SLATED for success
“Having not released a song in over 12 months, we’re itching with anticipation to get our new songs out there and show people what we’re really about!”
(The Slates)
The Slates photographed for This Feeling by Tom Oxley instagram.com/tomoxleyphoto/
It’s March 2025: The Slates have just played a sold out headline show, dropped a grand brand new single and are accelerating for more. The hyperactive indie rockers bounce into their busiest, buzziest year on the runway of award-winning music promoter plus, This Feeling.
‘FIESTA’
The above mentioned single, clocks in at under three minutes of swirling guitars, frantically pounding rhythms, and a graffitti of vocals that range from Monday morning calm to punked frustation. Riot on. Hear a joyride of a song that’s going to drive The Slates further, faster, fiercer…Fiesta!
This ch-ch-choon is an insta-classic punky roar-along. If you don’t check it out, what you actually gonna do mush? Watch the video for ‘Fiesta’ on YouTube.
The Slates are a modern youth force for good escapism that everyday people can relate to.
“Fiesta isn’t really about much other than to berate someone’s rundown ford fiesta and also being a bit of sick of the day to day monotony that life brings!”
(The Slates)
When the band get away from that monotony, it’s glorious. Earlier this month, for instance.
Well, THERE’S a way to spring into Spring!
There’s more gig fun to come (also courtesy of This Feeling)
The Slates are one of the bands who are taxi-ing on the runway of what TheZineUK documentary calls “Zone Airport”. If you’re not yet already on board with what This Feeling do with and for bands then it’s an open invitation to music lovers. They go more than one step beyond.
It’s music passion madness, but the results are consistent and ongoing. Just what the new world, post lockdown, NEEDS.
Hard times are blessed with hard won respect, for balance.
Team TF are not just booking bands like The Slates for their listings, then sitting on their hands and not plugging they.
They are multi-media promoting and developing talented potential by any means necessary - with allies of new music on side as audience community, photographers, film makers, writers, the interdependent community (ourselves included), DJs, Presenters and sponsors/partners/events that make all the difference to up and coming musicians.
Whether it’s Pirate Studios, Gibson Guitars, the #BestNewBands playlist and/or the opportunity to play bigger stages/supports. A Zonefest of activity.
So…
This Feeling rates The Slates and it IS a big deal.
The Slates make an impression. July 2024. This Feeling Stage, Truck Festival.
We first came across the band’s live energy via Truck Festival 2024:
‘The Slates Enter. The Slates Entertain’.
Introduced by nationally treasured UberLegend, the TF Stage Host/After Party DJ. “their crowd had already been chanting "one more song! one more song!" BEFORE John Kennedy of Radio X introduced them!” our YouTube reports). There’s that packed tent community of zone rangers!
Young autograph hunters at This Feeling Stage barrier after The Slates played at Truck Festival. The hope is that in ten years time, at least one of them will be a musician, if they’re not already, now.
Fast Forward to 2025
As previously mentioned, there is a lot of love from musicians. They voted This Feeling 2025 Musos Awards Promoter of The Year.
“I’m up here accepting this award on behalf of the community who support what we do and love to do - giving new bands so many opportunities”
“Big up The Musos for bringing so many good people together”
(This Feeling founder, Mikey Jonns)
TheZineUK TikTok got 21 seconds for now. TF shapes our own story (which is 11 years old, this month) and Mikey also shouted out Team TF. Big up!
Relevantly, this ‘FIESTA’ inspired article is an example of how the industrious DIY music sector are having a marked impact at a time when many artists and grassroots venues are struggling. Now is the time to get involved with bands like The Slates.
Imagine the ride already since forming in 2019 - including plays on the BBC, Channel 4, YNOT Festival, Isle Of Wight and multiple Academy venue shows. Playing This Feeling By The Sea that Autumn will definitely not be forgotten.
They’ve put the work in with a year of gigging nationwide towards starting 2025 with ‘FIESTA’ (conceived after a past falling-out with an acquaintance while embracing the unpredictability of day-to-day occurrences). Earning over 300,000 spotify streams so far, this Yorkshire (Leeds) band are a proper brew of a musical crew.
The Slates, catching the attention of ASBO Magazne after their festival set.
TheZineUK caught The Slates again in Autumn at This Feeling Test Transmission in Signature Brew which was “worth the band’s coach trip” (TheZineUK TikTok). It may have been their first London show. Friends were made, anyway. More will no doubt join the United Slates gang soon:
The Slates next live shows
22/03/25 Camden Dingwalls - supporting The Velvet Hands (selling out)
28/03/25 Sheffield Leadmill - supporting The Lilacs (sold out)
19/04/25 Manchester Rewired All Dayer (This Feeling)
The Slates are front man, Louis Barnes, guitarist Joe Briggs, bassist Jude Wales and drummer Zak Oldroyd. 2025 image by Alfie Dook instagram.com/ad_med1a/