Gigs Gigs Gigs - WIINK

Gigs Gigs Gigs is a brand new feature where we catch up with the bands and talk about the one thing we're all missing most: Gigs! Check out what some of our favourite artists have to tell us about their three favourite venues which they can't wait to play again after lockdown!

This week we spoke to Alternative/Rock outfit WIINK. Based between their home of St. Albans and uni-city of Leeds the band are making a name for themselves in both regions and across the country with recognition from their heroes, Carl Barratt and John Hassall of The Libertines already in the bag. The trio gave us their top 3 venues for a classic, raucous, WIINK gig:

The Horn - St Albans

Our stomping ground where we cut our teeth - genuinely one of the best grassroots venues out there! We had our first proper gig there, have supported loads of great artists there and luckily have been able to have a few headline shows, some of which sold out! Always pleasant memories of this lovely pub and venue.

The Lending Room - Leeds

This was the last place we giggled before ol' rona was giving it large. Lovely place and an absolutely fantastic crowd when we played, it was a original bands night and everyone stuck around to support each other. Simply cannot wait to be back under the lights!

Ye Olde Fighting Cocks - St Albans

A relatively 'new' venue for live bands, despite it being one of the oldest pubs in Britain. Cocks is such a humble place but the energy changes when you have a group of people jamming out between the wooden beams and under the low roof. 

At the end of their first year living in Leeds for Uni this trio have impressed, gaining traction and a multitude gig bookings. They now round that off that period with their first release of 2020, Morning Stroll. An instrumental keys opening leads into the main introduction riff which can only be described as, the closest sound I've heard to The Libertines for years. Guitar riffs, bass lines and vocal melodies that all immediately remind me of one band, one of the best in this field. Not in a bad way at all, as I love it, just bringing back that rough and ready element we knew and loved from The Libertines. You can listen to this great new release here.