Having just released the single ‘The Patch Where Nothing Grows’, which was premiered by Steve Lamacq at 6 Music, and received further airplay from Radio X (John Kennedy and Chris Hawkins) and currently on the A List at BBC Radio Wales, The Royston Club now announce two further headline shows at Cardiff’s Tramshed (November 14th) and Newcastle University (November 15th). Tickets for the shows on general sale for Cardff here & Newcastle here from 10am on Thursday, August 15th.
The Royston Club are propelling themselves into the indie-rock’s top flight. The Welsh four-piece saw their debut ‘Shaking Hips and Crashing Cars’ fire to #16 on the UK Official Album Chart, an accomplishment which has been followed by an array of big moments: selling-out KOKO, smashing three summer sets at Glastonbury, and headlining the biggest show ever held in their hometown of Wrexham. They’ve even won the admiration of another local superstar in the shape of Ryan Reynolds. They are now laying the groundwork for a momentous new era in their rise as they continue to work on their eagerly anticipated second album.
‘The Patch Where Nothing Grows’ sees The Royston Club raising their game with utmost confidence. Finding the sweet spot between irresistible melodies, ragged riffs and soaring pints-in-the-air hooks, it’s a very natural next step as they play with the abandon of their live show but with the accomplishment that comes with having already achieved so much. And vocalist/guitarist Tom Faithfull has never sounded better, his already characteristic voice now given further scope with a sweet falsetto and whispered dynamics.
Guitarist and main songwriter Ben Matthias says, “This song is meant, at its core, as a cry to the person I was falling in love with at the time. It’s about that point in love when you want to spend every minute of your days and nights with that person but ultimately can’t be sure where the relationship is going.
I try to come to terms with that in the chorus, admitting ‘I’ll fall gently in this grove, in the patch where nothing grows’ if the love isn’t ’necessary’. It’s an honest account of my viewpoint at the time and hopefully one many can relate to.”
‘The Patch Where Nothing Grows’ was produced by Rich Turvey (Blossoms, Courtneers) and was recorded at Kempston Street Studio in Liverpool.
Tom, Ben and Dave Tute (bass) are old school friends who formed The Royston Club with the addition of drummer Sam Jones. Early rambunctious shows within Wrexham and the surrounding area established a devoted local following, and their initial self-released demos and singles soon started taking their local following into an international fanbase. That interest was heightened with an array of festivals, support shows (including Blossoms, Jamie Webster and The Academic) and headline tour which became bigger with every run.
After signing to Run On Records (home to The Coral, and an imprint of Modern Sky), The Royston Club soon achieved their first chart moment when ‘Coasting’ (backed with fan favourite ‘Mrs Narcissistic’) reached the Top 10 on the Official Vinyl Singles Chart. From there, they continued upwards, leading to the success of ‘Shaking Hips And Crashing Cars’ in June 2023.
The Royston Club marked a year since the album’s release by sharing an in-depth ‘making of’ documentary which can be seen HERE. It was, they commented, “a raw, frenetic crowd of songs, through which you can hear the drunken nights spent screaming our favourite songs at the top of our lungs and the consequent hangovers, each bouncing gig and its dormant green room, the freedom of touring along with the panicked inner nag to get a real job. The brotherly love we have for one another and the burning appetite to make music that we cherish and enjoy.”
Responding to fan demand, The Royston Club recently announced a limited edition clear vinyl format of ‘Shaking Hips And Crashing Cars’. The new format is available to pre-order HERE ahead of its release on August 30th.
The Royston Club continue their summer festival schedule, which includes headline sets at This Feeling By The Sea and The Gathering Sounds as well as a special Malta Weekender as guests to Liam Gallagher. They have now sold-out both nights at the O2 Academy Liverpool . Their upcoming shows are:
AUGUST
23rd – Portsmouth, Victorious Festival
30th – Vlieland, Into The Great Wide Open Festival
31st – Eindhoven, Hit The City
SEPTEMBER
6th – Bridlington, This Feeling By The Sea (HEADLINERS)
22nd – Malta, Liam Gallagher and Friends Malta Weekender
28th – Stockton, The Gathering Sounds Festival (HEADLINERS)
NOVEMBER
14th – Cardiff, Tramshed (JUST ADDED)
15th – Newcastle, University (JUST ADDED)
16th – Leeds, Live At Leeds In the City
19th – Liverpool, O2 Academy (SOLD OUT)
20th – Liverpool, O2 Academy (SOLD OUT)
