Loose Articles

Manchester punks Loose Articles are pleased to make their return for 2024 with the release of new single ‘I’d Rather Have A Beer’ on 31st January 2024 via Alcopop! Records, which the band can finally reveal comes ahead of their long-awaited debut album later this year, with further details TBA.

The first glimpse of the album material, ‘I’d Rather Have A Beer’ is another superb slice of spiky Mancunian post-punk from the quartet—a cautionary tale that warns against falling back into negative patterns with f*ckboys, as vocalist Natalie Wardle intones ‘raise a glass to all the man slags/they’re nothing more than just a guy you’ve had’.

Commenting on the new track, the band say: “‘I’d Rather Have a Beer’ is an anthem encouraging people to go out and have fun with your pals, rather than chasing people and dead relationships who are not worth  your time.”

The band already have a busy year of live dates lined up, including a huge support slot with Foo Fighters this summer, and February 2024 French tour dates, plus select festival appearances with further dates TBA (see below for listings).

New single ‘I’d Rather Have A Beer’ follows on from the band’s 2022 debut EP Chaos and previously released 2023 single, ‘Sinead Loves Bitcoin’, which saw continued support from Craig Charles at BBC 6music, Louder Than War, Distorted Sound Magazine and more.

This year, Loose Articles are looking to build on a busy 2023 which saw them embark on their Arts Council England funded Kick Like A Girl headline tour, offering intimate access and entry-level insights into the music business to young women (14 - 25) from underrepresented backgrounds, all whilst supporting grassroots venues and northern creatives.

They also supported Gang Of Four on their UK headline dates, appeared at Long Division, 2000 Tees, and Rebellion festivals, as well as a run of EU tour dates supporting LA punk/funk quintet Thumpasaurus, alongside a coveted support slot with fellow Mancunians and post-punk legends New Order at SXSW Festival.

Further new music and live dates will be revealed over the coming months.

Specialising in discordant, hypnotic repetition, tales of nights out, and radical politics, Loose Articles are a punk quartet with plenty to say. Their music speaks to all those determined to get through the age of austerity with tongue in cheek, and two feet firmly on the dancefloor. Plying repetition (repetition, repetition…) with ragged edges and a sardonic, sarcastic drawl delivered with fierce, in your face, punk-fueled attitude, both feminine & threatening, Loose Articles are here to make a point.

Already heavily championed by Steve Lamacq at BBC 6 Music (where they’ve also seen strong support from Chris Hawkins, Tom Robinson and Amy Lamé) the band have also picked up love from John Kennedy at Radio X, appearing on the Evening Playlist, and have appeared on Spotify’s The Punk List.

Elsewhere they’ve been covered by NME as one of The NME 100 list, endorsed by punk- friendly fashion labels Fred Perry Subculture and Underground England, named as one of Under The Radar Magazine’s 22 for 2022, and have appeared on BBC One’s Football Focus as keen amateur pundits and fans of the beautiful game. Kick Like A Girl was released around the Women’s 2022 Euros, with Shoot Music supporting key sporting playlists - alongside a request from Dave Grohl to support the Foo Fighters in Manchester.

The quartet have also had a line up reshuffle since the release of their 2022 Chaos EP, with occasional stand-in Abbi Phillips (She Drew The Gun, PINS) now taking over from the band’s original drummer Louise Rivett full time behind the kit, who now moves up front to start the party on keys and percussion.