All I ask is the stars!
It’s been quite the year for Leeds legends, The March Violets. They’ve recently signed with Metropolis Records and have a shiny new album, Crocodile Promises, set to release on July 19th. To celebrate, they’ll be gracing the stage at The Garage in London on the 20th and the Rebellion Festival in Blackpool on August 2nd, with other dates sprinkled in for good measure. Before all that, fans can sink their teeth into the new single and video for Hammer The Last Nail, which drops on June 14th.
Now a lean, mean three-piece machine, The March Violets boast original members Tom Ashton (guitars) and Rosie Garland (vocals), with the addition of new bassist Mat Thorpe. Hammer The Last Nail comes with a smashing video and offers the first tantalizing taste of what Crocodile Promises has in store. The lineup shift brings a new energy to the band, and Garland’s voice in Hammer The Last Nail is full of wisdom, strength and power. (We don’t need the moon – all we ask is the stars, and perhaps Paul Henreid to light us two cigarettes!)
Tom Ashton directed a fun, spooky, and wonderfully psychedelic video of the band haunting the grounds of a mysterious Georgian mansion floating somewhere in the cosmos. Rosie Garland, ever the theatrical sprite, chews the scenery with delightful aplomb, giving ghosts everywhere a run for their ectoplasm.
Watch the video for “Hammer the Last Nail” below:
Once upon a time in Leeds, 1981, The March Violets struck their first chord and scribbled their first set list on a napkin in some dimly lit pub. From the bustling post-punk scene, they charmed audiences with a delightful blend of male and female vocals, wrapped in brooding, atmospheric tunes that seemed to echo from the deepest corners of their souls—or at least from the back of the rehearsal room.
The band quickly gained notoriety, not just for their music but for their uncanny ability to make gloominess seem oddly entertaining. They caught the attention of John Peel, who featured them in his famed BBC sessions, and their indie chart success skyrocketed. Songs like Crow Baby, Snake Dance, and Walk Into The Sun became anthems for the disenchanted youth of the mid-’80s, making it clear that The March Violets were more than just a flash in the gothic pan.
Their journey wasn’t without its twists and turns. In 1987, they had a brush with Hollywood when Turn to the Sky was featured in the John Hughes movie Some Kind of Wonderful. But as is often the case in fairy tales, the band’s story took a pause, and they split up later that same year.
Fast forward to 2010, and like all good stories, there was a reunion. Founder members Rosie Garland (vocals) and Tom Ashton (guitar) rekindled the flame. They released new albums in 2013 and 2015, proving that time only added depth to their sound. Even in the sombre world of goth rock, there’s always room for a happily ever after.
Crocodile Promises will be released on July 19th by Metropolis Records on CD, vinyl and through all streaming and digital platforms.
Pre-order the album here.
The March Violets will also be touring the UK this summer promoting the new album. The launch show takes place in London at The Garage (July 20th), followed by Rebellion Festival in Blackpool (August 2nd), along with additional dates. Catch them on the dates below:
Tour Dates:
- 19.07.24 LEEDS Brudenell Social Club
- 20.07.24 LONDON Garage
- 26.07.24 BRISTOL Thekla
- 27.07.24 NOTTINGHAM Rescue Rooms
- 02.08.24 BLACKPOOL Rebellion Festival
further dates to be announced
