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Colt 45 are certainly no strangers to the Punktastic pages – their DIY combination of gruff-punk and inherently catchy melody first caught our attention back with the release of their debut EP.

Since then, the band have signed to Visible Noise Records, released a remastered collection of their previous EPs (‘Coughing Up Confessions’), and headed back into the studio with producer-of-choice Romesh Dodangoda for their debut album proper, ‘The Tide Is Turning’.

With Camden Rocks, Kendal Calling and the legendary Download Festival forming part of their current touring schedule, the Cumbrian trio have unveiled the lead track from their forthcoming album. ‘O.K.’ pushes their melodic creativity up a notch, and showcases their ability to rival their up-and-coming stateside counterparts.

The track takes everything that made ‘Coughing Up Confessions’ captivating and expands upon it. Most importantly, ‘O.K.’ feels like the track their early material had been hinting at – it’s catchy, immediate and just a little bit rough around the edges.

Colt 45 have also released a teaser of the official video for ‘O.K’.

Following the announcement of their place at this year’s Download Festival, Kendal Calling and Camden Rocks Festival, Colt 45 have confirmed their new debut album proper, ‘The Tide Is Turning’, will be released on the 28th July.

The Romesh Dodangoda produced record will be preceded by the lead single, ‘O.K.’, in late May.

Colt 45 recently recorded an acoustic session for the channel 4 TV series Skins, available to view via the YouTube player.

As the relatively unknown One Day Elliot supply a mixture of pop-punk and no-holds-barred straightforward pop, it is the sheer courage of the unaccompanied vocal harmonies that attract attention. Although the band find themselves playing to an almost empty room, there is not any lost energy in their punchy performance. Despite a few flat notes and missed beats, it is unarguable that One Day Elliot thoroughly enjoy being on stage – and one band that make the audience want to laugh along.

Cumbrian trio Colt 45 have travelled a long distance for tonight’s show, and despite the relative obscurity of the venue appear adamant to put their all into the performance. Taking tracks from both of their EP’s, the band switch between musical styles from song to song. Although this demonstration of ability is impressive, it remains difficult to keep up with the sheer magnitude of the changes. While the recorded material benefits from a certain cohesion, it is left somewhat confusing on stage; the band may benefit from clumping some of the more traditional songs together and separate from the more upbeat moments.

That said, tracks such as ‘Happiness is a Dying Art’ and ‘Brick Wall’ sound suitably impressive in a live environment with Neil Harper’s strained vocals sitting comfortably against the melodic undertones. If anything Colt 45 provide a grassroots sound and attitude that demonstrate a significant proportion of their time spent on the road. What they lack in continuity tonight they more than make up for in thorough brashness.

As headliners Electric River take to the stage a reasonable sized crowd has emerged centre stage. Bouncing and singing along to the band’s comparatively conservative blend of Americana inspired rock; it marks a less deflated conclusion than would have been expected earlier tonight. While the music balances on the genuinely impressive vocals, there is little to inspire in the accompanying Gaslight Anthem-meets-Go Radio commercial rock.

Regardless, tonight has become a family and friends affair for the headliners and one which the supporting acts appear welcome to frequent.

BEN TIPPLE

We reviewed the tuneful tracks very favourably back in March, comparing them to Hundred Reasons and Gaslight Anthem.  The songs have been given more than a touch of polish by Romesh Dodangoda, a producer who’s got credits on Funeral For A Friend and Motorhead releases.

You can listen to and download all the tracks from their bandcamp, and you can get all the latest from their Facebook and Twitter feeds to find out more about the new material coming soon.