Bilk are an English indie rock trio formed in Chelmsford, Essex,[1] consisting of Sol Abrahams on vocals and guitar, Luke Hare on bass, and Harry Gray on drums. After debuting in 2018 and going on to release a number of singles and EPs, the band released their self-titled debut album in 2023.
Bilk | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Bilk in 2019 | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Chelmsford, England |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 2018–present |
| Labels | Scruff of the Neck Records |
| Members |
|
| Website | bilkband |
Career
editThe concept was developed in 2015 by vocalist and guitarist Sol Abrahams, who spent two years working with different musicians. Abrahams took inspiration for the name from his father's job as a London cab driver.[2] Abrahams met Luke Hare through an early gig and invited him to join in 2017 when Bilk's initial bassist quit. They had another drummer before happening upon Harry Gray, forming the current trio.[3]
In an interview, Abrahams said of his string of former Bilk bandmates:[4]
I was doing Bilk with other musicians for a couple years before I even met Luke and Harry. Shit didn't work out with those guys for various reasons. We went through about six different drummers because I could never get along with them and the one bass player I had before Luke fucked off to become a lawyer or something.
I knew Luke because he came to one of my early gigs and I met him briefly after the show. He then later came round for a rehearsal. We both liked Harrington jackets and early Green Day so we got on pretty well. Then it was me, Luke, and this other drummer for a bit but shit went tits up with him so that's where we found Harry.
— Sol Abrahams
Bilk officially debuted in 2018 with the singles "Give Up", "Spiked", "Next Weekend", and "Slob". That summer, they played at RiZe Festival.[5]
In 2019, Bilk self-released their debut EP titled Chipped Out. They had gigs at Bearded Theory and Reeperbahn Festival. The single "I Got Knocked Out the Same Night England Did", written during the 2018 FIFA World Cup, was released ahead of the UEFA Euro 2020.[6]
Bilk signed with Scruff of the Neck Records, through which they released their second EP Allow It in 2021.[7] That summer, they played at Louis Tomlinson's inaugural Away From Home Festival, founded to celebrate the return of live music.[8] The following year, they would reunite with Tomlinson as one of the opening acts on the UK leg of his self-titled world tour. They also embarked on their own tour in late 2021 and early 2022. In summer 2022, they played the Great Escape Festival and Reading and Leeds Festivals.[9] They released their third EP Just Don't Work For Me.[10]
In 2023, Bilk released their self-titled debut album, which was recorded on a farm outside Manchester.[11] They went on tour of the UK to celebrate the album's release. They also played SXSW, London Calling, 2000trees, Truck Festival, Tramlines Festival, Y Not Festival, and Reading and Leeds once again. There were further tour dates in late 2023.[12]
Bilk's sophomore album Essex, Drugs and Rock and Roll is set to be released in January 2025 followed their largest tour to date, starting February and traveling around the UK and then Europe.[13]
Artistry
editBilk have cited the likes of The Jam, Arctic Monkeys, Jamie T, The Streets, the Sex Pistols, Nirvana, and John Cooper Clarke as the band's inspirations.[14] Green Day, Oasis, Slowthai, and Dizzee Rascal were also named as formative influences.[15] Abrahams described their second EP Allow It as combining 90s punk with old school hip-hop. Lyrically, Bilk delve into both personal stories and social commentary.[16] The track "Stand Up" from Bilk explicitly criticises the Conservative government.[2]
Discography
editAlbums
edit- Bilk (2023)
- Essex, Drugs and Rock and Roll (2025)
EPs
edit- Chipped Out (2019)
- Allow It (2021)
- Bilk Unplugged (2023)
Singles
edit- Give Up (2018)
- Spiked (2018)
- Next Weekend (2018)
- Slob (2018)
- CM2 (2019)
- Weed Song (2019)
- In Your Car (2020)
- I Got Knocked Out the Same Night England Did (2020)
- Stop Pranging Out (2020)
- Bad News (2021)
- Love Is No Easy Game (2021)
- Billy Big Bollocks (2021)
- Daydreamer (2022)
- Hummus and Pitta (2022)
- Be Someone (2022)
- Just Don't Work for Me (2022)
- Fashion (2022)
- Something (2023)
- RNR (2023)
- F Up (2024)
- On It (2024)
References
edit- ^ "Bilk". Fred Perry UK. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
- ^ a b Mosk, Mitch (28 February 2023). "Feature: Bilk carry the punk torch forward with raw indie rock and an unapologetic attitude". Atwood Magazine. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
- ^ Coward, Teddy (11 November 2022). "whynow is the time to listen to… Bilk". Whynow. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
- ^ Coward, Teddy (2022-11-11). "whynow is the time to listen to… Bilk". whynow. Retrieved 2024-04-30.
- ^ Smith, Fraser (12 August 2018). "Meet BILK, the Essex band taking to the Main Stage at RiZE Festival 2018". Essex Live. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
- ^ "Bilk have shared their cheeky new tune, 'I Got Knocked Out the Same Night England Did'". Dork. 20 May 2020. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
- ^ Vic (24 April 2021). "Rising Essex punk band Bilk are making their return with energetic new cut Bad News". Drop the Spotlight. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
- ^ Hankney (1 September 2021). "Away From Home: Louis Tomlinson's Career-Defining Festival". Soundigest. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
- ^ Abraham, Josh. "Bilk - Redefining U.K Punk One Step At A Time". Dscvrd. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
- ^ "Bilk: The Next British Green Day". Indie Band Guru. 13 January 2023. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
- ^ Eleuterio, Juliette (12 February 2023). "Culted Sounds: Meet the rock band riling up British youth counterculture Bilk". Culted. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
- ^ "Bilk Concert & Tour History". Concert Archives. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
- ^ Solomon-Brady, Harvey (7 October 2024). "Ready for chaos: Bilk reveal new album Essex, Drugs and Rock and Roll". WhyNow. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
- ^ "BILK". The Five Ws of. 9 April 2018. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
- ^ Shah, Rishi (10 February 2023). "Nobody Puts Bilk In The Corner". Clash. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
- ^ McKeown, Rory (30 August 2021). "Rising Stars: Louis Tomlinson-approved Bilk are turning heads with their riotous bangers". Daily Star. Retrieved 28 August 2023.