Men an Tol + alphabet + The Paris Match

Mên An Tol recently released their much-anticipated debut single ‘NW1’ on 8th November via ADA. The track marks the start of the recording career of this London-based five-piece, with airplay support from Radio X’s John Kennedy and Apple Music 1’s Matt Wilkinson. ‘NW1’ sets out the band’s identity – swirling with a hope and romance, it’s a vibrant and relatable love letter to home and your surroundings, delivered with the kind of poetic lyricism fit for pub corners where tall tales are best told. It’s a confident debut, and set to put Mên An Tol firmly on the map as they build towards the release of their debut EP. On the track frontman Bill Jefferson says – “‘NW1’ is situated in a specific snapshot in time when I lived above an Irish pub in North London. It’s a swirling mix of my drunkard meanderings around that part of town. The song is a journey to the realisation that those magical, formative times can never be repeated, but will always have a special place in my memory”. Written in one creative splurge, the band’s instant chemistry is writ-large across ‘NW1’ as they channel the raw grit of folk greats like The Pogues and The Waterboys alongside the mainstage urgency and confidence of Britpop giants. Perhaps most vitally, the song proudly reclaims lost folk traditions with the use of the mandolin coupled with vibrant storytelling. Mên An Tol have been performing live over the last twelve months and recent shows supporting Yannis from Foals’ sojo project Yannis & the Yaw at KOKO and a headline show at The Shacklewell Arms affirm the band’s burgeoning reputation. Next they’ll be playing a monthly residency at The Dublin Castle in Camden, dates below Tue 26 Nov 2024 Tue 17 Dec 2024 Wed 22 Jan 2025 Presented by Metropolis Music and SJM Concerts.