Yet a quick glance at the indie scene of today, and you’ll find something of a London bias, with the country’s biggest successes chained heavily to the capital. In fact, the Leeds-based English Teacher were the first act outside the city to win the Mercury Prize in over a decade, earlier this year.
So, it’s a considerable delight to hear from The Avelons, a band consisting of four lads dotted around Newcastle with stories to tell and guitarists to help.
The group have found themselves thriving at summer gigs like the Isle of Wight Festival and earning a spot on BBC Introducing North East sessions early on in their career, all the while enrapturing audiences with their nostalgic, bittersweet lyrics. Think high temperatures, lukewarm beers and muddy fields, and you’re on the right track.
Their newest track ‘Follow’, available on streaming, can be accurately described as a hidden delight. The vocals are raw and unfiltered, singing of a disconnected feeling, the kind of listlessness that puts you “at your end”. Make no mistake, however, The Avelons aren’t down in the dumps about it all. They’re euphoric, packing a punch with every yell and stretched syllable.
Accompanying this, are the driving drums and echoing, fuzz-pedal heavy guitars of 00s indie galore. It’s not hard to imagine these sounds erupting the speakers of a sweaty underground venue somewhere, with an eventual progression and swell to that triumphant reach of a chorus. ‘Follow’ attacks your eardrums in the best way possible, pulling you into the journey before a thrilling guitar solo in its climax. A bit Kasabian, a bit Kings of Leon, but with their own modern-day spin.
When it comes to The Avelons, we should all keep our fingers on the pulse. This is a band to watch carefully. Let’s wait and see where they go next.
Sofia Neal
Image: ‘Follow’ Official Single Cover
