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News Report

News Report

Every week we roundup the best music news from the past week!

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News Report

The Hunna announce UK Tour

Welcome everyone to another edition of our weekly music News Report, where we roundup the best news from the past week. We start this week with the latest tour announcements, including the above from The Hunna!

Having just revealed the details of their upcoming new self-titled album, the band have now scheduled in a lengthy UK Tour for later this year. Support comes from Kid Kapichi and Lucy Deakin.

‘Trash’, the lead single from the new album kicks things off by giving the music industry both barrels, taking pot-shots at the execs who told them “TikTok, TikTok or else you get dropped”.

“We’re not calling anyone specific out,“ explains Ryan. “it’s just overall industry suckiness. It highlights things we’ve experienced in the industry over the years and things we see going on and hear about now. There’s a lot of bad shit that still goes on in the industry and a lot of it gets swept under the rug. But we’re in the position where we’re on our fourth album, we feel refreshed and confident and this is what we’re going to say. You either like it or you don’t, it’s cool either way. We are who we are.”

Tickets and album pre-orders are here.

Read our review of The Hunna at Y Not Festival

Blossoms reveal UK Tour dates

Speaking of lengthy tours, Blossoms will truly be putting the work in at the end of this year with the above trek around the UK. With shows already starting to sell out, these aren’t ones to sit on.

Tickets are here.

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Nile Rodgers & Chic announces End of Summer Parties

The legendary Nile Rodgers and Chic have announced two massive concert appearances at the iconic London venue O2 Academy Brixton, on Monday 19th September 2022 as well as a second show at O2 Victoria Warehouse, Manchester on the 21st of September.

Nile Rodgers said, â€œAfter the blues of Covid we’ve had an incredible summer in the UK getting up front and close with all of our incredible fans. What better way to celebrate the last day of summer and the first day of autumn than with our final UK shows of the year at Brixton and Manchester. We want to invite all the Lionesses who’ve made the whole country so proud to get up on stage for what will truly be Good Times!”

Tickets are here.

Listen to our Spotify Hot List!

Black Honey announce special London show

Black Honey this week announced a special one-off show at OMEARA in London. The band has teased the show as the beginning of their new era. Tickets have already sold out, for more info check here.

Read our review of Black Honey live in Norwich

The Wonder Years reveal UK Tour

Another band with new tour dates to reveal as we continue our News Report is none other than The Wonder Years, who will hit the UK this November!

Speaking of the tour, frontman Dan ‘Soupy’ Campbell, says “Fun Fact: We’ve been touring the UK longer than anywhere in the world, including the US. This year marks 15 years since our first UK tour and the memories we’ve made—from playing literal basements up to Alexandria Palace—have been and continue to be some of our most treasured. So it’s with an immeasurable joy that we get to tell you today that, for the first time since 2019, we’re doing a headlining UK tour this November. We can’t wait to play everything for you—new stuff from THGOF, old favourites, the whole damn thing.”

Tickets are here.

Read our review of ‘In The Wild’ from The Interrupters

Pulled Apart By Horses set for huge UK Tour

It’s that word lengthy again now as Pulled Apart By Horses have revealed that they will be hitting the road hard this Autumn!

Tickets are here.

Listen to our ‘Hard & Heavy’ Playlist on Spotify

Palaye Royale announce UK/EU Tour

Our News Report continues with the news that Palaye Royale will be touring the UK and Europe early next year. Support for the tour comes from Yonaka.

Tickets are here.

Read our review of ‘Seize the Power’ from Yonaka

In Flames announced EU/UK Tour

NEWS REPORT

In Flames have also announced an EU/UK Tour which will take place later this year. The tour includes a stop at London’s Brixton Academy in November.

Tickets are here.

Read our review of Rammstein live in Coventry

Joanne Shaw Taylor sets UK Tour dates

NEWS REPORT

Our final tour announcement in this weeks News Report comes from Joanne Shaw Taylor, who this week revealed dates for later this year.

Tickets are here.

Read our review of Rival Sons live in Norwich

News Report

Neighbourhood Festival reveals new acts

NEWS REPORT

A single piece of festival news in our News Report this week and it comes from Manchester event Neighbourhood Festival.

The festival has revealed a second wave of acts including Pastel, Himalayas, Michael Gallagher, Planet, Rats, Rosellas, and Youth Sector.

They join the already announced The Snuts, Everything Everything, Sundara Karma, Baby Queen, Lauran Hibberd, Louis Dunford, Stone, Ten Tonnes, The Goa Express, The Royston Club, The Skinner Brothers and Courting!

Tickets are here.

Read our review of The Snuts live in Colchester

News Report

Slipknot debut ‘Yen’

Slipknot – ‘Yen’

We move our News Report onwards now to the best new releases from the past week and we begin with Slipknot.

The band continue to prepare for their upcoming album, ‘The End, So Far’, which is out September 30th. This week the band debuted new track, ‘Yen’, which you can listen to above.

Pre-order your copy here.

Listen to ‘The Dying Song (Time To Sing)’ from Slipknot on our ‘Hard & Heavy’ Playlist

Alter Bridge share new track ‘Silver Tongue’

Alter Bridge – ‘Silver Tongue’

Another massive rock act with new music this past week is Alter Bridge. The band shared their latest track, ‘Silver Tongue’, which you can listen to above.

The song will feature on upcoming album, ‘Pawns & Kings’, which is out October 14th.

Pre-order your copy here.

Read our review of ‘Marching In Time’ from Tremonti

IDLES debut video for ‘Stockholm Syndrome’

IDLES – ‘Stockholm Syndrome’

This week also saw IDLES debut the video for their track, ‘Stockholm Syndrome’.

Speaking on the video, directors Charlotte Gosch and the band’s own Lee Kiernan explain, “The process of making the video was very fulfilling for the both of us as we were able to physically create what we were imagining. Both the masks and shapes were handmade and painted by ourselves and friends. 

Working with our DOP Rob French we were also able to realise the long shots of each verse and the opening scene of the dancers. We both love the exhaustive and immediate feeling that a long shot can convey, like in Gus Van Sant’s Gerry, which we referenced quite literally.

The initial idea of the video was to try and visualise the monotony hell of having to work to survive and how the ‘machine’ eventually engulfs you and strips you of your freedoms. But we wanted to achieve this in a metaphorical way that kept the meaning as open as possible. So it becomes rather a visual representation that can be read in many different ways.”

More here.

Read our review of IDLES live in London

LIFE share new single ‘Duck Egg Blue’

LIFE – ‘Duck Egg Blue’

There was also new music from LIFE this week as they debuted new single, ‘Duck Egg Blue’, which you can check out above.

The track will feature on new album, ‘North East Coastal Town’, which is out on August 19th.

Speaking on the new release vocalist Mez says: “‘Duck Egg Blue’ is a realist’s love song. The journey of trying to navigate through each other’s feelings and emotions, the strains of close quarters trapped in a tiny flat, the minutiae of everyday life. The overarching sentiment is that no matter what happens, after all that is said and done, we love each other, and we are there for each other.”

Pre-order your copy here.

Read our review of LIFE live at British Summer Time

Yungblud debuts ‘The Emperor’

Yungblud – ‘The Emperor’

Yungblud debuted new track, ‘The Emperor’, this week and you can check it out above.

Yungblud’s new album is out September 2nd, pre-order your copy here.

Read our review of ‘weird!’ from Yungblud

Holding Absence debut ‘Coffin’

Holding Absence – ‘Coffin’

Another busy new release week for our News Report, and next up are Holding Absence!

The band this week debuted their new single, ‘Coffin’, which you can listen to above.

A new EP, ‘The Lost & The Longing’, arrives August 15th.

Pre-save here.

Read our review of ‘The Greatest Mistake of My Life’ from Holding Absence

Pet Needs debut new single ‘Fear for the Whole Damn World’

Pet Needs – ‘Fear for the Whole Damn World’

‘Discover’ New Music Playlist alumni now, and Pet Needs have shared their brand new single, ‘Fear for the Whole Damn World’, which you can listen to above.

The track comes ahead of new album, ‘Primetime Entertainment’, which is out September 9th.

Pre-order your copy here.

Watch our ‘Discover’ New Music Podcast with guests Pet Needs!

‘Discover’ New Music Podcast – Episode 15 – Pet Needs

Read our review of Pet Needs live in Norwich

Oakman share ‘All The Way Up’

Oakman – ‘All The Way Up’

Fellow previous ‘Discover New Music Playlist members Oakman have also released new music this week. You can listen to new single, ‘All The Way Up’, above.

About the song, the band says, “‘All The Way Up’ represents this long journey in a life between fear, hesitation and the desire to never stop going further. Since we were born, we all have dreams that we never stop fighting for. For which we will always be regarded as an alien by others because we are often misunderstood and not supported. And when everything else gets in the way, it’s often psychologically hard to continue to find strength.  But every day is a new day and every day brings a new strength to keep going all the way up.”

More here.

Watch our ‘Discover’ New Music Podcast with guests Oakman

‘Discover’ New Music Podcast – Episode 22 – Oakman

Read our review of Kasabian live in Norwich

News Report

As always we conclude our News Report with the latest additions to our ‘Discover’ New Music Playlist!

The Lounge Society – ‘Upheavel’

The Lounge Society have shared new track, ‘Upheaval’, the latest track to be taken from their upcoming debut album ‘Tired of Liberty’, out August 26th.

The band comments, “Upheaval has a calmer atmosphere than anything we’ve done before and looking back on the album as a whole, it may in fact be one of the most important tracks on there. In the studio Dan [Carey, producer] really helped us bring a certain vintage feel to life – with deep textured acoustic guitars, heavily impacted by the ambient room mixing we focused on in the closing stages of the album. This song, more than anything else we’ve ever done, feels like us together as four mates playing a song that we love.”

Grave Goods – ‘Source’

Grave Goods have shared their new single, ‘Source’, taken from debut album ‘TUESDAY. NOTHING EXISTS.’, which is out 9th September.

On the track, drummer Sarah Grimes said, “This was the second song we wrote. It was written on drums and guitar first, we wanted it to be really minimal in the verse with drums and vocals and contrasted with louder choruses with the guitar and drums working together with bass added later. When we were structuring the song we took the guitar line from the chorus and used it as the intro to hook people in.

When we wrote the song initially, I had a mic set up beside me and I whispered “ha ha” at the end of each bar during the verses. Those were dropped as we started to play the song live but while we were recording we decided to add it back in – me whispering “Ha Ha” on my tiptoes trying to reach Lois’ mic.”

ENOLA – ‘Strange Comfort’

Melbourne-based singer, songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist ENOLA, shares new single ‘Strange Comfort’.

ENOLA says of the track, “There is a comfort in knowing that suffering can be a universal experience. We are alone, yet together in our aloneness.”

On the accompanying video they say, “In the film I am not playing a role or character & I’m not playing myself as I am today. I am looking back at a past self and a time & place gone. A time of fearlessness, hopelessness & rebellion.”

Listen, Follow and Discover your new favourite act now with our ‘Discover’ New Music Playlist

Then find our the stories behind the songs on our ‘Discover’ New Music Podcast!

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Read our review of ‘How We Function’ from BERRIES

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News Report

News Report

Every week we roundup the best music news from the past week!

Follow us on Social Media

News Report

Volbeat announce UK Tour

Welcome one and all to another edition of our weekly music News Report! This week we are starting with the latest tour announcements, so where else to begin, but with Volbeat!

This week saw the group announce a huge UK and European Tour that is set to take place later this year with the UK portion happening in December.

Volbeat comment, â€œFinally, after so much time away, we’re thrilled to be able to bring a proper Volbeat headline tour to our friends across mainland Europe and the UK. We are so excited and cannot wait to see everyone out there! We’re extremely lucky to be able to bring Skindred, Napalm Death, and Bad Wolves along for the ride and share this experience with three incredible bands that we are fortunate enough to call friends.”

Support for the UK dates comes from Skindred and Napalm Death.

Tickets are here.

Read our review of Volbeat live in London

Ugly Kid Joe & Massive Wagons team up for UK Tour

Another tour announced this week that looks a load of fun will see Ugly Kid Joe team up with Massive Wagons for six dates this November.

Tickets are here.

Read our review of Download Festival

Therapy? reveal intimate dates

This week saw a special announcement from Therapy? who will be playing an intimate run of dates at the end of this year.

These dates will have a focus on early material from the band with the tease of some new material as well.

Tickets are here.

Read our review of Therapy? live in Norwich

Killing Joke set for Royal Albert Hall

Killing Joke announced this week that they will be taking over the Royal Albert Hall next March to play their first two albums live!

“We are living in the most dangerous period in human history in which extinction from nuclear war could happen in the next twelve months. If we make it, then Killing Joke at the Albert hall in 2023 will give great meaning and comfort to all of us. Come share a moment in history with the prophetic and legendary Killing Joke.” – Dr. Jaz Coleman

Tickets are here.

Listen to The Full Pelt Music Podcast

Amyl & The Sniffers announce special London shows

Speaking of special London shows, Amyl & The Sniffers have announced two of those at York Hall this November!

Tickets are here.

Read our review of The Hella Mega Tour

The HU announce new tour

The HU this week revealed details of a lengthy UK and EU Tour that will take place later this year.

Tickets are here.

Read our review of Rammstein live in Coventry

Yungblud sells out intimate new album run

This week Yungblud revealed a special run of intimate dates to road test his new material. Those dates inevitably sold out instantaneously with a tease of more dates yet to materialise.

More info here.

Read our review of ‘weird!’ from Yungblud

Thumper add new UK tour dates

Our final tour announcement for this week’s News Report comes from Thumper, who have added new dates in the UK and Ireland to their ‘Delusions’ Tour.

Tickets are here.

Read our review of ‘Delusions of Grandeur’ from Thumper

News Report

110 Above add more acts to 2022 event

A singular festival announcement in our News Report this week, and it comes from Leicestershire event 110 Above.

The festival this week added The Pigeon Detectives, Lauran Hibberd, The Lottery Winners and more to their 2022 event.

Also playing are The Amazons, Everything Everything, Sea Girls, Vistas, Spector, The Mysterines, Deco, Cassyette, Noisy, The Royston Club, The Native and plenty more.

Tickets are here.

Read our review of The Mysterines live in London

News Report

Bad Wolves debut ‘The Body’

Bad Wolves – ‘The Body’

Next, we move onto the new releases section of our News Report, and this week we start with Bad Wolves.

The band have debuted their latest track, ‘The Body’, which you can listen to above.

“When we were writing this song we had a goal of trying new things,” said drummer John Boecklin. “The slap bass and clavichord instantly was new territory for Bad Wolves. It feels good to know this track sounds like nothing we have ever done before. It’s a fun track that feels like a mix of Faith no more with a dash of Daft Punk. Enjoy!” 

More here.

Listen to our ‘Hard & Heavy’ Spotify Playlist

Dub War share new single ‘Get Back Up’

Dub War – ‘Get Back Up’

Fusion metal pioneers Dub War have released a new single titled, ‘Get Back Up’, the fourth track to be taken from their first album of all-new material in over 25 years, ‘Westgate Under Fire’.

Speaking on the new single, Webbe says, “I’ve always wanted to empower and lift those who are going through a tough time, and in days like this, who isn’t.. This is what ‘Get Back Up’ was created for.

I called Mike Bordin about him playing on this particular Dub War track. Mike has been a Dub War fan from way back. He eventually called me back and, with passion, said “I’m in”
 

Together with us, Mike really set the pace for all the other drummers on the album. The style and sound of Bordin strikes hard and shines though on ‘Get Back Up’.”

Also speaking on the track Mike Bordin says, “In this time of isolation/alienation, it was such a pleasure to be able to groove and flow with my old friend, the mighty Mr. Benji Webbe. Welcome back Dub War, and thanks for bringing me along on your ride. 

Webbe’s lyrics are on time and strongly on point, encouraging and inspirational in a time when we can all use a lift. Being asked to play on this Dub War song ‘Get Back Up’ couldn’t have come at a better time. This album ‘Westgate Under Fire’ is truly bringing the fire
”

You can listen to the track above, and pre-order your album here.

Find Full Pelt Music on Youtube

Charlotte Wessels debuts ‘Against All Odds’

Charlotte Wessels – ‘Against All Odds’

The final new release in this week’s News Report comes from form Delain vocalist Charlotte Wessels. Wessels has debuted new single, ‘Against All Odds’, which you can listen to above.

The track will feature on new album, ‘Tales From Six Feet Under Vol II’, which is out October 7th.

Wessels states: “Since May 2020, I’ve been writing and recording a new song every month down in my basement “Six Feet Under Studio”, fueled by – and released to – my tight-knit Patreon community. This album wouldn’t be there without them. I’m excited to team up with Napalm Records again to release a new collection of these tracks with a wider audience.

With ‘Tales From Six Feet Under’, I released my favorite tracks of the first year of this endeavor onto the world in 2021, and ‘Tales From Six Feet Under Vol II’ is its counterpart, with my favorite tracks from the second year. There are definitely differences between the two, with the second leaning more towards the heavier side, but they do belong together.

Together they represent a time of introspection and solitary songwriting in the basement. A time that has taught me a lot and has been very meaningful to me, but also a time that, as I started this project in the middle of Covid quarantine, has already – thankfully – started changing. Not because I won’t be writing and recording Six Feet Under anymore, but because as the world is opening up again, I too will come out of the basement and out of my shell again with live concerts, and collaborations are on the horizon.”

Pre-order your copy here.

Read our review of Rival Sons live in Norwich

News Report

As always we finish our News Report with the latest additions to our ‘Discover’ New Music Playlist!

News Report

Oakman – ‘Murder’

France based pop/rock trio, Oakman have shared their brand new single, ‘Murder’.

“The meaning of this song is deep and quite tricky to explain. It’s about sexual abuse and everything that is related to it,” says lead singer, Marine.

“I know that ‘Murder’ is a strong word, but I wanted to represent through it the hatred, anger and sadness that the trauma of rape or sexual abuse can leave on a life. The character in the song finds herself constantly imprisoned by her traumas, which end up killing her from the inside.

So in her dreams, she hopes to kill her abuser the same way that he ‘killed’ her. Very often, the extent of such acts is underestimated or even ignored for the abuser, while the victim will have to live with it all their life. I think this song can speak to anyone who has experienced a traumatic situation where they were the victim. The topic doesn’t matter. It’s your life, your experience. We all have dark times in our lives.”

News Report

CAT SFX – ‘Binman’

CAT SFX tread toward more infectious territory with their latest single ‘Binman’.

Of the new single, the band’s lead vocalist Cat Speranza explains: 

“”Binman’ is about a toxic relationship: the one between me and alcohol. It’s about the fights that you have with your loved one because you’re so drunk again and have caused carnage, and you’re trying to pick up the pieces the next day. And you make up all these excuses, to yourself, to others. So I’m the Binman. I’m the trash that needs taking out.” 

News Report

Grave Goods – ‘Come’

Grave Goods share new single ‘Come’ which is a song about revolution.

Singer Lois Macdonald says on the track, “This is one of the first tracks we wrote, and for me the one that helped to cement the feel of the music we make. I wanted to use the guitar in a percussive way, and I wanted the track to feel stressful and furious.

I felt frustrated at the time and had so much to express. I wanted the lyrics to reflect all this, and to come from the gut.  The best noise I could imagine for this is ‘Ugh’ which I use towards the end – it represents frustration, disgust and sex.”

Listen, Follow and Discover your new favourite act now with our ‘Discover’ New Music Playlist

Then find our the stories behind the songs on our ‘Discover’ New Music Podcast!

Watch Oakman on our ‘Discover New Music Podcast

‘Discover’ New Music Podcast – Episode 22 – Oakman

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Read our review of ‘Planet Zero’ from Shinedown

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Live Reviews

Neck of the Woods Festival

Earlham Park, Norwich

Sunday 29th May 2022

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NECK OF THE WOODS FESTIVAL REVIEW

All 📾 (c) Denis Gorbatov / Full Pelt Music

As May draws to a close, the traditional UK Festival season commences. Of course 2022 is the first full season in three long years following the pandemic-related disruption to the 2020 and 2021 summers.

It must be fate then that as we journey towards Earlham Park in Norwich, the skies are grey and the rain begins to fall. It wouldn’t be the UK summer without some of the wet stuff now would it?

Our destination on this chilly spring Sunday is a new venture called Neck of the Woods. The one day festival sees organisers take over a venue vacated by yesterdays Let’s Rock Retro Festival.

I’ve long championed the notion that Norwich needs an indie/rock festival and if tagging along to this existing event makes one viable then I’m all for it. Line-up wise Neck of the Woods is certainly going for the growing younger indie crowd with only headliners The Kooks of a certain vintage.

Access is quick and easy and the atmosphere once inside is nice and relaxed. The usual overpriced festival food and bars are present as are four stages of music.

Given the ongoing cost of living crisis it’s somewhat disappointing yet fully expected post-pandemic that food and drink prices have increased since last year. A hot dog, fries and a can of pop coming to a staggering £14.50! As I say, expected given the past couple of years, but a little frustrating.

Full Artists Galleries here

The site is setup well for a one day event with the stages spread out between two different areas, each with one outdoor and one tented stage. As expected there is some sound bleed at times, but nothing too invading.

There are a handful of stalls and other activities scattered around the site, with ample facilities such as toilets plus a separate VIP area. Thankfully there are no major queuing issues all day with the amount and distribution of everything on site seemingly well measured.

That’s the amenities taken care of then, now onto the music! That is after all why we are all in this field, with a little sunshine now poking through.

Full Artists Galleries here

Opening the main stage are local favourites Youth Killed It who do a fantastic job in getting the early attendees engaged. Their unique brand of indie punk captures the imagination of the young audience and shows great promise for a band coming into their own.

The main stage and the tented second stage, sponsored by local venue The Waterfront, alternate meaning eager music aficionados can catch an endless stream of musical pleasures if their legs can hold them. We are able to hold this pace for the first half of the event, allowing us to take in some great young acts including a fair few to have featured on our ‘Discover’ New Music Playlist!

Full Artists Galleries here

One such act is Liverpudlian indie upstarts Rats who open the second stage with a blistering set which wins over every single person present. A glimpse into the future of indie music, and the future is once again looking bright.

Full Artists Galleries here

Next on the main stage are The Lottery Winners who, with their great onstage banter and even better musical output, may be the perfect festival band. The group have the audience in the palm of their hands throughout their short set and leave the crowd wanting more, which is all you can really hope to do.

Full Artists Galleries here

Another enthralling act grace the second stage next with their superb 80’s tinged Synth-Pop are Deco. This is a name that is popping up on many a festival line-up this summer and is certainly one to watch out for.

Full Artists Galleries here

Also on the one to watch list is the fabulous Lauran Hibberd who has been making waves for a couple of years now. Hibberd is preparing to release her debut album later this year, and on the evidence of today it is set to be a big one. Fully expect to see this name playing higher up festival bills next summer!

Full Artists Galleries here

The Royston Club continue the hot streak of great young bands at Neck of the Woods next with another top showing in the tent. With many fans seemingly already in the know, the band are able to create a fun atmosphere as our legs begin to tire.

Full Artists Galleries here

No time for rest just yet as we return to the main stage for a band that feel on the cusp of something really big. The Snuts hit the number one spot with their debut album and recently played some huge shows across the country including Brixton Academy.

Songs such as ‘All Your Friends’, ‘Always’ and ‘Glasgow’ from that album feel like they were made with days like today in mind. With the sun now making regularly scheduled appearances from behind the cloud and the crowd fully in the festival spirit, the band go down as expected. A hero’s reception for a group surely destined to headline this sort of event.

Now after that relentless run of superb music, we must stop and retreat to check out the VIP offerings. With a private bar and toilets along with ample seating including a good view of the main stage, the VIP area is basically what you’d expect at a festival; nothing too fancy but a nice place to chill out.

But whilst we rest, the music doesn’t. The organisers have done well to secure a line-up featuring some of the best new bands on the scene with a splattering of larger acts to draw the crowds.

Full Artists Galleries here

Whilst we relax we get to enjoy dodie who offers something slightly different to the indie lad rock predominantly featured. An enjoyable set from dodie allows us time to recuperate before another onslaught of music.

Full Artists Galleries here

We pick things back up towards the top of the bill now with Sea Girls on the main stage. Sea Girls are a band that I’ve heard of but never actually listened to. Not really knowing what to expect, the band are able to quickly get my attention. They also have the attention of the majority of the attendees with a clear connection existing between band and fans.

Their time on stage sails by very quickly which is usually a good sign, and with their name featuring on many festivals this summer, I feel they’ve earned a little more attention from me before I hopefully see them again.

Full Artists Galleries here

In fact, one of my favourite things about festivals is discovering new music. I’d like to say NOISY on the third stage are a new discovery but they’ve actually featured on our ‘Discover’ New Music Playlist already. That said catching them live here gives new emphasis to their music as the band play one of the most energetic and passionate sets of the day.

Full Artists Galleries here

Perhaps this energy and passion is what make our sub-headliners DMA’s fall a little flat having to follow them. Another band that I’ve not personally delved too deeply in before, I can’t say that are able to grab me as much as many others have today. A slower paced set perhaps wasn’t what the doctor ordered following NOISY in a small tent and prior to Yonaka in the big tent.

DMA’s are pleasant enough and perhaps do deserve deeper inspection, but as the weather gets colder and the feet start to ache, they struggle to capture my imagination today.

Full Artists Galleries here

That was never going to be a problem for our second stage headliners Yonaka however! This after all is a band built on energy and passion, a band whose bond with the audience is synergetic.

Arriving slightly late on stage, the band power through their set which just adds even further impedance and immediacy to their performance. A sublime mixture of the stunning and the powerful encapsulates Yonaka as they deliver the likes of ‘Ordinary’, ‘Call Me a Saint’ and the incredible ‘Rockstar’.

Fans in attendance have probably just witnessed the performance of the day, but having slightly overrun it’s time to leg it back to the main stage where The Kooks have just arrived for their headline performance.

Their setlist tonight features debut album ‘Inside In/Inside Out’ predominantly to celebrate its 15th anniversary. Adding in a few hits from that albums successors makes for a pretty great festival setlist.

Full Artists Galleries here

Opening with ‘Seaside’ and ‘See the World’, the band instantly have the crowd in hand. They are able to maintain this connection throughout their performance which is more than worthy of the headline slot.

By the time ‘Naïve’ closes their set and sends the fans off into the night, it is very much job achieved both for The Kooks and for Neck of the Woods. Norwich does need an event like this, and whilst far from sold out, the event is well enough attended to be deemed a successful debut.

Hopefully Neck of the Woods can build on this solid start, build their brand and bring some of the biggest indie acts to Norwich in the coming years. Most importantly though I hope that they maintain the focus on new bands!

Today has been a day of discovery, finding great new acts before enjoying a handful of the best indie acts around at the moment; the perfect mix. I’d imagine we will be hearing a lot more from a number of these acts over the coming years, and hopefully we will be back at Earlham Park next year.

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Read our review of ‘W.L’ from The Snuts