forthcoming album, ‘Where Do We Go From Here’, which is due to arrive later this Summer.
ââPsychoâ is one of those songs that is talking about when you feel trapped inside your own head, trapped by your own vices and your own downfalls,â explains guitarist Ben Bruce.
âWhether it’s being stuck in a relationship that doesn’t work for you, or feeling like you can’t stop drinking or doing drugs, or maybe you’re stuck in a job that you hate, and you’re just battling yourself in your own head wondering ‘why am I still here? Why do I keep doing these things?’. Ultimately, at the end of the day we all feel a little bit crazyâŚa little bit like a Psycho. It’s just a fun song that we can all relate to, and stylistically we thought to ourselves ‘how do we make a song that sounds like it could live on the âLike A House On Fireâ album, but also like it could live on the âFrom Death to Destinyâ album?’. So musically, from a writing standpoint, it was a really enjoyable experience to meld those two eras of Asking Alexandria together and see what that might look like.â
Trophy Eyes have released their brand new album, ‘Suicide and Sunshine’ and to coincide with the release the band debuted new single, ‘People Like You’, which you can check out above.
âââPeople Like Youâ, is a song about growing up poor in the rural New South Wales town of Mudgee while the school kids around him came from wealthy, well-adjusted familiesâ says John Floreani. âItâs me reflecting, and also firsthand memories of what was happening, like theyâre staring at the holes in my shoes, and the embarrassmentand desire to belong, and not understanding why you donât,â he explains. âItâs like a protest against the idea of class and happy families.â
Next up in our News Report are VEXED. This week saw the band share new single, ‘Trauma Euphoria’, which you can listen to above!
Megan Targett on the track,: âExperiencing a traumatic event or grieving a major loss comes with a myriad of feelings. Denial, depression, anger and sadness are the most common ones you hear about. However, there is one that Iâve found nobody speaks of; Euphoria. Small moments of time where you forget that youâre grieving and slip back into the person you were before the event. Itâs like a euphoric experience thatâs heightened by the fact your brain hasnât felt any hit of dopamine in such a long time.
However, that sudden realization when you remember the trauma and snap out of the high has you crashing 10X harder. Feelings of guilt and shame take over and you fall deeper into the dark depths of your depression and grief. This dark place becomes a safe space in your mind, as leaving it can cause more pain and isnât worth the fall. You can become addicted to suffering and this song is a love letter to it.â
The track features on new album, ‘Negative Energy’, which is out now!
There was also new music on offer this week from Oxymorrons who shared new single, ‘Graveyard Words’, which you can of course check out above.
The band has also announced that they will release new album, ‘Melanin Punk’ on October 20th.
When asked about the inspiration behind the track, Oxymorrons collectively explained, âItâs about speaking with intentions. Words carry weight and you can manifest positivity but also negativity with the things you say – on the extreme side of the spectrum it could cost you your life. Itâs about the laws of attraction through words. The chorus sounds like a threat coming from an individual – like âyo watch yer mouth or Iâll f*ck you upâ – but it was really written from the perspective of the universe/karma warning us humans. A small example is we try not to use the word âhateâ in our vocabulary when describing something we donât like. We’re not always successful, but just trying to remove that word so that we donât attract hatred into our life and leave that portal open for hate to come through. You attract what you project, and we project positivity.â
New Orleans-based quintet HourHouse share ‘DO IT LIKE’!
“‘DO IT LIKE’ is about our impact on the rap metal genre as a whole and displays who we are as individuals in this group,” says vocalist Milly about the track. “The verses are a multitude of street lingo mixed with ferocious screams. Lyrically, it starts as a recollection of world that surrounds them then turns into a mirror to the state of the world. Mentioning the violence and madness we all have to survive daily and that, for some, there isn’t an escape.”
EXTS – ‘Happening’
Leeds based post-hardcore newcomers, EXTS have shared their new single âHappeningâ.
âThe lyrics for Happening capture the emotion of how overwhelming life events can feel and the uncertainty that they bring: âIs the end of the tunnel closed?â
Moreover, itâs about the pursuit of finding light in suffocating darkness in times of real need yet being resolute in the face of adversity – as time inevitably marches forth⌠ticking away.â – Vocalist, Jack Flynn.
Waterlines – ‘Prey’
Waterlines share their brand new single, ‘Prey’!
Frontman Ben Mars:
“We want to keep pushing the boundaries of our style, adding a little more rap here and a sprinkle more EDM there! Weâre still heavy, but we never want to be pigeon holed, so we do what the fuck we want.
Lyrically this song is about reaching a breaking point and biting back. Itâs being backed into a corner and finally snapping. Itâs messy, visceral chaos.”
Ash and The Subways will combine forces for a special co-headline tour lat this year!
Also in a big news week for Ash, the group have announced that they will release a new album, ‘Race the Night’, on September 15th.
The band accompanied the announcement with the release of the title-track as lead single, and you can listen to the song below.
Ash – ‘Race The Night’
Wheeler comments: âRace the Night is the sound of the band reveling in the sheer joy of being a band after being separated by time and distance through the insanity of the early 2020s. Lyrically it’s all about seizing the crossroads moments in life with both hands. Take every chance as if it could be your last.â
Continuing about the video he says: âRace the Night video is the product from the fevered mind of long time friend and horror director Jed Shepherd. He’s taken a song about seizing the moment and had the band seized by a super fan who proceeds to force the band into doing her bidding. Enjoy the MiseryâŚâ
Continuing the fantastic live announcements this week in our News Report is a new run of UK and EU dates from The Struts.
Regarding the tour frontman Luke Spiller says, “Finally we are returning to the UK and Europe! We can’t wait to play you some new material and a new show we’ve been putting together for the last year. Get your tickets as fast as you can! Love you all! X”
As December Falls revealed a spectacular new tour this week which will see then head out later this year with support from both Dream State and Lizzy Farrall.
The tour is in support of new album, ‘Join the Club’, which is out July 21st.
We move our News Report on now to the best new releases from the past week and we begin with Kasabian.
The band have shared new single, ‘Algorithms’, which you can check out above.
On the track, frontman Serge Pizzorno says:
“Some tunes take months to write and some take 10 minutes. Itâs as if theyâve already been written and all youâre doing is dictating your subconscious. Thatâs how Algorithms came together. Iâve been thinking how important gigs are and how they make us all so happy through the good times and the bad and especially festivals, those moments when people get on shoulders and itâs glorious chaos. Thatâs what Algorithms is to me, weâre not here for a long time just here for a good time. Thatâs what separates us from the robots. We live in the moment and if weâre lucky enough to feel that, then we are in ecstasy. What makes us special is that we canât live forever, we have our time and then we are gone. Itâs why real flowers are beautiful and plastic ones, are just plastic. Hope you enjoy the tune see you in the mosh pit”
The legendary Alice Cooper returned this week with news of a brand new album coming later this year.
Cooper confirmed that ‘Road’ will be released on August 25th, and accompanied that announcement with new single, ‘I’m Alice’, which you can check out above!
âFor ‘Road’, I wanted the band to be involved in the foundation of all the songs,â says Alice. âI only see these guys when weâre on the road. So, I wanted them to be as tight as they are for the show but on all new material. When you have a band this good, I believe in showing it off, and this is my way of doing so.â
Coinciding with their massive Arctic Monkeys Stadium tour slot, The Hives have debuted new single, ‘Countdown to Shutdown’, which you can check out above.
The track features on upcoming new album, ‘The Death of Randy Fitzsimmons’, which will arrive on August 11th.
Duff McKagan this week announced the release of new album, ‘Lighthouse’, on October 20th.
McKagan also shared the title-track from the album, which you can check out above.
“The crashingâŚ.the cresting waves, the falling through of all that surrounds you. Life sometimes tosses us around, and we feel the want of comfort and the pull of home.  A ship tossed like a toy through the Cape, sails ripped and the wood groaning with the scraping of its ballastâŚ.a soul trying with all its might to find peace and a center.  Find a lighthouse. I have my lighthouseâŚ.its beacon swirling in the darkness with her warmth and promise of nurture, love, laughter, and all that is true.  Wonât you be my lighthouse, give me light,âŚand bring me home.” – Duff
Black Water County debut ‘The Only Life Worth Living’
Black Water County – ‘The Only Life Worth Living’
Next up in our News Report are Black Water County who this week debuted new single, ‘The Only life Worth Living’, which you can check out above.
The track begins a string of singles leading to the release of a new album of the same name later this year.
âThe Only Life Worth Living is about keeping an open mind, opening doors and moving forward,â explain the band, âThe song summarises our feelings coming out of a hard couple of years for both the band and the industry as a whole. To us, it means full âballs-to-the-wallâ energy because life is too short.
âAs times have become tougher our writing has reflected some of these struggles and weâve found ourselves focusing on what really matters to us. This track was initially conceptualized pre-covid but was refined over many video calls during lockdown, forcing us to think outside our normal writing process. Because of this, we think that it has grown into a track that longs to be shouted from the rooftops and, now that weâre back out on the road, weâre so thrilled to be performing again to our audience, knowing that theyâre stoked to be back out in the wild too.â
Dream Nails have announced details of their new album, ‘Doom Loop’, which will be released on October 13th via Marshall Records.
You can listen to the lead single, ‘Good Guy’, above.
âDoom Loop is an exploration of the repeated cycles we find ourselves in,â comments vocalist Ishmael Kirby, âfrom political injustice and patriarchal systems to the negative spirals of our minds. A doom loop is a crisis that starts to feed on itself. It feels like there is no escape. But there is. This album is a reflection of ourselves, the world we live in, and the one we want to create.â Â âSpecifically, Doom Loop delves into masculinity in its many formsâ expands drummer Lucy Katz. âThe good guy, the lads at school, the narcissistic politician, the incel, the sexual predator, the police officer. It looks into gender-based oppression from childhood; how isolation can breed violence against women and the rhetoric that spawns incels.â Â Elaborating on the themes, guitarist Anya Pearson adds: âOn the album we also celebrate masculinity by telling stories about butch and trans masculine identities. We show the shared responsibility we have in fighting misogyny. Empathy is hard to find in a divided world, but we seek it out, advocate for it, and ask how far it goes.â Â The title of the riotous new single highlights the phrase as a fake ID used to lull people into a false sense of security. âItâs as if we couldnât possibly believe there could be danger if someone describes themselves as the good guy.â says Ishmael. âIt reinforces that gender-based violence and attacks are one-off occurrences, denying our lived experiences as women and non-binary people.â Â Bassist Mimi Jasson recounts: âIncel terrorist Elliot Rodger killed six people in a stabbing and shooting spree in California in 2014. The final section of his manifesto, where the 22-year-old complained about not being able to get a girlfriend, Rodger declared âI am the true victim in all of this. I am the good guyââ
Heavy Lungs this week shared new single, ‘All Gas No Brakes’, which you can check out above.
The song is the title-track for their newly announced upcoming album which arrives 29th September.
Of the news, the band say: âWell, well, well⌠they said it couldnât be done, but look what just kicked you in the ass. Our debut album is coming out. Itâs a dancer and itâs a prancer, and hopefully itâs a life enhancer. We recorded it way back in 2021 with head wizard, Wiz, and his jester Stan for some extra magic and spice, and itâs been a long old wait, but only another 3 months and itâs yours!â
Commenting on the song, front man and vocalist Danny Nedelko says: âThis high-octane, dance floor firecracker is all about giving it absolute beans. Itâs about knowing you are the big cheese. Youâre the main course.â  The official video was directed by good friends Holding Hands With Horses. âItâs a â70s B-movie, Paul Thomas Anderson-inspired depiction of a roller disco gone full Twin Peaks,â say the band of the visuals. âYou are seriously in for a wild ride. 69% on Rotten Potatoes. The rewatchability of this one is off the scale. Letâs goooooo.â
Finally for this section of our News Report we have the latest single from Conquer Divide. You can check out ‘the INVISIBLE‘ above.
The song is taken from upcoming new album, ‘Slow Burn’, which is out September 8th.
“the INVISIBLE.” has many lived-in, emotional layers that paint a picture that takes you right back to your youth, especially if you are part of an alt scene and made to feel like an outcast,” the band explains, offering insight into the song.
“It confronts the dynamic between your true self and your desire to be accepted by the ‘cool kids.’Â One day, you realize that you don’t need to seek validation from those in a sad state of affairs. They project their insecurities onto others because they lack emotional maturity and self-esteem.”
BIG SPECIAL share their latest single ‘THIS HERE AIN’T WATER’.
The band says “Itâs basically an inward sermon, when youâre stuck in your head egging yourself on about how rough times feel. Itâs about media and politics. Itâs about self-medication. Itâs about a lack of options. Itâs about the thinning of the common understanding between the social classes of England, and feeling stuck, watching it all happen.”
Keep This Up – ‘Lost’
Keep This Up share ‘Lost’ prior to new EP ‘Paper Houses’.
The band says “Lost is a song about the pain you face in a toxic relationship â be it a friend, family or relationship. Itâs hard to understand why we care when we shouldnât sometimes and lyrically this explores those feelings whilst ripping through some post-hardcore riffs, nice harmonic melodies and a very fast breakdown.”
Raisin Awareness – ‘Never Ending Story’
UK pop punk trio Raisin Awareness unveil their debut single, ‘Never Ending Story’.
In the words of Jo D, the band’s lead vocalist, and guitarist, “When you actually sit down and think about how fucked the world is and that youâre part of that mess, it can feel overwhelming. Some of us have gotten very good at justifying our actions due to their convenience, or some of us simply stick our heads in the sand.â
âLyrically, Never Ending Story comes from my own battle with feeling helpless about the state of the world and not wanting to give up hope that if we come together in solidarity, we will prevail
Welcome everyone to another edition of our weekly music News Report.
We start this week with the best tour announcements and following the success of their new album, ‘A Kiss for the Whole World’ hitting number one, Enter Shikari have revealed a huge tour for early next year.
ÂŁ1 from each ticket sale being donated to the Music Venue Trust in support of grassroots venues in each city the band will be touring through.
Lead singer and producer Rou Reynolds comments on the initiative:
“Grassroots music venues in the UK are under existential threat. Every time we lose another one we lose a vital part of our culture. Bigger venues that benefit from the productive pipeline that grassroots venues provide need to support these smaller venues, as do the artists that have come up through them. Enter Shikari stands with Music Venue Trust in their efforts to bring more solidity and community to our brilliant UK live music scene”.
Support on the tour will come from Fever 333 and Noahfinnce.
Reynolds comments on what could be in store:
“We cannot wait to step things up and present a huge new show to everyone. And weâre really looking forward to playing Wembley Arena for the first time! (Enter Shikari are on their way to Wembley. Can you imagine what weâre gonna do to it?).
Iâm buzzing to see the supports every night, too. Weâve known Jason for many years now, so canât wait to see the next step for Fever333, and we had a great time with Noah on our residency tour earlier this year so simply had to have him back.”
Def Leppard also announce intimate show supporting Music Venue Trust
Rock icons Def Leppard have announced their most intimate show in the UK or Europe in 35 years.
The band will play a hometown show at The Leadmill in Sheffield with a % of ticket sales going to the Music Venue Trust.
Joe Elliott says âSheffield is in the very DNA of this band! We are ecstatic to be starting the European leg of our world tour at home at Bramall Lane! When thinking of a warm up, it made sense to do a special set at The Leadmill, in the city where it all started. We know there are a lot of small music venues struggling across the UK, so we wanted to give back to what gave to us. The net proceeds from the evening will go directly to Music Venue Trust in an effort to keep UK clubs aliveâŚand to coincide with the release of our symphonic record, âDrastic Symphoniesâ, on the 19th of May. Itâs all very special!â
Ben Hartley, Live Promoter from The Leadmill says, âWeâre absolutely delighted to be welcoming a band as legendary as Def Leppard onto our stage. The fact that a local act that has gone on to play stadiums across the world is willing to come back home and support us in a time of need (as well as thousands of other integral grassroots venues across the UK) speaks volumes of their character. This will be the first time theyâve played The Leadmill, so itâs wonderful to be adding another chapter to Sheffieldâs musical history.â
Mark Davyd, CEO and Founder of Music Venue Trust, says âItâs fantastic to get this support from such an iconic and legendary group as Def Leppard. The UKâs Grassroots Music Venues are facing an incredibly tough year, currently one is permanently closing every week. Itâs going to take a huge collective effort to turn that around and itâs so important that artists get involved and lead the fight we need to stop closuresâ.
This week also saw metal masters Judas Priest announce a long coming headline tour of the UK.
Revealing the dates the band said “we are thrilled to start this world tour in the renowned traditional homes of heavy metal and can’t wait to see our amazing family of Priest maniacs!”
Joining the band will be very metal guests Saxon alongside Uriah Heep.
Australian punk rockers Trophy Eyes have released new single, ‘Kill’, ahead of their appearances at Slam Dunk Festival later this month.
You can listen to the single above, which comes from upcoming new album, ‘Suicide and Sunshine’, which is out June 23rd.
âAllâs fair in love and war,â says John Floreani. âWe all carry the scars of love lost. They become visible in the things we do, our actions and our words. Like machines we continue, only now worn and rattling. Capable of our primary function, but with a little less grace each time. Some people use love as a weapon, and âKillâ is about those people.â
Like Moths To Flames debut ‘I Found The Dark Side of Heaven’
Like Moths To Flames – ‘I Found The Dark Side of Heaven’
Next in our News Report is ‘I Found The Dark Side of Heaven’, the new single from Like Moths To Flames, which you can check out above.
“Over the last few years, a lot of us have felt like shells of our former selves,” says Chris Roetter. “This is for the people who feel like they’ve been pushed so far away that no one sees them. I think it’s easy to feel forgotten about and like you didn’t matter. Some of my darkest days were an abyss that was never ending. When it’s difficult to find anything to pull you out, sometimes you just have to accept that you’re stuck.”
Heavy Lungs this week released their brand new track, ‘Dancing Man’, which you can check out above.
Commenting on the new track, front man and vocalist Danny Nedelko says: ââDancing Manâ came about from a conversation that left me and George crying on the floor with laughter at rehearsal. The end result is an abstract tale about a sinister character. Nice to see another in-joke make it through. Sadly not all of them do. But we will save that for the inevitable next EP.â
The official video that accompanies the single was directed by Clump Collective. âThey are absolutely extraordinary and have made a myriad of amazing videos,â say the band. âThey are our dear friends and actually shot the video for our song âJealousâ a while back too, so this was a very welcome homecoming. We shot it all in a day at their Bristol studio. Two dogs were present; they were very encouraging. The whole concept is centred around 5 outfits and dancing. The result is a surreal ride into the sinister realm of âDancing Manâ.â
Fontaines D.C. vocalist Grian Chatten shared his second solo single, ‘Fairlies’, this week and you can of course check it out above.
Chatten also revealed that his debut solo album, ‘Chaos For The Fly’, will be out June 30th.
Grian on ‘Fairlies’: âI wrote ‘Fairlies’ in intense heat. Partly in Jerez, Spain, partly in LA a couple of days before a Fontaines D.C. tour kicked off. It was a quick write, and I believe I celebrated each line with a beer.â
On the album: âI was walking along Stoney Beach at night and it came to me on the waves,â recalls Chatten. âI just stood there and looked at them and I heard the whole fucking thing. Every part of it, from the chord progressions to the string arrangements.â
âI just thought: I want to do this myself. I know where we as a band are going next and thatâs not where I want to go with this. Iâve got a couple of exaggerated aspects of my soul that I wanted to express,â he says.
âThe rest of the band are all creative and songwriters in their own right, too. I didnât want to go to them and be like, âNo, every single thing has to be like this.â I didnât want to compromise with these songs in that way.â
âA lot of the album was written with just me and a guitar and I really like the idea of it being boiled down to those elements. That feeling of having the song in the palm of your hand, that control of having it with just you and a guitar,â he says. âThereâs an intensity as a result of that.â
South Wales, Alternative Pop Rock Band Zac and the New Men have unveiled the their new single âThatâs Okâ
“‘That’s Ok’ is a love letter to someone who is struggling, a reminder that they are not alone. Itâs a song about being there for each other, no matter what. We wrote this song to show people that even when things get tough, they donât have to go through it alone. Love is a powerful force, and we hope this song will bring comfort to anyone who is struggling.â – Vocalist, Zac.
Hannah Rose Platt – ‘The Mermaid and the Sailor’
Hannah Rose Platt has shared new single, ‘The Mermaid and the Sailor’, featuring Ed Harcourt.
Hannah explains: âThe Mermaid and the Sailor is a hypnotic âSailorâs Lamentâ framed as a conversation exploring addiction, between the Sailor (the addict) and the mermaid (his addiction) whose siren song constantly tempts him back into the water. Featuring bewitching vocals from the magnificent Ed Harcourt!â
Harcourt says: âHannah is a consummate storyteller and as soon as I heard her songs I was happily bewitched⌠I think weâre both very similar in the fact that we are obsessive film aficionados & therefore think in a more visual way in our approach to the music and the sounds. What I love about working with Hannah is that she is very free and totally open to my delusional bouts of grandeur and hopefully you, the listener, will hear the love and the pathos and the dark humour that we have managed to commit to tape in equal measure. Congratulations Hannah and I canât wait for the world to hear this dazzling humdinger.â
Cold Culture – ‘Faded’
Danish newcomers Cold Culture share their debut single, ‘Faded’.
“A lot of people feel the same way I do; anxious and lost. I even got to a point where I couldn’t recognise myself in the mirror anymore. We wanted to write a song that describes those thoughts and feelings as well as depression, anxiety and the feeling of being numb. ‘Faded’ is our way of describing those emotions and issues you may experience during your life”
