KEYSIDE are Dan Parker on Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Ben Cassidy on Lead Guitar, Oisin McAvoy on Drums and Max Gibson on Bass and Backing Vocals.

The four piece band are undoubtedly front and centre of the burgeoning Liverpool scene that is revitalising the city’s sound, with a set ready for “the fresh fields of festival season” (Liverpool Noise) that has lit up Liverpool’s O2 Academy and Manchester’s Albert Hall. Their new single ‘Turn Back The Time,’ released on 9 February 2024, digs into the brooding depths that lurk within their music. The four-piece play irresistibly honey-sweet guitars off against evocative and cryptic lyrics. Tastemakers and fans alike are welcoming them as a burst of youthful energy, with their quintessential Mersey sound and an authentic Liverpudlian identity.

Staying true to their Northwest lineage, KEYSIDE filter jangling ‘Queen is Dead’ guitars and a charm reminiscent of The La’s through up-to-date reference points such as The Snuts and The Lathums.

Rapidly finding their feet, the band are preparing to release their debut EP in March 2024, which
features ‘Turn Back the Time’ as well as early fan favourite ‘Angeline’ (already at 43K+ streams on
Spotify). The collection was produced by Chris Taylor, hit-making co-owner of Kempston Street Studios (formerly Parr Street) who accentuates Keyside’s modern verve.

‘Turn Back The Time’ is a mature, atmospheric addition to their repertoire, centring around reflective and deeply personal lyrics from lead singer Dan Parker. Haunting guitars blossom around the vocals with cinematic richness, while Oisin McAvoy’s cavernous drums lend a hard edge to the searching rhetorical questions that repeat through the song. Parker captures the bittersweet loss of youth with raw emotion in the chorus as he repeats, “Where did it go? Where did we go?” As he has explained about the song’s coming-of-age subject matter: “We don’t get time back, but we learn from it.”

The reflective and nostalgic journey of KEYSIDE’s new single ‘Turn Back The Time’ is one you
definitely don’t want to miss. This cinematic song will charm you with it’s personal and poetic
lyrics from lead singer Dan Parker while Oisin McAvoy’s drums will keep you from drifting away
with the single’s cover art sunse.

After supporting artists like Shed Seven and Jamie Webster and playing Liverpool’s O2 Academy
and Manchester’s Albert hall, this Liverpool based band is ready to kick off the festival season.
Don’t forget to also listen to their earlier single ‘Angeline’ which has been a fan favourite since its release (over 43.000 streams so far). These two singles are very promising and I can’t wait to listen to their debut album coming out in March.

Listen to ‘Turn Back The Time’ here now.

Review by Pien Van Meegan