Comprised of Devon, UK-born, Isle of Man-raised sibling songwriting duo Jack Wolter and Lily Wolter, along with Jack Sowton and Becky Redford, the up-and-coming Brighton, UK-based indie rock at Penelope Isles is centered by the bond between the Wolters, a bond that ironically was strengthened when Jack, who’s six years older moved away to study art when he was 19. “By the time I moved home, Lil was not so much of an annoying younger sister anymore and had grown up and started playing in bands and writing songs. We soon become very close. I had written some songs, so we started a band called Your Gold Teeth. We toured a bit and then Lily left for Brighton to study songwriting.”
While Lily Wolter studied in Brighton, she met Jack Sowton and Becky Redford, with whom she formed a band. As the story goes, when Lily Wolter returned home for the holidays, the idea of a forming a new band rapidly developed. Though Jack and Lily have long written separately, they chucked their disparate songs into a shared song pot, their new band was fueled by a passion for DIY alt rock/indie rock — and are influenced by the likes of Deerhunter, Pixies, Tame Impala, Radiohead and The Thrills among others.
The up-and-coming Brighton-based indie rock act recently signed to renowned indie label Bella Union Records, who will be releasing the British act’s full-length debut Until the Tide Creeps In. Slated for a July 12, 2019 release, Penelope Isles’ debut thematically is informed by the Wolters’ shared experience — in particular leaving home, moving away, dealing with the various transitions in life and growing up. “We are six years apart, so we had a different experience of some of this, but we share a similar inspiration when writing writing music. Family, leaving home, disconnection and connection all ring bells!”
Until the Tide Creeps In’s latest single, the Sleepy Sun-like album opener is centered around an arrangement that bridges shimmering dream pop and shoegaze with fuzz pop, gorgeous harmonies and a soaring hook — and while buoyant and seemingly ethereal, the song possesses a bracing quality, like a cold shower. But underneath that is an emotional push and pull; the sort of complexity brought about by obligation and duty and the need to go out on your own. The recently released video employs the use of collages, found footage and superimposed footage of the band performing the song to create a visual that’s appropriate lysergic.
The band is currently on an UK and EU tour. Check out the tour dates below.
UK/EU Tour Dates:
05/04/19 – Liverpool, UK @ Liverpool Sound City
05/05/19 – Manchester, UK @ Sounds From The Other City
05/07/19 – Paris, FR @ Le Supersonic
05/09/19 – Brighton, UK @ The Great Escape
05/10/19 – Brighton, UK @ The Alternative Escape
05/11/19 – Brighton, UK @ The Great Escape
05/16/19 – Wrexham, UK @ FOCUS Wales
05/24/19 – Amsterdam, NL @ London Calling
05/25/19 – Laval, FR @ Les 3 Elephants
06/15/19 – Maastricht, NL @ Transformer Festival
06/25/19 – Kiel, DE @ FahrradKinoKombinat
06/26/19 – Berlin, DE @ Urban Spree
06/29/19 – Kassel, DE @ Schlachthof Biergarten
06/30/19 – Offenbach, DE @ Hafen 20
7/06/19 – Six Fours Les Plages, FR @ Festival Pointu
07/13/19 – Trenčín, SK @ Pohoda Festival
07/26/19 – Topcliffe, UK @ Deer Shed Festival
08/11/19 – Cornwall, UK @ Boardmasters
08/16/19 – Breacon Beacons, UK @ Green Man Festival
08/17/19 – Hasselt, BE @ Pukkelpop
09/22/19 – Rotterdam, NL @ V11
09/24/19 – Frankfurt, DE @ The Cave
09/25/19 – Dresden, DE @ Ostpol
09/26/19 – Leipzig, DE @ Nochbesserleben
09/29/19 – Karlsruhe, DE @ P8
11/09/19 – Reykjavik, IS @ Iceland Airwaves
11/25/19 – Guildford, UK @ The Boileroom
11/26/19 – Cambridge, UK @ Portland Arms
11/27/19 – Oxford, UK @ The Jericho Tavern
11/29/19 – Dublin, IRE @ Whelan’s
12/01/19 – Newcastle, UK @ Cluny 2
12/02/19 – Glasgow, UK @ Hug & Pint
12/03/19 – York, UK @ The Fulford Arms
12/04/19 – Leicester, UK @ The Cookie
12/06/19 – Bristol, UK @ Rough Trade Bristol
