The Rivalry

Ask for the favourite band on the lips of any Stoke music follower and I guarantee The Rivalry will be mentioned! A band who started when leaving school, needed to make changes from the original line up and over time have gained a loyal following up and down the country, and it’s easy to see why these lads have become so popular over the last 18 months. Frontman Rob Hawthorne has everything you could ask for, style, quality vocals and the guitar riffs to match. His support on bass guitar comes from Daz Mellor, who stamps down complete authority over any track written, add this to the frantic drumming of Rich Howshall and you find yourself with a top class rock & roll band. Influences are obvious from the Ian Brown style vocals, Jimi Hendrix riffs and you just have to throw in a dash of Charlatans funky keyboard style to see the clear inspirations given to Rob in helping him write anthemic tracks such as 'Start of Forever,' 'Silent Disco, It all starts here. It’s impossible to go to a Rivalry gig and not have their tunes rattling around your brain for days, and the lads clearly have faith in their tunes, bossing every live performance making their shows unmissable. The band are clearly starting to get the credit they deserve, if being a major part of BBC Introducing Stoke wasn't good enough, add support slots with legends such as, Ocean Colour Scene, Proud Mary, Twisted Wheel, Detroit Social Club, Bez from Happy Mondays and national recognition from founder of Oasis and Charlatans, Alan McGee, and you'll see how it’s just a matter of time before a big record label is banging on the door! Grab your chance to see them in a venue near you soon before they catch the big time. Rock 'n' Roll / Indie Mark Pearce - Manager