Royal Blood

The hottest new rock band in the world right now is heading down under – and Aussie fans are ready. The first Sydney show from Brighton duo Royal Blood has now sold-out – with the band announcing a second Sydney performance, the new show taking place at Oxford Art Factory on Wednesday 4 June. Tickets to this new gig are on sale now... get in fast!

“If you haven’t heard of Royal Blood, there’s a chance you’re living under a large, soundproof rock... 9/10” – The AU Review

“Primal. Gigantic. Loud as cannons. Royal Blood are all of these things.” – NME

Having just wrapped recording sessions for their highly anticipated debut album with producer/engineer Tom Dalgety (Band Of Skulls) at Wales’ Rockfield Studios, Royal Blood are heading back out on the road. The band have just dropped a brand new number: ‘Come On Over’, which roars with power and proves yet again just what all the fuss is about – check out a live session for NME here. Live, this duo has the goods, with tour invites from Arctic Monkeys, Interpol and Foals and upcoming festival slots confirmed for Europe’s biggest events including Glastonbury, Lowlands, Way Out West, Bergen Fest, Reading and Leeds. Check out the band’s recent performance of ‘Little Monster’ on British TV show “Later... with Jools Holland” here.

Joining Royal Blood as special guests in Melbourne are searing local garage rockers APES, who won over triple j and BBC1 with their debut single ‘Seven’ back in 2013. Their subsequent debut EP has seen them share the stage with the likes of The Datsuns, Dune Rats and Yacht Club DJs, as well as landing spots on the Big Day Out and Groovin’ The Moo. Check out latest single ‘Helluva Time’ here.

In Sydney, rockers Born Lion will also take to the stage. Having been compared to bands such as Fugazi, The Hot Snakes, Future of the Left and The Bronx, this hard-hitting indie Sydney outfit was namechecked by triple j as one of 2014’s Next Crop acts, while Rolling Stone reckon a recent gig saw them tear “the ceiling off the place and shove it piece by piece down the appreciative audience’s throat”. Currently on the road with Karnivool, check the video for ‘Good Times Jimmy’ now.

Royal Blood’s Mike Kerr (bass) and Ben Thatcher (drums) first burst on the scene back in November 2013 with one shuddering single – the momentous ‘Out of the Black’ (listen here), which immediately saw them name-checked on the BBC’s Influential Sound of 2014. Next came the incisive muscle of ‘Little Monster’ (here), lifted from their debut EP, Out of the Black.

With soaring hooks, awe-inspiring aggression and killer riffs, blues rockers Royal Blood will leave you limp on the floor. Tickets for Sydney and Melbourne are selling fast... Grab yours now and don’t miss out!

Brute power, intricate roars and primal, chaotic hooks: Brighton duo Royal Blood will bring their unique sonic cocktail to Sydney and Melbourne at two special headline shows in May/June 2014.

Since emerging from the UK at the start of 2012, Mike Kerr (bass) and Ben Thatcher (drums) have seen their inventive, genre-smashing sound win over fans and critics alike, and plenty of other artists too – culminating in recent tour invites from Arctic Monkeys and Foals. In November 2013 the pair immediately drew attention from both sides of the Equator with one shuddering single, ‘Out of the Black’ (hear it here). Name-checked on the BBC’s Sound of 2014, Royal Blood dropped latest offering ‘Little Monster’ in February (check it out here), the song was quickly added to high rotation on triple j. Both tracks appear on the band’s debut EP, Out of the Black, out now via Warner Music.  

“We seem to resist every opportunity to do something the easy way and instead come up with a more creative solution,” explains Kerr. “If it gets to a point where we think, how can we progress or can we go even larger, I’d like to think that there’s another creative solution rather than expanding the line-up with additional musicians.”

In March 2014 Royal Blood conquered Austin’s South By Southwest, earning stellar reviews. They recently criss-crossed the UK with Interpol on the NME Tour, with dates locked in for Poland, France, Germany and the rest of Europe over the upcoming months. Add to that inclusion on festivals such as Glastonbury, Reading and Leeds.

“[Mike] Kerr plays guitar riffs on his bass and sings in a stray-cat moan – Robert Plant and Jack White are obvious influences – while [Ben] Thatcher is of the John Bonham school of pounding one's kit into the ground ... it's like being grumbled at by a freight train” – The Guardian

“The hottest rock band in the world right now” – thisisfakedy.co.uk

“Live, Royal Blood sound even more intense than on record. Legs are reduced to quivering jelly” – The Quietus

“Royal Blood appear destined for big things.” – FasterLouder

“Blues-rock, with plenty of swagger. They've oft been compared to the Black Keys but in their set today I heard some classic late ‘70s riffage going on. A whole lot of swagger too. They bring it live; big sound, huge drums and a soaring vocal. Dang they were tight. Also, I’m deaf now.” – Zan Rowe (triple j)

Currently working on their debut album, this could be your last chance to catch Royal Blood in venues of this size. Powerful pedals and awe-inspiring amps, with rhythm, aggression and blues this duo are not to be missed!