When organiser Michael Eavis described The Fortunate Sons as "a fantastic band, full of energy" at the Glastonbury Festival last year he probably didn't realise he was watching a band reborn. Following the departure of key members just days before the festival, the Glasgow band reacted with a set of new material that was rawer and more urgent than ever.
Schoolmates and founding members Sam West and Calum McCann chose to bring in long term session bassist Cameron Maxwell full time, and together they found drummer Gary Johnston from the London recording scene. Fans were enraptured by the band's exhilarated performance and renewed vitality on stage. -The Fortunate Sons were rocking.
In the months following the festival the band have been causing the fine bone china to rattle in their rehearsal studio (which is located above a Glasgow Tea Room) and working towards their next studio recordings. The result is a potent mix of "upbeat cuts of rock'n'roll" and "vital urgency" (The List) that brings to mind the classic sounds of Bruce Springsteen and Tom Petty with the cutting edge of Kings of Leon. This prompted Springsteens's E Street Bandmate Steve van Zandt to remark "these guys are f****** great!" when he heard The Fortunate Sons.
Rolling Records will release an iTunes only single of the song "Queen of Hearts" due for the 29th of March with an album planned for release this Autumn. The band are preparing to embark on a year of gigging and touring, taking their arresting live show around Europe. Tours of Italy, Germany, Austria and of course the UK are already confirmed for later in the year.