Ecko - Blesstival, Camden

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!

Bless. - Blesstival, Camden

London’s Bless. hosted its inaugural all-dayer at Camden’s Elephants Head this past bank holiday. The event gave some of the UK’s finest new bands - Electric Sheep Inc., Cade Rain, and Ecko - a taste of the capital’s rock ‘n’ roll heartland.

*banner image courtesy of Martin Bailey

That was, until Bless. walked on stage.

More seasoned? Yes. World-weary? Not a chance. Punk’s energy, mod’s charm, and indie’s penchant for anthems oozed from the band at every turn. Bless may have given everyone a leg up today, but they blew them away on stage with a breathtaking performance.

Frontman Joei Silvestre is Britain’s best-kept rock ‘n’ roll secret. His Jarvis-like figure, his northern soul shapes, and an intense charm made even the oldest souls in the crowd want to be him — a skill few frontmen possess in 2025.

Last year’s single, ‘Skeleton Dance’, fired out with glints of The Clash and Dead 60s in its eyes. Playful and charming but always rebellious, they toy with cadence like a cat masterfully playing with its prey.

Frenetic and rampant throughout, the band could have walked off after ten minutes and changed lives. However, when you have a stonewall classic like ‘Daddy Didn’t Make It As A Rockstar’ in the locker, you leave knowing you’ve played the best song in any venue across Camden on any given day.

From the firesome to the angelic, Bless. have proved yet again they’re a force on the UK guitar scene — and they deserve the break that will entice the masses.

Electric Sheep Inc. - Blesstival, Camden

Rhyl’s Electric Sheep Inc. played the inaugural Blesstival at Camden’s iconic Elephant’s Head this past Sunday.

Frontman Christian Pimley dedicated the set to the recent passing of The Alarm’s Mike Peters. His impassioned speech about local icon status led into the groove-laden ‘Moosha Mosh’, where wayward Happy Mondays-style guitars set the stage for Pimley’s star to rise.

Resplendent in a charcoal Fred Perry t-shirt, Pimley strutted and danced with magnetic appeal. Eyes front and centre, his diminutive figure delivered a colossal lyrical assault. The ambition of Ian Brown and the poetry of Shaun Ryder collided to herald the UK’s next cultural icon:

“I’m a poet, I’m a liar, I’m a military coup”

On their latest single, ‘Cough Syrup’, the pace drops slightly, allowing Cameron Kelly and Jack Jones to ring out through this intimate setting as if it were Brixton Academy. Josh Jones’ basslines crunched with raw sex appeal, while Pimley’s angelic “oooo oooos” cut through the bombast with near-divine power.

The lyrical flow, the storytelling, and their full-bodied dive into the rock ’n’ roll aesthetics of Ecko and Bless were a joy to behold. Camden briefly reclaimed its soul. Guitars felt cool again - more than that, they felt vital.

Ecko: The Elephants Head, London

Last Sunday, Ayr’s Ecko made their live debut in London at Camden’s Elephant’s Head, supporting Bless.

*image credit A Deeper Groove

To date, Ecko have built a reputation as one of the most exciting bands in the UK but, not really beyond the confines of the Shiiine On Weekender. A free gig in a pub with unexpecting punters and tourists posed pitfalls we’d not witnessed them experience. For the few Shiiine On faithful in attendance, it built a pre-gig tension. What if it was just the magic of the Shiiine On Weekender carrying them?

Step forward, the boys from Ecko!

Batting away the security guard who checked their ID with grace and humour and adorning killer casual clobber, the future of rock ‘n’ roll was here to allay all fears.

The heads of unexpecting punters in the pub craned like the Regan McNeil with increasing frequency throughout their set. The hooks, vocals, and solos were as good as we’d all remembered from their two Weekenders.

Many, if not all, fledgeling bands flock to Camden as a rite of passage. It becomes a “thing” for them, attaching the history of the mercurial road to their insignificant futures. Ecko, however, are the kid at school you always wanted to be. Cooler and smarter, they roll out of town like Johnny Strabler, leaving everyone in their wake reeling.

Camden has gained another great origin story.