Priestgate: Eyes Closed For The Winter
Raised in the sleepy town of Driffield in East Yorkshire, Priestgate are Rob Schofield (vocals), Bridie Stagg (drums), Connor Bingham (guitar), Isaac Ellis (guitar), and Kai Overton (bass). The nucleus of Priestgate came together after Ellis was recommended to the band by none other than Schofield’s dad, who he works alongside building coffins as his 9-5 job. Soon after Overton, a mental health worker for the local council, completed the line-up.
Formed as a battle cry against the restlessness and mundanity of rural life, Priestgate began as a reaction to the sparse local music scene around them, which in turn has allowed them to craft and develop their own unique sound without the added pressure of conformity. Drawing comparisons to The Cure and The Maccabees, Priestgate have combined bright guitar-pop hooks with darker lyrical sensibilities, concocting their own angst-laden blend of the hypnotic and euphoric.
Produced by Nick Hodgson (Alfie Templeman), and mixed by Caesar Edmunds (Foals, The Killers, PJ Harvey), the Eyes Closed For The Winter EP is a formidable statement straight out the gates – and a window into the world of one of Britain’s most thrilling young bands.
