Following the success of last year’s critically acclaimed EP Sitting Ducks, The Virginmarys have been hard at work curating a special collection of music for their fans.
Titled the Northern Sun Sessions and taking inspiration from cult favourite track “Northern Sun”, the band are busy recording an extensive catalogue of previously unreleased material and giving the demo recordings to their fans for free. These songs aren’t B-sides, they are simply works in progress that demonstrates a British band with their fingers on the digital pulse, and the want to bring their fans closer to understanding what makes The Virginmarys tick.
For anyone that really knows the Macclesfield group, know that Ally (Dickaty, vocals and guitar) and Danny (Dolan, drums and percussion) have never been about album fillers and songs that have nothing to say. The Virginmarys cause and effect is one of real urgency, true potency, and it is difficult to ignore in an age where music is rapidly consumed and breakthrough music doesn’t always, well, break through.
Fans and subscribers of The Virginmarys will have already received four songs (two electric, two acoustic) before their Northern Sun tour starts in April, with the most recent demo “Blind Lead The Blind” receiving an incredible response from the band’s fanbase. “The fans have always been a huge part of following our true north, it’s blatantly obvious at the shows and the positive reactions via our social media”, says Ally, “It’s humbling and inspires us to move forward”, Danny concurs, “We’re very fortunate to have a dedicated army that meets up and follow the band around the country, a community/street team of over 1100 from all over the world that are busy promoting the band each day for nothing but love.” “We’ve never been about trends or interested in the continual change of scenes around us,” says Ally.
By taking control and enhancing music experiences for their fans, the Northern Sun Sessions will see The Virginmarys release fresh, original and explosive rock songs, all recorded and released by the band and giving people a unique insight into how the songs will evolve and change in the lead up to the finished record. At the end of the project, Virginmarys fans will have a new studio album, (possibly a double), and a collection of all the Northern Sun Sessions. With a valuable stream of gifts, videos, lyrics sheets, shows, songs, jams and more, this is set to be the most content music fans will have ever received from any band for free.
Ally continues:
It’s about trying to make the best music possible and delivering a worth that we can all be proud of and enjoy together in a live setting. The upcoming April shows are more of a regional tour to celebrate the start of this project and get back out there in front of the fans. We’re playing places we haven’t played much or never played before. To finish the run of shows playing Primordial Radio’s Birthday Bash is going to be ace…we can’t wait!
Free download of “Blind Leads The Blind” (demo)Â here.
Northern Sun tour dates:
- 5 April – Sheffield, Cafe Totem
- 6 April – Leicester, The Soundhouse
- 12 April – Cardiff, Clwb Ifor Bach
- 13 April – Birmingham, The Actress and Bishop
- 14 April – Mansfield, The Old Library
- 19 April – Newcastle, Think Tank
- 20 April – Edinburgh, Opium
- 21 April – Lincoln, Primordial Radio AGM Festival
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