Georgian

Jarred Up Monthly Presents:

Georgian

+ Late Night Florists + Ode To A Toad

Georgian are Georgia McKiernan (vocals, acoustic guitar), James Poole, James Polglase (both lead and rhythm guitar, BVs), Connor Alder (drums), and Harry George (bass). Together they wrangle ‘60s pop, country, folk, shoegaze, and further-flung traditional styles into tales navigating harsh emotional environments. “We don’t fit into any single genre because of the way we write together. Individually, we have such different musical tastes,” they say. “So, what goes in, is what comes out!”

Swapping lived experiences and music trivia over ales in their local pubs, Georgian bonded over wearing stories on their sleeves. In no time at all the band began making music together and the Dutch countryside beckoned; or more specifically, Broek in Waterland – a postcard-perfect 17 th century village of wooden houses, meandering waterways, lush greenery, and wildlife.

Hanging out in the sun by day, drinking by the firepit at night, with only barn cats, sheep, mosquitoes dazzled by holistic insect repellent, and the vinyl serenade of Velvet Underground, Lee Hazelwood and Nancy Sinatra for company, the tracks of debut EP Crackled Grounds were laid down with producer Arno Stols at Magenta Studio – the back room of a small farmhouse turned-recording space. Taking a leaf from Brian Jonestown Massacre’s melodic revivalism, Georgian began emulating the warm, unsettling, mysterious 60s-70s production of artists to which they had become accustomed. “I was trying to capture the essence of Neil Young through pushing the amp to breaking point and using a ’62 Harmony Meteor,” tells James, “but the recordings have elements of modernity whilst keeping the nostalgic sound of our influences.”

As for the lyrics, the songs tell of battling the elements, female empowerment, and deep-rooted nostalgia. “The EP is a soundtrack taking you to different destinations with each song,” Georgia tells. “Sometimes you’ll imagine desert plains, other times you’ll be in an English summer garden… it’s a place of escapism which walks the line between fiction and fact.” Together the songs delve below the surface and uncover authenticity at the roots like many a well told tale that has gone before. “Butch Cassidy, Buster Scruggs… those guys feel so real; their worlds are full of grit and humour,” the other James tells. 

‘Soleil’ longs for sunlight in bleak midwinter’s endlessness, and the title-track recalls a barren landscape waiting patiently for rainfall. There’s strength; ‘Medusa’ is a symbol of survival whilst ‘Strike A Wound’ offers a thunderous wake-up call which leans into powerful emotions about sitting with a feeling until the universe takes hold. ‘Californian Jeans,’ meanwhile, is an ode to the timelessness of denim and the nostalgic ‘Gardens’ provides reassuring comfort; “It’s reminiscing of someone you spent time with, but years have passed. You wonder if any fragments of yourself remain in their life… a shirt… a card… you have to assign unanswered curiosities with something fictional,” Georgia reveals.

Collected with a collage of behind-the-scenes snapshots from the EP sessions in Amsterdam, sketched interpretations by Todmorden artist Mr Gordo bring the songs to life via his own illustrated visions. The cover photograph is of a recent woodland trek near Stockport’s 16th century Chadkirk Chapel. “We were going up a hillside and came upon a clearing with trees so green in contrast to the brown leaves on the ground,” James recalls. “We huddled around each other taking shelter from the rain so got another fire going…”

Wherever Georgian lay their hats, at whatever time of day or night, their unexpected sound will unite listeners any place their musical leanings may lie. “We just hope Georgian leads people to listen to more music and give more different genres a chance,” they say. Prepare for dawn of a new Georgian age; this band of trailblazers proudly join a vast musical canon of artists looking to the future whilst honouring the past to carve out their own legacy for whatever comes next.

FREE ENTRY

Doors – 7:45pm