Cool indie band Waltz into town
A fresh- faced indie band are getting ready to rock it up.
Neon Waltz, who hail from the unlikeliest of places - John O’Groats, will bless the stage at Bakers in Kilmarnock this week.
And the town is set to be blessed with the swirling, melodic rock of ‘ Britain’s most northerly band’.
Standing on the tip of the nation, three quarters of your vision is taken up by the epic expanse of water that, though pock marked by quaint archipelagos in the distance, only ends the Arctic Circle.
Behind you, the rest of the country unfurls, but it’s a long way to Glasgow, Manchester or London.
Yet in the lonely village of John O’Groats, six, stranded kindred spirits found each other and transcended geography and the odds to build record collections, amass musical instruments and, finally, win favour in those distant towns and cities with their own set of intricately crafted songs.
“Scotland’s coolest new gang” ( NME) are Jordan Shearer ( Vocals), Darren Coghill ( Drums), Kevin Swanson ( Guitar), Jamie Swanson ( Guitar), Calvin Wilson ( Bass) and Liam Whittles ( Keyboards).
Without the songs, what becomes of a band?
It’s the start and end point for Neon Waltz, gathering influences from rain- soaked indie to Californian sunshine- flecked psychedelia amidst picturesque isolation, before converting the inspiration they have found into breathlessly crystalline, chiming, guitar forward pop.
Expansive choruses accompanied by fairground keyboards ring from a remote, semi- derelict house in a place where nobody will ever find them, but their ambition and gift for melody is a secret that even the windswept, castle- strewn highlands couldn’t keep.
Their debut album, Strange Hymns, was released last year.
Featuring singles such as ‘ Sundial’, ‘ Dreamers’ and ‘ Perfect Frame’, it keeps listeners more than tuned in.
They are coming off the back of extensive touring, including headline trips that have spanned more than 1,400 miles each time – the same as driving from London to Lisbon – and support dates with The Coral and Noel Gallagher, have honed the band’s live sound and drawn out a sense of visible selfassurance and stage craft in the erudite six- piece.
Support acts will include Ayrshire’s own Crash Club, The Dunts and Lucia.
It will kick off at 7pm on Saturday, March 3 and tickets cost just £ 8 and can be purchased on www. skiddle. com.