A packed out Engine Rooms in Southampton saw some of the best band’s the UK has to offer as Arctic Lakes, Press to MECO and Arcane Roots took to the stage in which would be right up there as the best tour 2018 has seen so far.
Arctic Lake saw female lead singer Emma Foster who ruled the stage and despite being first on, you could just tell that this trio has a lot of potential. It was a really chilled out set and Emma soon got the crowd coming towards her as she engaged with fans. They started with Limits before the brilliant Heal Me.
The band reminded me of PVRIS or London Grammer and Emma certainly had the same standard of vocals. Just before the set ended, the leader singer thanked Arcane Roots and Press to MECO as well fans for watching their set. They finished on Too Close which was a perfect way to end a very enjoyable set.
Next up was Press to MECO which we had the pleasure of interviewing before their set. We caught up with guitarist/vocalist Luke Caley and bassist/vocalist Adam Roffey as they talked about the tour, upcoming album Here’s To The Fatigue and more!
Completed by drummer/vocalist Lewis Williams, Press to MECO took the stage in some style with an electric start. The trio started with Familiar Ground before they played Duffusion of Responsibility which ccertainlygot the crowd moving. These two quickly followed by If All Your Parts Don’t Make A Whole and Manipulate which again were great additions to their set. New track A Quick Fix was then performed as the band asked fans to do their loudest cheer if they like it at the end as it had an amazing riff which you could tell the trio were proud of.
The trio then played one of their well-known songs Affinity which was a real treat for fans and they certainly killed it. Before the band played the last song they asked if fans could call Jack from Arcane Roots ‘The Dark Assassin’ which seemed to be an inside joke with the bands. Press to MECO finished on Here’s To The Fatigue, the title song from their upcoming album, and it was a real anthem and got everyone clapping.
Overall it was an awesome set from these lads and with the backing of Marshall Records, you can tell the Press to MECO will certainly be headlining Engine Rooms in the future.
Last up was the brilliant Arcane Roots and we managed to catch up with bassist & backing vocalist Adam Burton as he talked about the tour, latest music and more!
Completed by Jack Wrench on drums and backing vocals and guitarist and vocalist Andrew Gloves, Arcane Roots who exactly why they were headlining on the night. The trio started off with Off The Floor after a two-minute build up with a ticking noise. There was mosh pits from the start as Arcane Roots performed Matter and Sacred Sleeps which provided a few screams which added it’s heavy vibe on the night.
Everyone was engaged with the band as they played Solemn and Landslide which really got the crowd pumped. You can tell the band wanted to make sure that set was perfect as when they played Leaving Andrew asked to restart the song as he made a mistake. Second Breath and Indigo then followed before Slow Dance which was a great song to dance to. and almost reminded me a bit of Bring Me Horizon. The trio finished on Curtains and If Nothing Breaks, Nothing Moves which was a perfect way to end a perfect night of British music.