Yorkshire’s rising indie-rockers The Slates have been steadily building buzz, drawing packed crowds at headline shows in Sheffield and Leeds and sharing stages with scene favourites like The Kairos, ROLLA, The Bracknall, Stanleys, and The Velvet Hands. Now, they’re ready to take the next step with ‘Calling Up,’ a sharp new summer single and their debut drop on This Feeling Records.
There’s a bright, youthful energy pulsing through ‘Calling Up’, the kind that’s bound to stand out in The Slates’ festival sets this summer. It’s packed with shimmering guitars, layered harmonies, and infectious handclaps — all pulled together by Louis Barnes’ confident, full-throttle vocal presence. Beneath its upbeat surface, though, there’s a subtle melancholy, as the track reflects on the all-too-relatable experience of feeling like you don’t quite belong.
As Louis explains, “‘Calling Up’ reflects on the feeling of rejection and feeling left out. The song actually stems from going out with a group in town and feeling like the odd one out and almost feeling as if being there was pointless. Any attempt to try being included ends up being in vain.”
‘Calling Up’ was written by The Slates and was produced by Peter Redshaw. It was mixed and mastered by James Kenosha.
Still only 19–20, The Slates formed out of friendship and a love for loud guitars, big stages, and shared adventures. Fronted by Louis Barnes with Joe Briggs on guitar and Jude Wales on bass, their sound blends indie icons like Oasis and Arctic Monkeys with cult heroes like The Enemy and Twisted Wheel, plus flashes of modern acts like Wunderhorse and The K’s — all with a nod to the arena-rock punch of AC/DC and Green Day.
They dropped their debut EP ‘u wot?’ in 2022, followed by 2023’s rowdy breakout ‘What Have You Done?’. ‘Calling Up’ marks just their eighth release, coming hot on the heels of the anthemic ‘Fiesta’.Next stop: major festival slots and a headline date at London’s Water Rats — with 2026 plans already on the books, including a rescheduled show with The Lilacs. Tour dates below — tickets available here:
JUNE
19th – Isle of Wight Festival
JULY
7th – London, The Water Rats
24th- Truck Festival
AUGUST
1st – Y NOT? Festival
16th – GorillaFest
FEBRUARY 2026
7th – Sheffield, The Foundry (with The Lilacs)
Keep up with all things The Slates online:
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