THE FRONT ROW

The Slates’ latest single “Calling Up” arrives like a fresh pint at golden hour, effervescent, uplifting, and tinged with the kind of emotional truth that turns a simple indie track into something more resonant. Out now via This Feeling Records, it marks a big step forward for the Yorkshire outfit as they graduate from promising grassroots contenders to genuine festival-stage threats. With appearances lined up at Isle of Wight, Truck, and Y Not? this summer, “Calling Up” feels like both a statement and a send-off—an anthemic farewell to those feelings of alienation that many of their young fanbase will recognise all too well.

The track bursts into life with shimmering guitars, crisp claps, and tightly woven harmonies that make it hard not to visualise the band basking in sunset light on a packed festival field. But beneath its glossy indie-pop exterior, there’s vulnerability too. Frontman Louis Barnes’ lyrics explore the quieter, more internalised side of coming-of-age, those nights out where the music’s too loud, the friends feel too distant, and you can’t help but wonder if you’d be better off at home. It’s a theme Barnes addresses head-on: “The song actually stems from going out with a group in town and feeling like the odd one out… Any attempt to try being included ends up being in vain.”

There’s something unmistakably northern in the way The Slates approach their sound, scrappy but polished, melodic yet raw. Produced by Peter Redshaw and mixed/mastered by James Kenosha, the track keeps things tight and vibrant without losing the band’s natural charisma. Fans of The Royston Club, Corella, or The Kooks will instantly find a home here, while there are shades of classic influences too.

The Slates are still early in their journey, but they’re moving fast. With just ten or so released tracks under their belt including the breakout single “What Have You Done?” and recent punchy release “Fiesta,” their catalogue already shows more growth and maturity than many bands achieve across several years. And it’s no fluke. The trio of Louis Barnes (vocals/guitar), Joe Briggs (guitar), and Jude Wales (bass) have been gigging relentlessly, selling out venues in Sheffield and Leeds, supporting scene staples like Stanleys and The Velvet Hands, and honing the kind of live show that transforms local buzz into national momentum.

“Calling Up” might be about not fitting in, but ironically, it’s the sound of a band clicking perfectly into place. It’s sharp enough for playlists, anthemic enough for the moshpit, and honest enough to strike a chord with anyone who’s ever felt like the odd one out. With more music on the way and festival season just beginning, The Slates are calling up, and we should all be answering.