Jason Allan

Alternative pop from Liverpool via Aberdeen.

Emerging from Wigan, Stanleys are the next in a long line of illustrious musicians to come from the North Western town. Bands and artists ranging from George Formby Senior and Junior to The Verve, Starsailor to The Lathums are proud to call Wigan home, eventually taking their poignant songwriting across the rest of the country and Stanleys are set to follow in their footsteps. Perhaps there’s something about hearing a regional accent singing in full flow that’s endearing, or their jangly riffs and subtle drum beats reminiscent of other great North West bands such as The Smiths or The La’s. Some would argue the recognisable relatable stories told by front man Tom Concannon is the focal point of the band, with Jake Dorsman (guitar), Harry Ivory (bass) and Rob Hilton (drums and backing vocals) completing the line up. But ultimately, it is a combination of all these things that have seen Stanleys make their mark on the North West scene so quickly.

RIVIA is a group of four lads from Liverpool on a mission to bring the genre of rock back to the forefront of popular music. By combining the best parts of 80’s Classic Rock with 00’s Alt-Rock, RIVIA manage to create a sound which is a thing unto itself, unique from everything else, but reminiscent of rocks past greats.

Returning with their first release since their debut album “Faithless Rituals”, Sky Valley Mistress have launched back into the sonic stratosphere with their brand new single “Too Many Ghosts”. Recorded at The Nave Studios, Leeds with engineer Danny Blackburn (Adult DVD), it’s clear that the sound of the desert still fuels this band wherever they go as their latest cut is cactus needle sharp. From the moment the track picks up, Sky Valley Mistress drive you beyond the horizon and leave you hanging by the hook of the chorus ready to ride again. Or as the band explain: “This song is meant for the open highway. Somewhere you have the freedom to put your foot down and still feel like you’re cruising”. Now streamlined and stripped back to the two original members, refusing to conform to conventions, on the record Sky Valley Mistress have doubled down their studio sound and present themselves as a four-piece band. How the hearse rollin’, flare strollin’, speaker ‘splodin’ outfit recreate this in the flesh as a Duel-Drumming Duo however, has to be seen to be believed. Lead vocalist Kayley “Hell Kitten” Davies picks up the sticks and play one half of a drum kit, with former drummer Maxwell Harvey William Newsome III taking on the electric guitar and keeping one foot on the kick drum. No samples. No backing tracks. No click tracks. No one is playing rock and roll the way that these two do.