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Lancaster alt-rock band announce new single ahead of debut album

Morton Betts

A Lancaster-based alternative rock band are unveiling their new single ahead of the release of their debut album.

‘Mastiff’, out on Friday (July 26), is the latest track from Morton Betts, a four piece who describe themselves as ‘reasonably loud and suitably energetic, and putting a fresh spin on music that sits somewhere between rock, punk, and generally alternative.’

‘’We wrote this song last year about a conspiracy theorist who sits at a barstool in a pub, chatting to anyone and everyone who comes in,’’ said lead singer and guitarist, Jack Taylor.

‘’He's the big dog, he's the Mastiff.

‘’The track is from an album called The River Taviera, named after a fictional pub filled with the weird, the wonderful and the absurd, and the songs on the record are based around the stories of those within.

The band started life as a duo, releasing a six-track EP on streaming platforms in 2022, before becoming a four piece a short time later.

‘’We’re inspired by a variety of alternative/post-punk bands in the UK, including groups such as Do Nothing, Yard Act, Hotel Lux and Dry Cleaning,’’ continues Jack.

‘’Our presence on stage is a large part of who we are as a band, and it was important to us to try and replicate this energy throughout the recording process.’’

Lancaster-based duo Jack Taylor and Niall Graham are the creative driving force behind the band, brought to life on stage through the addition of crashing drums with Liam Santon and funky basslines with Joe Lewis.

This has helped to create a unique sound fuelled by an amalgamation of post-punk, rock 'n' roll and progressive inspirations.

Image: Kamron Jackson

The band – named after the scorer of the first goal in the first ever FA Cup final in 1872 -  have been building up to the release with some big gigs, including headlining the inaugural Lancaster Music Co-Op night at The Pub in June, and supporting Vistas and Tom Hingley of Inspiral Carpets at Kanteena in May, as well as gigs at Stonewell Tap and the Golden Lion in Lancaster city centre.

They headline a night at the Gregson Centre on Friday (July 26), with support from local bands goodplan and The Limes. On Saturday (July 27), they play a show at The Beer Hall in Galgate, with support from local musician Peter Tait.

You can follow the band on Facebook and Instagram.

Mastiff will be available to stream from midday on Friday via Spotify.

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