Ayr’s rising stars Ecko, played the inaugural Blesstival this past Bank Holiday with the likes of Electric Sheep Inc. and Bless. at Camden’s Elephant’s Head.

*banner image courtesy of Martin Bailey

Their last visit to the capital was in the same venue and their measured psyche-cum-indie licks wowed a packed crowd. Many of the same faces have made the trek to the capital to see if lightning could strike twice.

It could, but not as we’ve come to expect.

Heavier in sonic but freer in playing, the Scottish quartet unleashed new songs of real impact. ‘El Cabio’ throbbed with the measured menace of Nirvana’s ‘In Utero’ and the distorted aggression of Sonic Youth and Idlewild’s angst-ridden beginnings. It gave frontman Jamie Warden a platform to mark himself as the kind of rock star festival goers will shed limbs for.

Fan favourite ‘Let Go’ rips through the Elephant’s Head like a spell from the devil. Bristling with punk's fervent energy and rock ‘n’ roll’s hedonism, they unleashed a single worthy of Creation Records status. This, what had become their archetypal sound to date, was a refreshing tonic against the backdrop of their new harder edges. together, they were a deadly duo few bands could match.

Time and time, and TIME again, Ecko prove they’re among the elite rock ‘n’ roll bands in the UK. It’s just a matter of time until their breakthrough to the masses comes!