BEAR PARK - ‘BETTY’

Writer’s Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

In the world of indie rock, the prominent cities of Manchester, Liverpool and many others have dominated in terms of big acts making a splash in the scene, setting the standard for modern UK rock. But bubbling up over the last few years, the North East of England is making its case as one of the best places for upcoming acts. Obviously, we’ve seen the meteoric rise of Newcastle’s very own, Sam Fender, following on from icons like Jimmy Nail and Mark Knopfler, but we’ve also seen artists like Tom A Smith and Andrew Cushin start to gain some pedigree of their own. Like those mentioned, Bear Park are trying to follow in the footsteps of their peers and after signing to 25 Hour Convenience Store Records, a label set up by legendary drummer, Gary Powell, of The Libertines, and with a debut album on the way, the sky is the limit for these three lads.

Made up of Shay Bagnall (Bass and vocals), Guy Robson (Guitar) and Adam Marshall (Drums), the lads have some great chemistry, bringing some really tight grooves and flowing, driven sound across their limited catalogue and deliver some real toe tapping indie rock on this recent escapade. The whole song has a soothing acoustic core to it, coupled with a great vocal performance from Shay and brought together with some solid drumming from Adam, it’s clear to see that the band have developed a neat sounds that suits them. Helped with Gary Powell’s production, ‘Betty’ sounds a lot more professional than their older stuff now they have the backing of a label.

Lyrically, ‘Betty’ comes off as something you might hear on a Catfish and The Bottlemen record, essentially just talking about a relationship and the struggles that come with it. However, whilst the lyrics aren’t mind blowing, the track still plays as a song to reintroduce the band to the world, get new fans on board and put older fans back on the radar. With UK dates lined up, a spot on the lineup for Hardwick Festival and that aforementioned debut album on the way, it looks to be an exciting 2024 for Bear Park. It’s clear to see Powell see’s something in the band and I for one am more than excited to see what these young bucks can cook up in the lead up to their first project.