This week's round-up: New music from James Bruner, Natalie Holmes and Preacher Stone
- photogroupie
- Jul 4
- 5 min read
Illinois born; Nashville based singer-songwriter James Bruner is set to release a single “Switchblade” on the 4th July before playing 21 dates across the EU and UK throughout October and November 2025.
“Switchblade” is the perfect showcase for James Bruner – driving riffs, instant melodies and an energy born of his vast experience gained on the road over the past three years. James has consumed influences and experiences touring the USA and Europe to develop his own sound and style. “Switchblade” is a first of a number of singles coming across 2025 to coincide with him playing to audiences across Europe
October and November will see James supporting Those Damm Crows across the EU and UK – playing 21 dates across six countries. Full tour dates are as follows:
Fri 3rd Oct 2025 Luxor, Koln GERMANY
Sat 4th Oct 2025 Matrix Bochum, Bochum GERMANY
Sun 5th Oct 2025 Beatpol, Dresden GERMANY
Tues 7th Oct 2025 Hole44, Berlin GERMANY
Wed 8th Oct 2025 Bahnhof Pauli, Hamburg GERMANY
Thurs 9th Oct 2025 Das Bett, Frankfurt Am Main GERMANY
Sat 11th Oct 2025 Mokka, Thun SWITZERLAND
Sun 12th Oct 2025 Viper Room, Vienna AUSTRIA
Tues 14th Oct 2025 Poppodium 013, Tilburg NETHERLANDS
Fri 17th Oct 2025 o2 Academy, Leicester UK
Sat 18th Oct 2025 Stylus, Leeds UK
Mon 20th Oct 2025 Boiler Shop, Newcastle Upon Tyne UK
Tues 21st Oct 2025 SWG3, Glasgow UK
Wed 22nd Oct 2025 Albert Hall, Manchester UK
Fri 24th Oct 2025 Crane, Bristol UK
Sun 26th Oct 2025 Plymouth Pavilions, Plymouth UK
Tues 28th Oct 2025 Engine Rooms, Southampton UK
Thurs 30th Oct 2025 o2 Institute, Birmingham UK
Fri 31st Oct 2025 Shepherds Bush Empire, London UK
Thurs 6th Nov 2025 Limelight, Belfast UK
Fri 7th Nov 2025 The Grand Social, Dublin EIRE
For further information www.jameshbruner.com
Having come of age amidst skateboard culture in Springfield, Illinois, James was drawn towards artists like Roxy Music, David Bowie & Iggy Pop as opposed to what his friends were listening to at the time. Watching how skaters executed their craft on videos featuring Iggy Pop’s Lust For Life, Rod Stewart’s Every Picture Tells a Story & Black Sabbath’s Paranoid inspired him to get a guitar aged 15. He was soon to join local band Unchained as lead vocalist & rhythm guitar – but it was when he moved to Nashville that his focus on songwriting & working with topflight musicians began to bear fruit.
Full band shows as a solo artist began in 2023 & since then James has honed his craft as a live performer playing hundreds of shows across the USA, Europe and UK with the likes of Barns Courtney, The Romana Flowers & Yonaka as well as full European tours with Nashville singer-songwriter William Fitzsimmons and The Struts. James has graced the stages of legendary venues such as The Bataclan (Paris), Barrowlands (Glasgow), The Roundhouse (London), Irving Plaza (New York) and Fabrique (Milan).
“Switchblade” is released through Maroon Records on the 4th July 2025
Alt-pop artist Natalie Holmes is set to release her highly anticipated second album, Opposite Day, on 17/10/25.
Following the success of her debut self-produced album, Vitamin Be (2022), Natalie’s new project takes listeners on a kaleidoscopic journey through the paradoxes of human existence. Like Alice down the rabbit hole, we tumble together through accidental worlds of style and sound that mirror the disorienting beauty of being alive today.
Reaching her arms wide, ’Opposite Day’ involves a team of outrageously talented musicians - Boci, violin; Rob Pemberton, drums & mix, Alex Heane, bass & William J Stokes, co-production - Holmes proudly prepares to release this collection of genre- blurring alt-pop that ping-pongs between introspective ballads and upbeat anthems. With influences ranging from Caroline Polachek & Aurora to The Japanese House & Bon Iver, Opposite Day continues to showcase Natalie’s signature blend of ethereal vocals and thought-provoking lyrics.
Prepare to be taken through a sea of strange yet magical imagery with ‘Bird Song’, as Natalie hits on the strange concept that whenever we are feeling low, someone else is feeling high. Perhaps there’s a give and take to it, and we are constantly passing around the baton of joy.
Quirky vocal samples and weaving classical guitars lure you into this clockwork fantasy of snow rooms and birds nests, moving through worlds of
vocoder, lush drums and ethereal pads.
Natalie’s musical journey has already seen a sea of milestones. After starting with grainy YouTube videos in 2010, she’s since released several EPs, collaborations, and her debut album, Vitamin Be, which received praise from BBC Radio 2, BBC 6, Clash, and EARMILK. In 2016, she joined Above & Beyond as a lead vocalist on their Acoustic World Tour, performing at legendary venues like the Hollywood Bowl and Royal Albert Hall.
Her solo material has captured the attention of fans and critics alike, with Tom Robinson on BBC 6 calling her work “fresh, adventurous, and really assured.”
“An inspired return from a songwriter we will enjoy watching develop over the coming months and years,” wrote Clash about her debut. And indeed, with Opposite Day on the horizon, Natalie is poised to continue that trajectory—finding new ways to connect with listeners through her rivers of wordplay and arresting reflections on the human condition.
Natalie remains determined to grow as a songwriter and artist. Her work also reaches listeners through platforms like Calm, where her music is featured on the #1 sleep and meditation app.
Bird Song is out now - https://singinglight.ffm.to/natalieholmes-birdsong
For more information on Natalie Holmes:
Legendary USA southern rock n’ rollers Preacher Stone return with their gritty and swinging new single ‘Writing On The Wall’ on all good digital platforms coinciding with their Independence Day July 4. The ever affable frontman Ronnie Riddle wryly smiles on the story behind the song “We were on the road, talking about life and the term ghosted came up. I had the line ‘I said I love you too, no sooner than you heard the word a change came over you’ and we built the song around that. You know, sometimes everything was great until it wasn’t and you just don't know why or will ever know when someone is in your life so much and then overnight they disappear.” The accompanying video shows the band at their dynamic best amongst a background of a car junkyard where some hopes and dreams are laid to rest.
Kicking boots out of North Carolina USA, the band's high-octane, 200 proof, rock-n-roll guitar-driven songs about the common man with heart-wrenching smoky bar frequenting tales and the swagger of their live performances have earned them a legion of faithful fans known as “The Congregation”. Having endeavoured through adversity in the past, alongside Ronnie the brotherhood of the band is steeped in musical heritage with Ben Robinson (guitar), Darrell Whitt (guitar) Jim Bolt (bass), and Wyatt (drums). Previously their song ‘Not Today’ was featured on two seasons of the hit Fox TV series Sons of Anarchy and lengthy tours include across the United States, UK and Europe sharing stages with legendary household names such as Lynyrd Skynyrd, ZZ Top, Deep Purple and more to rapturous acclaim from fans and critics alike.
The most recent album ‘V’ was released in 2024 garnering stellar reviews across the board including Maximum Volume Music confirming “Authentic to their very core. 8.5/10”, Metal Talk stating it’s “An album that demands attention”, Emerging Rock Bands imploring listeners to “Enjoy a proper rock and roll party. 9/10.” and Powerplay Magazine proclaimed that “It’s edgy, it's raw, it’s high emotion. 9/10.”
That year also saw the band thrilling fans new and old with an emphatic roaring ovation after their main stage performance at Maid of Stone Festival and 2026 will bring a warmly welcomed return to UK shores playing at Planet Rock Winter’s End in Trecco Bay Wales with tickets on sale now. Whilst Preacher Stone are rooted in southern rock history and authenticity they assure that they’re never a band to rest on laurels. “We play and write for our friends and fans first and foremost…and we’ll be going again with the next album, we promise it won't be another 8 years of waiting!”
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