Dylan John Thomas at Leeds Beckett Students Union on 2 November
Dylan John Thomas looks set for the big leagues.” – Notion
“A unique juxtaposition of heartfelt lyricism, affirming optimism, and a driving energy.” – The Line of Best Fit
“Scotland’s break out star.”– Daily Record
“Dylan John Thomas could be Scotland’s next big singer-songwriter.” – The Scotsman
“Navigating a fast ascent to the top with his dizzyingly catchy yet deeply personal brand of indie pop.” – Daily Star
Dylan John Thomas has shared his new track ‘Up In The Air’ as the latest song to preview the January 26th release of his eagerly anticipated self-titled debut album. It comes as he embarks upon his biggest UK headline tour to date which includes three sold-out shows at Glasgow’s Barrowland Ballroom. All 10,000 tickets for the tour’s shows in Scotland sold-out months in advance with the rest of the tour now over 95% sold. Listen HERE.
Alternating between reflective acoustic and ska rave-up, ‘Up In The Air’ is guaranteed to ignite audiences at Dylan’supcoming shows. As with the rest of the upcoming album, the track’s exuberant live energy is amplified by the backing of Dylan’s live band – Steve Liddle (bass), Cam Robinson (drums) and Liam Cassidy (keys) – with production from Rich Turvey (Blossoms, Courteneers) and Dylan himself.
Dylan says, “A ska tune with a guitar lament – inspirations from The Specials and Madness with a folk verse that will be great to play live.”
Briston Maroney is at The Brudenell on 5 November
“Pretty flawless, Briston Maroney has pulled it off” – Zane Lowe
“Briston Maroney tells stories that feel personal without posturing. “Sunburn Fades” […] is an example of the minimalist, home-spun sound the artist is continuing to craft” – Consequence
Acclaimed Nashville-based artist Briston Maroney has released his awaited new album ‘Ultrapure’, ahead of a UK headline tour this November. His latest single “Sunshine” is available to stream now, alongside a stunning acoustic performance video.
STREAM “SUNSHINE” ON ALL SERVICES HERE
Latest track “Sunshine” follows the two-sided single release “Detonator” / “The Idea”, lead single “Body” which debuted in May via Apple Music’s New Music Daily with Zane Lowe and “Sunburn Fades”, which was hailed by Consequence as “an example of the minimalist, home-spun sound the artist is continuing to craft.”
Maroney: “My favourite moments in the human experience are ones that you don’t even realise have started, but you feel so deeply when you realise they’ve ended. I refer to these as ‘ultrapure’ moments. The album was my humble, unqualified and earnest-as-hell attempt at sitting in those feelings until they had no choice but to burst out of my head. These songs are about a type of pain I hate and love, but mostly have a deep appreciation for.”
Tickets available now here.
Art School Girlfriend is at Oporto on 8 November
Art School Girlfriend, aka Polly Mackey, is set to showcase the brilliance of Soft Landing on November’s UK tour. For full routing see below.Listen to “Heaven Hanging Low”“Heaven Hanging Low” is another track that cements Soft Landing as a record that is a substantial step-forward for Art School Girlfriend. The song is a bridge between the floating melodies of debut record Is It Light Where You are? and the small euphorias of Soft Landing.
Opening with a clipped drum machine, the song blooms into an all-encompassing, main character experience detailing a queer love story. The track is supported by a video directed by Zak Watson, featuring drifting landscapes.
Speaking of the song, Mackey says: “These lyrics have a lot of religious imagery, but Heaven Hanging Low is actually a queer love song all about finding that celestial and sublime euphoria in your closer, more domesticated surroundings.”
Black Water County is at Key Club on 16 November
BLACK WATER COUNTY’s third album, THE ONLY LIFE WORTH LIVING, will be released on 3 November with the release of HERE WE ARE AGAIN, the final single from the album. Watch the video here.
Here We Are Again follows the three previously released singles from the album – the frantic and euphoric title track The Only Life Worth Living; the thrillingly banjo-led Cruel State Of Mind; and the hauntingly beautiful ballad Second Guessing which features dual vocals from Shan Byrom of Black Water County and Hannah Greenwood from Creeper.
The new single perfectly illustrates the band’s knack of melding often heartbreaking lyrics with joyous guitars, frenetic drums and memorable rhythms, interwoven with just the right amount of acoustics and folk-led instrumentation to build towards euphoric and energetic crescendos.
“Here We Are Again follows the story of a break up where the broken heartstrings are buried and the ties are being cut,” say the band about the new single, “a cynical goodbye to the person who knew you the most but is now a stranger in your life. How you can both convey a pessimistic sense of resignation and acceptance yet still wish you could understand each other’s perspective better.
As the vocal conversation strives to capture the complex emotions and conflicts that can arise in relationships, and the difficulty of breaking free from patterns of behaviour, the melodies intertwine and build into an emotional intensification that combines fluttering whistle and delicate mandolin.
It’s with a heavy heart that we hope everyone can recognise something in this story. Please forgive us
and know that it’s all just part of the only life worth living.”
Lo Moon – at Headrow House on 19 November
Psyche-pop four-piece Lo Moon return with their first new music of 2023, ‘Evidence,’ thus confirming a new body of work is on the way for 2024. The track is paired with an official music video, directed by Saoli Nash & Warren Fu, also revealed today. Listen to ‘Evidence’ HERE & watch the official music video HERE.
Speaking about the new song, Lo Moon’s Matt Lowell reveals, “’Evidence’ is a song about learning from your mistakes. A song that explores the innocence of young love and the journey we’re all on to become better partners, better people, and more emotionally available. Sometimes this takes time and looking back at who I was as an adolescent helped me realize who I’ve become as an adult. The arc of relationships can teach us a lot about who we are, even if it’s emotionally scarring to explore.”
Brooke Combe is at The Brudenell on 22 November
“Scottish indie star-in-waiting already mingling with the greats” – NME
“A future megastar” – The Guardian
Following the release of her debut mixtape Black Is The New Gold earlier this year, which has been shortlisted at the Scottish Album Of The Year Awards, one of 2023’s breakout stars Brooke Combe returns with her euphoric new single ‘Praise’. The track is the first to be taken from her forthcoming 2024 debut LP. Listen to ‘Praise’ HERE & watch a stunning live acoustic version HERE.
Produced by The Coral’s James Skelly and Jaidan Millar at the brand new Kempton Street Studios in Liverpool, ‘Praise’ is an empowering call to arms. Drenched in soul, the gospel influenced track still sees Brooke planted in her indie rock roots with her fierce vocal cutting deep as she takes back authority on this guitar driven anthem.
Brooke: “Praise’ is about a few things. It touches on female empowerment and taking back control over my future. I found myself in a situation where I started to feel almost like a puppet; like I was being shaped into something I wasn’t and that just isn’t really who I am. I feel like it’s an all too familiar scenario – women in today’s society feeling pressured to toe the line. So here we are, demanding the praise and respect we deserve.”
Following triumphant shows at Glastonbury, TRNSMT and Neighbourhood Festivals, Brooke heads out on a run of her biggest UK headline dates this November. Tickets are on-sale HERE.
Main image: Lo Moon. Photograph by Michael Schmelling.
