Metal, Hardcore, Indie, Rock
The Lilacs sign to Scruff of the Neck
Wigan-born indie/alt-rockers The Lilacs have inked a new record deal with Manchester label Scruff Of The Neck.
The four-piece English outfit — made up of vocalist Ollie Anglesea, guitarist Sam Birchall, bassist Matthew Johnson and drummer David Gomersall— is a word of mouth phenomenon and the latest band to emerge alongside the likes of The K’s, Red Rum Club and The Royston Club for a surge in UK guitar music.
The deal is the result of a joint venture between Scruff Of The Neck and This Feeling, both organisations focused on developing indie, punk and rock and roll-grass roots bands.
There is a myth in the new band scene that This Feeling and Scruff of the Neck are fierce rivals. But these are just rumours. The signing to Scruff of the Neck came about after a catch-up between mates, with This Feeling CEO Mikey Jonns saying as he was about to leave: “By the way, you need to sign The Lilacs, they’re gonna be massive.” After a few pints in Kings Cross before The View Scala show, Scruff Of The Neck founder Mark Lippmann was introduced to the band’s manager and the rest is history.
In just a few short years, The Lilacs have already begun to make a name for themselves ( they have so far been entirely independent, only collaborating with their UK promoters This Feeling & Metropolis) across the country, playing sets at iconic venues such as Manchester’s Albert Hall, various O2 Academy venues and even finding themselves on the bill for the mighty Isle of Wight Festival in 2021. The Northern lads have amassed over half a million streams worldwide and have been picked up by various high-profile radio stations including XS Manchester.
Their debut single “Vicarage Road” has found its way onto over 5,000 playlists and has become one of the band’s most recognisable tracks, with over 200,000 streams on Spotify alone.
The Lilacs have already sold 1,500 tickets in their hometown for a headline show at the 02 Ritz in Manchester on Friday 1, November 2024.
More about Scruff Of The Neck
Scruff of the Neck was established in 2009 as a gig in the backroom of an old Manchester pub when founder Mark Lippmann was 21 and at university. A record label, music publisher, concert & festival promoter, and creative services company, SOTN is passionate about working with the best artists. In 2019, their Records division won ‘Best Small Label’ at the AIM Awards, which led them to signing a global master distribution deal with Believe and publishing admin with Sony, both mid-pandemic.
Scruff of the Neck now have a fast-evolving in-house set-up based at head office in Manchester, signing and distributing the most exciting new acts across the UK and promoting a multitude more on Live. The pioneering content partnership withTwitch enabled Scruff of the Neck to broadcast a ‘TV’ music showcase series every week achieving over 15 million unique viewers and an innovative ‘hybrid’ stream at Y Not? Festival 2022 which amassed 1.1 million viewers alone.
More about This Feeling
This Feeling started life as a monthly club night in London 15 years ago and has organically become the UK’s number one promoter of emerging acts, with nights showcasing new artists in over 42 cities and stages at major festivals. With their ears to the ground when it comes to discovering the latest music, This Feeling has become the place to hear the best new indie bands first. Bands who played early shows with This Feeling include Catfish and the Bottlemen, Blossoms, The Struts, Easy Life, Anteros, Black Honey, Inhaler, Red Rum Club and more.
More about The Lilacs here.