2020 Review
Following a year of no gigs, STAT takes a look back over the regional releases that made our 2020.
DEAFDEAFDEAF
Formerly “Saults”, Leigh band DEAFDEAFDEAF released two brutal punk belters last year: in October, “Bodies” a passionate & spine-tingling attack on modern warfare. More recently “Nothingness”, a high-energy anthem of unfeeling sees the band ride a wave of new listeners.
duvet
Warrington band, duvet’s, first release, melancholic post-punk single “Running Around in Circles” features lo-fi drum machines and wailing guitar oozing a sound that sits within the yearnings of sovietwave.
grasshopper
Deep-voiced, post-punk perfection, Manchester/Brighton band grasshopper’s debut album, SCUTTLE came out last year. This emotive and introspective work is produced by David M. Allen of goth-wave notability and comprises piercing guitar, eerie synth and pounding drums - the work of drummer Rachel Garrett who sadly passed away following the album’s release.
Dirty Circus
Rising stars of the early 00s, Wigan and Leigh's Dirty Circus parted ways. Back for round 2, they released a set of three singles from their 2019 album, What Doesn’t Kill You Makes You Worse, this year complete with additional Hacienda-style remixes channelling energetic Manchester-indie with no loss of passion.
Dirty Circus are currently fundraising for their 2nd album
to support their GoFundMe click here
stalepics
Wigan two-piece stalepics launched into a fresh discography, releasing ambient debut “at.mo” and punchy dance follow-up “Fly Girl”.
f3f2
Up and coming, with their first single in December, f3f2 channel jazzy, melancholic tones reminiscent of King Krule on their mellow indie track, ‘No Modern Idea’.
CRAWLERS.
Punchy rock four-piece from Warrington Crawlers released two new singles this year: ‘Placebo’ and more recently, the explosive ‘Hush’. Having had tracks played on both BBC 6 Music and Radio X, the band are going from strength to strength in spite of the years difficult circumstances.