Unsigned Act Of The Week: Idle

I was born, raised and still live in Manchester – only a bit too late to see the Madchester bands of the late ‘80s and ‘90s perform in their prime. It’s absolutely gutting for my generation and I know I’m not the only one crying out for a band that has the same passion and Northern attitude as bands like Oasis and The Stone Roses, but who also put their own 21^st century stamp on the music.

Well, here they are: Idle are a five piece band based in Stafford and – at only 15 years of age – I can foresee immediate comparisons to The Strypes. Apart from the similar indie/rock fan base they’re likely to attract, however, Idle have no real similarities to The Strypes – no retro guitar solos or dreams of being in the ‘60s – Idle are in the here and now, making great music for 2014. ‘Better Day’, from their demo EP of the same name, starts off with an awesome guitar riff that could have been plucked straight from The Charlatans’ ‘Tellin’ Stories’. Added to lead singer Charlie Thompson’s impassioned, Liam Gallagher-esque vocals and the whole track just falls perfectly into place.

Idle already have some seriously impressive gigs under their belt. They recently supported Frankie Cocozza’s new band The Telescreen in Birmingham, played at a Jon Brookes memorial gig, performed at a VIP event in honour of Jeff Lynne, as he was inducted onto the Birmingham Walk Of Stars, and won the Bradford Bulls battle of the bands after playing to a crowd of 20,000! Who knows what’s next for Idle, but with this incredibly impressive CV and having music legends Bryan Adams and Jeff Lynne as fans, their future looks bright.