THE SLATES – UNDERSTAND THE GROOVE – NEW SINGLE

“With the new single The Slates don’t just understand the groove they prove that they own it and are setting the bar high with thier funkadelic rhythm factory and Stone Roses inspired cool lyricism.”

The Slates spent the summer winning new admirers at festivals across the land, playing to huge crowds at The Isle of Wight, Truck, The Gathering Sounds and especially Y NOT? where so many fans were spilling out of the tent that extra security had to be called to maintain order. In 2026, therefore, they’re gonna need a bigger festival stage. But right now the Yorkshire trio’s focus falls on their new single ‘Understand The Groove’, swiftly followed by their biggest headline show so far at the Brudenell Social Club in Leeds this Saturday – a gig which sold-out weeks ago.

If you’re going to give a track that title you have to deliver, and The Slates rapidly prove that they have everything it takes to get one nation under a groove with this Stone Roses-inspired banger. Their modernist psychedelia is a whirlpool of wah-wah guitar and sparkling psychedelia, the beats as irresistibly funk-flavoured as the indie-rock scene gets, while Louis Barnes caps that dancefloor-igniting sound with his seemingly effortlessly cool vocal delivery.

If this summer’s ‘Calling Up’ showcased The Slates’ skill at bright-hued summer nostalgia, ‘Understand The Groove’ shows that their powers and versatility are expanding with every new release.

The Slates commented, “Groove is quality! We love playing it so much and it reflects us quite well as a band and what we want to achieve in our tunes. It’s one to get your dancing shoes on for, and we can’t wait to see how people react to it – especially at the Brudenell headliner!”

‘Understand The Groove’ was written by the band, produced by Peter Redshaw, and mixed and mastered by James Kenosha.

Photo by Oliver Roberts

This summer’s festival adventures have seen The Slates build on the grassroots following they have secured with headline gigs in Leeds and Sheffield. The youthful trio – Louis Barnes (vocals, guitar), Joe Briggs (guitar) and Jude Wales (bass) – have previously released just one EP and five standalone singles, which have earned them further waves of discovery via gigs alongside other big names such as The K’s and Pastel.

Yet while The Slates admire current scene bands like Wunderhorse, Pastel, The Royston Club and The K’s, their influences also look back to the likes of Oasis, Arctic Monkeys, Stone Roses and The Enemy. But seeing the band cements their own identity – this is a band bringing their own style to the rock ‘n’ roll world, clearly moving every moment of hitting the road, playing music with their friends, and inspiring crowds who seem to grow with every tour.

Later this month The Slates will head to Sweden to play their first European gigs at Viva Sounds before ending 2025 by supporting The Clause in Manchester. Already confirmed to hit Sheffield’s Foundry in February with The Lilacs, today also sees The Slates announce details of their biggest headline tour to date. Manchester tickets are available now, all other dates go on sale HERE on Friday, November 7th. They have also just been confirmed in the first wave of artists to play New York’s international breaking band showcase The New Colossus, which runs at various venues from March 3rd-8th.