The Blinders are Thomas Haywood (guitar, vocals, word), Charlie McGough (bass guitar), and Matthew Neale (drums, backing vocals). Growing up in Doncaster, the trio met at school and were originally inspired by local heroes Arctic Monkeys, though for ‘Columbia’, which was produced by Gavin Monaghan at Magic Garden Studios in Wolverhampton, they draw on influences as diverse as The Smiths, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds and Kanye West.

Now based in Manchester, The Blinders have been picking up specialist radio support since their first DIY releases from the likes of Radio 1’s Huw Stephens and Daniel P Carter, Radio X’s John Kennedy, and 6Music’s Chris Hawkins and Steve Lamacq, who recently had the band on his show for a BBC Music Introducing Session.

After a series of support tours and 2017 Festival appearances including Reading & Leeds, Isle Of Wight, and TRMSMT, The Blinders undertook their debut headline tour in February. Earlier this month they supported Cabbage (who called them the “best band in the country right now”) at their all-day festival at Manchester’s Ritz, and drew a huge crowd at the Neighbourhood Weekender festival.