Indie guitar-powered four-piece, The Bracknall, continue their rise to power and prepare for their biggest UK tour to date with five new songs on their EP, Waiting For The Lights To Change.

A DEDICATED FANBASE

The story of The Bracknall began as a pipedream at the 2009 Benicàssim Festival in Spain.  That’s when guitarist brothers Jack and Harry Dacey, along with third guitarist Eddie Smith and drummer Dan Hurley decided it might be a good idea to ‘get a band together.’  Fast forward to 2012 and the guys’ hometown of Romford, Essex – That’s when and where the Bracknall became a reality.

Since then, The Bracknall have been steadily acquiring a dedicated following through their explosive live shows at festivals and venues around the UK and with the help of their two albums – 2022 debut Going Nowhere Fast and, particularly, the 2025 follow-up, Falling Out Of View.

The Bracknall describe themselves as: “Unapologetically guitar-focused,” and that’s no idle boast, as they demonstrate repeatedly on their new EP, waiting For The Lights To Change.  They have been described as ‘Britpop Revivalists’ and their songs certainly channel such influences as The Verve and Oasis.  But they aren’t copyists, by any means.  Listen closer and the inspiration of The War On Drugs, Doves and Ride can be picked out too.

OASIS COMPARISONS

2026 is turning out to be an exciting year for The Bracknall.  The momentum they have gained shows no sign of subsiding any time soon and, in November, they’ll be embarking upon their biggest UK tour to date.  The tour kicks off with a couple of shows – in Aberdeen and Glasgow – in which The Bracknall will support Embrace.  They’ll then cast off for ten headline shows on an itinerary that culminates at the iconic Koko in Camden on Friday 4^th December.  Full details of the tour can be found here.

I’m immediately reminded of a cleaner-sounding Oasis by opening track, Where I Belong.  The guitars riff and solo, whilst frontman Jack grinds out his vocals with Liam-esque cynicism and drummer Dan visits every part of his kit.  A solid wall of riffage provides the intro to Heavy On The Feeling and, this time, the riffs are sharp and punchy.  Jack’s voice is lower in the mix and some of the cynical tone is lost.  He’s more ‘Noel’ this time than he is ‘Liam.’  There’s even a hint of reggae rhythm in the bassline and the quasi-psychedelic guitar solo is sublime.

The mood is dialed back for the pensive What Am I To Do.  Echo-y electric guitar and a strummed acoustic guitar set the scene.  Jack delivers a vocal that is strong, passionate and tuneful, as the guitars start to shimmer and then take total control for the chorus.  If we’re sticking with the Oasis comparisons, then I guess that this is The Bracknall’s Wonderwall.

CENTREPIECE

Perhaps the centrepiece to the EP comes with Got What I Came Here For, the current single.  “I often say that there are singing bands and there are dancing bands,” says Jack.  “We’re a singing band and this song reflects that, building the mood with soaring atmospherics.  Lyrically, it covers the hard road we’ve travelled, juggling day jobs and 2am finishes in the rehearsal room, now to be rewarded with these gigs and amazing fans.  We couldn’t have imagined this two or three years ago.”  Piano and guitar are prominent and Jack puts everything he has into his vocal delivery.  A fuzzy electric guitar adds the sparkle and, when the full band eventually kick in, the song fairly bounces along.

The Bracknall let their listeners down easy, with closing track Head Above The Water.  Jack sings to a strident acoustic guitar accompaniment; the electric guitars are pared back and piano takes the lead on the bridge.  Jack’s voice assumes a lazy, Dylan-infused nasal tone and, whilst the band are nodding in that direction, they also throw in a few hoots of harmonica for good measure.

I reckon that The Bracknall are just getting into their stride…

Watch the official video to Where I Belong – the EP’s opening track – below:

The Bracknall: Website

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