Hailing from the musically notorious city of Manchester, Larkins are no strangers to fierce, indie-infused pop, big enough to shake arenas and festival stages alike. Originally from the small town of Glossop in Derbyshire, Larkins quickly established themselves as pioneers of this sound, and have since sold over 10,000 tickets, played the legendary Reading and Leeds Festivals, and accumulated more than 20 million streams across platforms. The group are now set to take these tracks to the stage, in an extensive UK summer tour.
Looking set to release their long-awaited debut album in the very near future, we can’t imagine these gigs will be anything less than explosive. Previous stand-out tracks, ‘Are We Having Any Fun Yet?’ being just one example, have seen a riotous reception from fans, with effortlessly infectious writing and production rendering them classics in the group’s discography.
You might also think of ‘TV Dream’ when hearing of the band; the track propelled them into either greater notoriety upon its release. The arena-ready hook can’t help but rile up a crowd, whether that be in Leeds or Glasgow, with lyrics that seamlessly lend themselves to being shouted along to.
Latest release, ‘This I Gonna Hurt’, proves why they stand apart from cliched comparisons to older heritage Northern bands. Innovative production teams up with a change in style for the four-piece, with their signature candid lyrics remaining firmly in place. The sharp sound shows us just why the group are so ready for such a string of gigs: the born performers truly love being on stage together, and producing music that constantly challenges themselves and their boundaries.
Fans can also expect to see ‘if + when’ on the setlist for the night, as another recent release. Similarly soft in sound, the lyrics discuss sensitive topics in a heart-felt manner, with the musicians’ hearts seeming to truly pour into each note. The track builds from a fragile piano introduction, before sparse beats drive the song toward the anthemic release of its heartfelt chorus. The disarming lyrical honesty of singer Josh Noble shines through in his searingly real account of trying to pull a loved one back from the brink of self-destruction. All he can ultimately offer, he realises, is a promise: ‘I’ll be there, if + when it gets too rough’.
We can’t wait to catch the group at one of their upcoming dates, and hope to see you there.
12th August – Brudenell Social Club, Leeds
13th August – O2 Academy 2, Liverpool
16th August – Riverside, Newcastle
19th August – Manchester Academy 2, Manchester
20th August – Manchester Academy 2, Manchester
21st August – Rescue Rooms, Nottingham
23rd August – Castle & Falcon, Birmingham
24th August – Thekla, Bristol
8th September – Stereo, Glasgow
14th September – Heaven, London
Eva Liukineviciute
TWELVE INCH 