Off the back of the release of their raucous single ‘Run (When I Tell You)’, Manchester alt-rock duo Dirty Blonde are back with their new single ‘Don’t Cry (It Doesn’t Suit You)’, out everywhere now. The band also announce a performance at Birmingham What’s Happening Weekender on Saturday 26 August.
Following packed out shows at this year’s Isle of Wight & Great Escape Festivals, the fierce female alternative duo comprising members Ailis Mackay (vocals, guitar) and Hayley Tait (guitar, backing vocals) are firmly making their mark on the UK alt-rock scene. Quickly gathering pace amongst key tastemakers such as Louder Than War, Atwood Magazine and GigSlutz, they have also been praised by Radio 1’s Nels Hylton as ‘one of the most exciting acts to come through Radio 1’s Future Alternative’.
Naming Kasabian, Billie Eilish and Oasis as their main musical inspirations, Dirty Blonde draw from their combined influences as well as elements of alternative rock and a heavy dose of Riot Grrrl attitude to create their distinctive sound.
Showcasing a softer side to the duo, ‘Don’t Cry’ highlights just how versatile Dirty Blonde are as a band. Recorded at The Lounge Recording Studio with Gareth Nuttall, the track touches on nostalgic echoes of Oasis as well Jamie T influences, adding a touch of raw authenticity, along with some grungy guitars that give it an edgy vibe – all wrapped up in that distinctive ‘Dirty Blonde’ attitude.
Speaking of the track, they say, “We’ve had this song tucked away for over a year. At first, I was a bit hesitant to include it as a ‘Dirty Blonde’ song as it’s noticeably quite different, but after sharing it with the band we made the decision to take it to the studio and incorporate it into our live set. ‘Don’t Cry’ is a slight departure from our usual energetic sound, offering a more personal experience. This song is a blend of different styles, drawing inspiration from various sources, but somehow it all comes together.
Lyrically, it captures the essence of individuals who constantly fake remorse, only to repeat their actions again and again. The key takeaway from this song is to have faith in yourself and don’t tolerate negativity from anyone.”
A story for the digital age – Ailis and Hayley met on Instagram in 2022 after Hayley kept seeing sponsored videos where Ailis combines the styles of two artists and makes a cover of them. “I knew she was really talented so I took the plunge and reached out to her and asked if she’d want to be in the band, and here we are today!”, says Hayley.
In just a few months, Dirty Blonde made some major achievements with their debut single ‘Come Over’ including airtime on Radio 1, Radio X, XS Manchester, BBC Manchester and BBC Introducing Merseyside & Lancashire. The duo were invited to play for BBC Introducing Merseyside at the Cavern and landed various Spotify editorial playlists. They were named as one of This Feeling’s ‘Big in 23’ acts, with their debut headline at the Deaf Institute selling out well ahead of time along with a sold out O2 Academy Liverpool show supporting the K’s and various festival slots within their first 12 months together.
Having just performed at Isle of Wight Festival and more shows up and down the country to come, Dirty Blonde are ready to take the UK music scene by storm – watch this space.
UPCOMING GIGS
05/08 – Bingley Weekender
26/08 – Birmingham – What’s Happening Weekender
09/09 – Scunthorpe – Cafe Indie
15/09 – Manchester – CANVAS
16/09 – London – Water Rats
17/11 – Nottingham – Via Fossa
09/12 – Manchester – Lions Den
DIRTY BLONDE ONLINE
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