Sunderland's Picnic band release new single to lift city's spirits

Like all bands, six-piece Picnic were unable to enjoy a summer of gigs and festival appearances this year, but they put their time in lockdown to good use by releasing an album of covers to raise money for Sunderland Food Bank.

They were also the first headline act to perform at Independent in Holmeside once gigs were able to resume.

Now, they’ve used their indie, jazz, funk and pop sound to create new single Baby.

Eddie Scott from the band said: “Baby was the first song I wrote almost entirely using voice notes. 80% of the song was down before any of us even picked up an instrument! Lyrically it was completely improvised to suit the melody and hasn't changed since.”

He added: “There's a real buzz within the band at the minute as I think we've really started to think about the bigger picture and dare to dream a little bit.

"We're really focused on setting ambitious goals, but also on making sure that the quality of the songs never suffer because of them. The main drive at the minute is to do more of everything that we've been doing all these years, and making it bigger every time.

"The ethos that will never change is that everything we do is for the people who support us; we've always been a band that has had the audience experience at the forefront of everything we do, and that will never change, no matter how big or small that audience is.”

Following on from shows alongside Fickle Friends, Dave Stewart (Eurythmics), Little Comets, The Pale White, appearances at 2019 festivals Lindisfarne and Tipping Point Live, a recent sold out headline at Newcastle’s Riverside, 2020 would have been Picnic’s busiest period yet and would have seen the band perform alongside big names at festivals such as This Is Tomorrow Festival, Hit The North & Hardwick Festival.

Picnic’s Baby is released on October 16 and will be available via all digital platforms.

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