South Yorkshire indie rockers The Sherlocks are set to return to action next month with a new single – End of the Earth – and an a livestreamed gig. The virtual concert will be broadcast from Sheffield City Hall at 5pm GMT on Friday 9th April, the same day the single is released.
The band have described End of the Earth as an “absolute banger“, albeit with a new feel to their previous work. In a press release shared with local newspaper the Rotherham Advertiser, a group statement says that the new track is “…quite punk rock, a new change of direction, but definitely the perfect comeback track.”
WE ARE BACK!!
GLOBAL LIVE STREAMING GIG & A BRAND NEW SINGLE!
Pleased to announce we’ve recorded an incredible live gig at City Hall, Sheffield you can see Friday 9th April 5PM GMT @SessionsLive
New single ‘End Of The Earth’ coming out too on 9th April
Absolute banger pic.twitter.com/yNOHgljb1y— The Sherlocks (@TheSherlocks) March 16, 2021
In an interview with the NME, the Bolton upon Dearne outfit spoke of their excitement to get back on a live stage (of sorts) after the disruption of the pandemic. The band said “We’re buzzing for everyone to see us perform again. We’ve been smashing it in the practice room and staying ready, like a world champion boxer ticking over. We’re like the Tyson Fury of the music industry in many ways.”
The new gig and single are set to provide a taster of The Sherlocks’ as-yet-untitled third studio album, which will be their first new material in two years. After a stint supporting The Libertines’ on their 2016 arena tour, the group first shot into the spotlight their 2017 debut LP Live For The Moment. The record reached number #6 on the Official UK Albums Chart; earning the quartet comparisons with Yorkshire compatriots Arctic Monkeys in some quarters.
Dismissing fears of the traditional ‘difficult second album’ wobble, The Sherlocks returned with another hit record in 2019’s Under Your Sky, which enjoyed even greater critical recognition than its predecessor. In a glowing review The Guardian described the album as a “quantum leap” from the band’s debut, with a “much more mature, effervescent rock sound” and “arena-sized choruses.”
Things haven’t sailed entirely smoothly for the group since then, with brothers Josh Davidson and Andy Davidson exiting early last year. The Sherlocks’ other founding sibling duo – Kiaran and Brandon Cook – remain in place; whilst Alex Procter and Trent Jackson have entered the fray on guitar and bass duties respectively.
For their third album, the new-look line-up have enlisted the talents of production guru Dave Eringa, best-known for his work with Welsh rock icons Manic Street Preachers over nine acclaimed albums. Brandon Crook spoke of the band’s delight at having secured Eringa’s services in an interview with Sheffield’s The Star newspaper. He said “Dave is used to working with people like Manic Street Preachers, Roger Daltrey, Idlewild and The Proclaimers who have been in the game a long time and know what to do with song structures. Back in 2016, we literally didn’t have a clue what we were doing in the studio, but this time we were able to bring plenty to the table with two other albums under our belts.”
Fans will have several opportunities to catch The Sherlocks in festival action this year, with performances pencilled in for Dorset’s Camp Bestival in July and Warrington’s Neighbourhood Weekender in early September. The band have also rescheduled live shows at Manchester’s Albert Hall and Grimsby’s Docks Academy in October – the latter having already sold out.
