O n the edge of genteel Tunbridge Wells, amid the rolling green hills and woods of Eridge Park, one band have instigated the first and only mosh pit moment during the entirety of Black Deer Festival weekend . Like the pied piper himself, musician Aidan Callaghan whistles a tune while his bandmate, Sam MacMillan, tears it up on the accordion and singer Daniel Harkins roars about his girl’s “Witchy Emerald Eyes”. One fan waves his crutches in the air enthusiastically.
As they exit the stage, the audience bellows for more. Another first: the band return for a rousing encore and some more crutch-waving. It’s absolute carnage.
These roving Falkirk bairns are Brògeal (pronounced “Bro-gale”), a Scottish five-piece placing their proud heritage at the forefront of an emerging new rock scene. Significantly, they are a thrilling and important addition to a fresh wave of bands pushing back against the industry’s fixation on solo pop acts. In 2023, only four new songs by groups made it into the official Top 100 singles chart, which was otherwise dominated by pop kings and queens along with a handful of oldies by Wham!, Fleetwood Mac and The Killers .
“The industry has been down on bands for a while,” Harkins says, alluding to the way it appears to regard bands as a costlier and more demanding enterprise than a solo act. Earnings have to be split an additional three, four or five ways; record labels are also concerned that a squabble between band members could bring eve.
