Reasons to be Cheerful in 2021: Springfield Elementary, The Howlers, Bleach Boy

By Jon Milton

This first week back in January has seen new singles by TV Priest and Shame, a new EP from the Oscillation and the debut album from Lice released, but what about the new music prospects for the rest of the year? We talked to three bands whose output in 2020 was limited to a single each, but have grander plans for 2021.
 
Springfield Elementary   
 
What were your highlight(s) of 2020?  
 
The biggest highlight has to be the release of our single Doctor, Doctor in June. We were fortunate to be able to record it with Rainy Daze studios back in January and it was difficult planning a video for it once the first lockdown happened. We thought to take advantage of the situation and video what we got up to during the strictest covid restrictions. Brad edited it together and it turned out really well. We were glad we could still be creative together, despite not being able to see each other! 
 
Video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5Mnc9hlVDo

Photo by Jake Manuell

​When can we expect to hear new music from you in 2021, in digital and physical formats?  
 
We were supposed to be recording an EP in November, but stricter restrictions meant that we had to postpone. We're set to be recording later this month at Airtight Studios in Chorlton. We've had a lot of time together writing songs this last year so expect to hear some songs we haven't performed live yet!

Pandemic permitting, what gigs have you got lined up?   

It's all still a bit up in the air at the moment, we've had a few planned earlier in the year but all were either called off or postponed with no new dates set yet. 

Any festival appearances planned?  

We're booked in for YANA fest, which at the moment is set for March 6th across Northern Quarter venues. All profits of this are going towards the Manchester Mind mental health charity. Fingers crossed enough vaccines have been rolled out by then.

What are your hopes for the band in 2021?  
 
Our main focus is on the EP at the moment and getting that heard by as many people as possible! Once that's all recorded the plan is to make a couple more DIY music videos like we've done with previous singles. Other than that we just want to play to crowds again, we have a lot of new tunes written and ready for that first gig back!
 
The Howlers 
 
What were your highlight(s) of 2020?  
 
I think we are one of the few bands out there that has managed to keep our head above the rising tide of sh*t our industry has had to deal with this year so I guess that is a big highlight especially in a time when there's not much to really get excited about. We've also had the pleasure of working with some amazing people 'in secret' this year which has been what's kept us going really!

When can we expect to hear new music from you in 2021, in digital and physical formats? 
 
Very soon...we have recorded a wealth of material that's all scheduled for release in the first half of 2021, depending when this interview goes out we may have already announced something...and there's lots planned for physical(s) 
 
Pandemic permitting, what gigs have you got lined up?  
 
We have our UK Tour in March/April Hopefully which may become socially distanced, both our promoters and us are watching the current climate closely, we've got some big plans for 2021, but if you haven't already get a ticket for our UK tour, there's still a few tickets left in some city's 
 
Any festival appearances planned?  
 
We can't say to much at this stage as we don't know whether most of them will go ahead but we have already been announced for a few in the England & Scotland 
 
What are your hopes for the band in 2021?  
 
Well if the past 9 months of planning pays off we can get back to doing what we love, that's what its about really, as long as people dig the records then that's good enough for us, there's far to many overly ambitious people in our industry and that just takes all the fun out of what we do, of course we all strive for success but at the end of the day what really matters gets lost in translation sometimes, that's why we never do politics or try to be a 'Pop culture' band it's not who we are, I think people get that as well!  

Bleach Boy

What were your highlight(s) of 2020?

We had some fun moments at the start of the year, we played some new places across the UK (Leeds, Stay Fresh Fest). When lock down was announced, we were in the studio recording our new tracks. We were also announced to play some more festivals across Europe, but unfortunately, they have been postponed. 

When can we expect to hear new music from you in 2021, in digital and physical formats?

You can expect to hear some new tunes from us ASAP. We have spent a while figuring out where we stand in this pandemic and what the best move is with releasing. We have some ace tracks lined up and our priority right now is just getting them out there.

Pandemic permitting, what gigs have you got lined up?

Our gigs that were cancelled last year have been rescheduled for 2021, hopefully starting with a headline show in Manchester in February. We were also planning on hitting up some spots in Europe and maybe making it into a European tour.

Any festival appearances planned?

We are hopefully going to be making some festival appearances this year, including God Save Claremont in France and Right Noise Festival in Copenhagen.

What are your hopes for the band in 2021?

We are not going to be moving slow. We live for gigs and this pandemic has affected us all. We have heaps of material to get recorded, videos to do and shows to tear up.