DOWN WITH BORING.
Thomas Headon
ISSUE 78 · JULY 2023 · READDORK.COM
New Album e 30th
BACK ISSUES! Want to complete your collection and grab Dork covers with all your faves? Get ‘online’ and head on over to shop.readdork.com and find our complete back catalogue, available while they last.
Issue 78 | July 2023 | readdork.com | Down With Boring
Hiya, Dear Reader. Warm summer greetings. It's getting a bit sticky out, right? As you pick up this issue, Glastonbury is either imminent or has just happened. Either way, we're firmly into the season of music festivals, open-air concerts and oh-fuck-I-forgot-to-put-onsun-screen. Don't be stupid. Always wear sunscreen. As we approach the halfway point of 2023, more boring magazines may try to make lists where they vaguely suggest that you probably should have listened to the boygenius album. Not us. We're too busy with looking forwards. Forwards to the likes of our fave witchytype Maisie Peters, who is about to drop her proper brilliant second album. She's casting the spells and layout out the cards for a bright future. Then there's The Japanese House - one of the first Dork cover stars back in the day; Amber has only got better with time. Her new album, 'In The End It Always Does', is staggering - a record of the year contender in any era. And then there's Thomas Headon. We're ecstatic to announce that the charismatic indie alt-popster will be headlining our festival Dork's Day Out on 5th August. Before then, he's got a new collection of songs he thinks you'll like. We think you'll like it too. We can't both be wrong, can we? So as we head off into the second half of 2023, here's to a summer filled with good vibes, great music, and unforgettable experiences. Just remember, seriously, sunscreen. Don't forget.
readdork.com Editor Stephen Ackroyd Deputy Editor Victoria Sinden Associate Editor Ali Shutler Contributing Editors Jamie Muir, Martyn Young Scribblers Abigail Firth, Alex Cabré, Dan Harrison, Jake Hawkes, Jessica Goodman, Melissa Darragh, Neive McCarthy, Sam Taylor, Steven Loftin Snappers Andrew White, Em Marcovecchio, Frances Beach, Jennifer McCord, Mason Poole, Megan McIsaac, Patrick Gunning, Ragan Henderson, Tom Beard
PUBLISHED FROM WELCOMETOTHEBUNKER.COM
UNIT 10, 23 GRANGE ROAD, HASTINGS, TN34 2RL
Intro. 04 10 11 12
FIZZ ROYAL BLOOD A DAY IN THE LIFE OF... GUS DAPPERTON REMI WOLF
Hype. 14 16
KATIE GREGSON MACLEOD CATE
18 19
SPIDER COLE BLEU
Features. 20 28 32 40 42
MAISIE PETERS GENGAHR THOMAS HEADON POOL KIDS THE JAPANESE HOUSE
Incoming. 50 51
REVIEWS YOUTH SECTOR
Get Out. 52 56 58 58 58 59 59 60
THE GREAT ESCAPE BEYONCÉ WIDE AWAKE LIVE AT LEEDS PEACE YARD ACT RED VELVET MÅNESKIN
Backpage. 62
All material copyright (c). All rights reserved. This publication may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form, in whole or in part, without the express written permission of The Bunker Publishing Ltd. Disclaimer: While every effort is made to ensure the information in this magazine is correct, changes can occur which affect the accuracy of copy, for which The Bunker Publishing Ltd holds no responsibility. The opinions of the contributors do not necessarily bear a relation to those of Dork or its staff and we disclaim liability for those impressions. Distributed nationally.
DO NOTHING
‘Editor’ @stephenackroyd
READDORK.COM 3.
INTRO. THE BEATING HEART OF POP NONSENSE.
4. DORK
buzzy h t i w , e s: E . . Photo e scen h t ail Firth n et FIZZ ig b o e A : e m r a Words m ay am tea um on the w e r d w A ne an alb d n a s t live se chio.
ovec m Marc
→ SCATTERED AROUND BRIGHTON are posters featuring a hypnotic red swirl and the phrase 'A NEW PHASE AWAITS YOU', beckoning you down the rabbit hole of Fizz, a secret band playing at The Great Escape. Down at Shooshh, a club under the arches on Brighton seafront, the surprise is revealed at 9:30pm, as the four-piece step on stage amongst giant lollipops and toadstools, a graphic behind them – also featured on their posters – giving a clue as to who they are before they arrive. The group consists of dodie, Orla Gartland, Greta Isaac and Martin Luke Brown, who, up until now, have largely been known for making introspective, singer-songwriter jams for their individual artist projects. Fizz changes everything. That's immediately obvious when we meet on Thursday afternoon outside Shooshh, when each member of the group emerges from the venue in different twisted-Alice-in-Wonderland style outfits, ready for our photo shoot. A week later, in dodie, Greta, and Martin's flat, they're considerably more understated as they gather on the sofa at 10am for a chat. It comes at the end of a hectic week where the four launched the band, started promotional shoots, played their first gig, flew to Barcelona to do more photo shoots, flew home and signed their deal (Greta even found time to get her nails done at Gatwick airport).
READDORK.COM 5.
COVER STORY
20. DORK
MAISIE PETERS
A melodic diary penned from soul-stirring experiences, MAISIE PETERS' latest album 'The Good Witch' is a tapestry of emotions. Prepare to be cast under her spell once more.
by Neive McCarthy
photography by Em Marcovecchio
styling by Luci Ellis hair & make-up by Elizabeth Rita
READDORK.COM 21.
OR DEAD
FEATURES
28. DORK
GENGAHR
Back with their brilliant new album 'Red Sun Titans', GENGAHR are pushing back to hit new heights. by Steven Loftin photography by Jennifer McCord
READDORK.COM 29.
THOMAS With a brand new collection of six songs he thinks you'll rather like, and a headline slot at Dork's Day Out this August coming up, THOMAS HEADON is just enjoying the vibes.
IS
by Abigail Firth photography by Jennifer McCord
styling by Amy Holden-Brown grooming by Lauren Newman
A TSHIRT: VINTAGE FROM DEPENDABLE DOG BRACELET: STEPHEN WEBSTER
32. DORK
THOMAS HEADON
HEADON
HAVING READDORK.COM 33.
COVER STORY
42. DORK
THE JAPANESE HOUSE
THE JAPANESE HOUSE's Amber Bain ventures into a bold journey of self-discovery and healing with her second album 'In The End It Always Does'. Blending melancholy and joy, it's a heart-rending experience that resonates on a profound, human level.
SUNSHINE,
BABY. by Ali Shutler
photography by Megan McIsaac
READDORK.COM 43.