LOOSE ARTICLES Challenge Blokecore Gender Roles On New Single ‘Are You A Welder?’ Out Now Alcopop! Records
Watch the video - https://youtu.be/NFnrxVBeOvU?feature=shared
Stream and share - https://bfan.link/are-you-a-welder
Announce July 2024 Record Store Tour + Extensive Autumn 2024 UK/EU Headline Tour Dates
Summer Festival Appearances Including 2000 Trees, Rebellion, Green Man, Edinburgh Psych Fest + More
Tickets on sale now - https://linktr.ee/loosearticles
Debut Album Scream If You Wanna Go Faster Released 26th July 2024 via Alcopop! Records
Preorder - https://ilovealcopop.co.uk/collections/loose-articles
Manchester punks Loose Articles are pleased to reveal their new single ‘Are You A Welder?’ released 10th July 2024 via Alcopop! Records.
The single is the latest to be taken from their long-awaited debut album, titled Scream If You Wanna Go Faster, which will be released on 26th July 2024 via Alcopop! Records.
Still riding high from their huge recent support slot with Foo Fighters and lengthy UK tour dates with The Lovely Eggs and label mates CHROMA, the band are delighted to announce a run of July 2024 record store tour dates, plus a new string of Autumn 2024 UK/EU headline tour dates, and will be appearing at 2000 Trees, Rebellion, Green Man, Edinburgh Psych Fest and more this summer (see below for listings).
Commenting on the new single, the band say: “In the illusion of dominance, protection, and strength, society’s stereotype brings home the bacon on gender roles and occupation. Born out of a backseat taxi remark, ‘Are You a Welder?’ sparks up ideas on gender roles centred on conceptions of masculinity and femininity. Career stereotypes claim that gender determines successes in particular jobs; attributes of either empathy or physical strength being ring-fenced for certain people. Firefighters, truck drivers, construction workers, plumbers, electricians—the notion of gendered jobs try to tell us that some occupations are more blokecore than others.”
Tongue in cheek and inspired by the YMCA, the music video comically explores the stereotypical gender roles around jobs mentioned in the song, featuring a special appearance from Sinead Ferguson (the ‘Bitcoin Hacker’), this time taking on the role of salesman and ‘blokecore inspector’ to see if the band are bloke enough for the job. “Special thanks to Johnny Billinge for lending us his workshop, and for filming/directing the shenanigans,” say the band.
A rollercoaster of a release, forthcoming debut album Scream If You Wanna Go Faster covers everything from the highs of being pinball champions to the lows of having to deal with rubbish jobs and managers, inviting all-comers to jump aboard and throw those hands in the air like you just don’t care.
The Loose Women juggled gigging every weekend in 2023 with their 9-5 jobs, somehow finding time to write and record the album, and then still managing to make it to the pub for a pint or two to celebrate.
“We blasted it out in two lots of long weekend sessions to keep the energy high and fast paced, just like our live gigs,” say the band of the experience. “Thanks to the fuel of an array of Pot Noodles and medicinal drugs we created a Loose Articles extravaganza bedazzled with big riffs, footy whistles and cowbells to keep you on your toes!”
Keeping true to their roots, the band recorded, mixed and co-produced the record up north with partner in crime Ian Stewart at Blueprint Studios, on the Costa Del Salford, and the album was mastered by Katie Tavini (Los Bitchos, Rudimental, Arlo Parks, Bloc Party, Nadine Shah).
The recording sessions were full of lots of laughs, cowbells and claps. Days were spent perfecting pinball sounds and synchronised dance routines; then the hard days graft washed away in the great local boozer, The Eagle Inn.
The record will be available on a limited run of tiger-ish print effect vinyl and 4 different footballing CDs (Everton, FC United, The Corinthians Ladies FC and Loose Articles FC).
Now…what are you waiting for, grab your fast passes and get in line for the ride of your life!
Further new music and live dates will be revealed over the coming months.
Debut album Scream If You Wanna Go Faster is released 26th July 2024 via Alcopop! Records
Live dates:
06.07.24 - Right To Roam Festival, Bolton
07.07.24 - Liverpool - Rough Trade (Gig For Gaza supporting War Child)
12.07.24 - Cheltenham - 2000trees Festival
26.07.24 - Sheffield - Other Festival
26.07.24 - Huddersfield - Vinyl Tap *
27.07.24 - Leeds - Jumbo Records *
28.07.24 - Twickenham - High Tide Festival
29.07.24 - London - Banquet Records *
30.07.24 - Nottingham - Rough Trade *
31.07.24 - Bury - Wax & Beans *
01.08.24 - Liverpool - Rough Trade *
03.08.24 - Blackpool - Rebellion Festival
18.08.24 - Crickhowell - Green Man Festival
22.08.24 - Shambala Festival
31.08.24 - Glasgow - Broadcast
01.09.24 - Edinburgh - Psych Fest
26.09.24 - Birkenhead- Future Yard
27.09.24 - Manchester - Star & Garter
28.09.24 - London - Shacklewell Arms
29.09.24 - Bristol - Crofters Rights
04.10.24 - Northampton - Garibaldi Hotel
05.10.24 - Portsmouth - Night Currents Fest
06.10.24 - Brighton - The Hope & Ruin
11.10.24 - Halifax - Town Festival
12.10.24 - Norwich - Voodoo Daddy's
13.10.24 - Newcastle - Zerox
22.10.24 - Kusel - Kinett (DE)
23.10.24 - Berlin - Schokoladen (DE)
24.10.24 - Hamburg - Hafenklang (DE)
26.10.24 - Paris - Pop Up (FR)
27.10.24 - Arlon - L'entrepot (BE)
* stripped back set with Q&A