Belper, Derbyshire band These Wicked Rivers who recently went to #1 in the UK rock chart with their third album ‘Fire and Folklore‘ (review here), deliver acoustic version of latest single ‘Rise‘.
The band, who have been on the road for the past several weeks with Reef and Robert Jon And The Wreck, released their new album to rave reviews on October 2nd, through Fat Earth Records.
These Wicked Rivers latest single ‘Rise‘ is accompanied by an official video directed by Conor Lee Butler and Andy Morahan (the man behind such iconic videos as ‘November Rain’ and ‘Faith’) – it’s not his legit rock credentials or his vision for the song which are creating controversy but the inclusion of Belper local “eyesore” 1983 HYMER 550S RV described in local discussion groups as “crustier than a pukka pie.”
Check out the video about the Belper motorhome – here
The band’s love of alternative living and aesthetics that look like their Nan’s front room, may have contributed to their inclusion of the RV in the video, but the vision was firm from the outset. “When an esteemed director like Andy says he wants to be involved in a video for a song on your new album you say “Yes” immediately”, states guitarist Arran Day. “Conor, Andy, Indy and our team had a vision from the very start after connecting with the song ‘Rise‘ early on. Their ideas, enthusiasm and professionalism really pushed us to up our game on this shoot. They were constantly coming up with new ideas and imagery to enhance his vision. Including the Hymer RV which we all have grown very fond of. It was easy to see why Andy has worked with the very best over his incredible career and Conor is no slouch either having directed our previous video.”
The latest single ‘Rise‘ is truly an anthem for our times; an upbeat instruction for feeling good and taking charge of your life. Multi-instrumentalist Rich Wilson writes: “I wanted to write something with a positive message to try and uplift people in these troubled times. It’s basically saying we all need to come together and stop focusing on our differences when we are all fundamentally the same.”
John Hartwell reflects: “We’ve all been through dark times. It’s sometimes hard to get back up and get back on track when things go wrong, we wanted ‘Rise‘ to help people see a way forward.”
‘Rise‘ is one of several tracks that address issues of mental health, Horse to Water confronts the reality of addiction, and how someone can only be helped once they are truly ready to receive that help. The record, which consists of ten tracks, started out as ideas while still touring Force Of Nature then ended up in Sneaps’ studio laying down the tracks for a month at his home in Belper. Together with producer Colin Richardson (Slipknot, Massive Wagons, Those Damn Crows) and engineer Pete Newdeck (Steve Grimmett, Tony Martin, Paul Di’Anno) the band created ‘Fire and Folkore‘. Singer John Hartwell: “Being local lads, it’s been a real privilege to be able to record the album so close to home in beautiful Derbyshire, a stone’s throw from where some of the songs were written, it’s been a great learning experience.”
Track List:
- The Healing
- Horse To Water
- Ain’t No Smoke
- Love To Love
- Sing Another Song (feat Kezia Gill)
- Rise
- Brother Oh Brother
- Better Man
- Woodland Queen
- Stories
These Wicked Rivers kick off their headline tour later this month, starting in Newcastle on 19th of November, see full tour dates below. The band also recently announced European tour dates next year taking ‘Fire and Folklore‘ across Germany, The Netherlands and Belgium.
The band will be on the road a lot over the next year, and with a reputation for soulful-bordering-on-spiritual live performances it’s easy to see why so many of their shows are selling out including their recent album release at Buxton Octagon Hall.
Building a devoted following across the UK and Europe affectionately known as the “Rivers Family” the good vibes are echoed in the friendship between band members themselves plus a desire to build a stage environment that’s welcoming to anyone and everyone, whether punk, alternative, young or old, able bodied or not. With the friendly vibe of your Nan’s front room, everyone should feel comfortable at a These Wicked Rivers show. Armed with a bigger sound made for bigger stages and a rapidly growing “family” of fans, These Wicked Rivers are poised to reach new heights.
Catch These Wicked Rivers on one of their tour dates below.
UK Tour Dates – Fire And Folklore Tour:
November
19 – Newcastle, The Grove
20 – Glasgow, Stereo
21 – Aberdeen, The Tunnels
22 – Carlisle, The Brickyard
26 – Leicester, O2 Academy2
27 – London, The Garage
28 – Norwich, Norwich Arts Centre
29 – Milton Keynes, Craufurd Arms
December
03 – Birmingham, O2 Institute
04 – Bristol, Thekla
05 – Falmouth, Cornish Bank
06 – Portsmouth, The Lens
10 – Cardiff, The Globe
11 – Llandudno, Motorsport Lounge
12 – Manchester, Deaf Institute
13 – Leeds, Brudenell Social Club
Other Upcoming Shows
30 May – Areatza Festival, Spain
25 June – ABR Fest, Warwickshire
04 July – The Eyes Have It Festival, Duffield
08 August – Firevolt Festival, Stockport
05 September – Off The Tracks, Donington
10 October – Octagon Hall, Buxton
About These Wicked Rivers:
These Wicked Rivers formed in 2014 in Belper, Derbyshire. The band have gained a reputation for soulful-bordering-on-spiritual live performances, building a devoted following across the UK (and beyond) affectionately known as the “Rivers Family”. With one member living on a barge and another dealing with the day-to-day reality of life as a musician with Cerebral Palsy, plus the whole band having a LOT of hair to groom it’s a wonder that the band still find plenty of time to craft timeless songs and spread their gospel of rock n roll wherever the music takes them. Thanks to a relentless work ethic the band have built unstoppable momentum in recent years. Sold-out shows across the UK, the Netherlands, France and Germany have cemented their reputation as a must-see act, bolstered by the critical acclaim of their second studio album ‘Force of Nature‘.
The band released their debut album ‘Eden’ in 2020 and their second full-length record ‘Force Of Nature’ in 2024. 2026 is set to mark a landmark chapter for the quintet, with their hotly-anticipated third album announcing soon. Armed with a bigger sound made for bigger stages and a rapidly growing “Family” of fans, These Wicked Rivers are poised to reach new heights.
Line-up:
John Hartwell – Lead Vocals & Guitar
Arran Day – Lead Guitar
Rich Wilson – Keyboards / Guitar / Harmonica, Backing Vocals
Adam Brewell – Bass, Backing Vocals
Dan Southall – Drums, Backing Vocals
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