Neon Waltz

Emerging from Scotland’s northernmost mainland reaches, the six-piece indie outfit Neon Waltz blends psychedelic elements with lush melodies reminiscent of 1960s-inspired acts such as the Stone Roses and the Coral. The ensemble came together in the isolated Caithness settlement at the start of 2013, where these youthful musicians refined their sturdy sonic approach within a communal cottage while performing in the vicinity and producing demo recordings that caught the attention of ex-Oasis manager Marcus Russell. Additional momentum came via encouragement from Noel Gallagher, a support slot on the 2014 tour with the Augustines, plus a spot on Vic Galloway’s BBC Introducing in Scotland program, all of which elevated their visibility substantially. During 2016 the group traveled to Eastbourne in the U.K. for sessions on their first full-length effort. October saw the release of their “Dreamers” single, which preceded a nationwide tour. Two further tracks followed in 2017: “Heavy Heartless” and “Perfect Frame.” Drawing together the members’ varied inspirations ranging from conventional folk through Brit-pop to shoegaze, their initial album Strange Hymns—which included every one of those singles—surfaced in the summer of 2017.