Swimming Tapes | Tour Bus Tracks

London based indie group, Swimming Tapes, run us through their top 5 tour bus listens, track by track.

Irish bred, London based, guitar-pop group Swimming Tapes began releasing their swoony indie music back in 2016 with the self-released demo track, ‘Souvenirs’ which subsequently lit up the music blogging sphere and kicked off the band's career. Since then they've released two four-track EPs - the sunshine soaked Souvenirs EP and the dream poppy Soft Sea Blue, released at the end of 2017 via London indie label Hand In Hive. Earlier this year the group signed a publishing deal with Sub Pop Publishing, which has enabled the group to begin recording their much-awaited debut album. Lead single,'Easy Strand' gave us a first taster from these sessions - the group have recently revealed a nostalgic Laurie Barraclough directed video for the track, check it out above! We caught up with Swimming Tapes to discover what the groups go-to, on the road listens are amidst their UK headline tour, which kicked off last week. Over the last few days, they've played dates in Manchester, Glasgow and Leeds - with two shows left you can still catch them - they're playing a penultimate show today in Bristol at Rough Trade and a tour finale in London, 20th November at Moth Club. Check out Swimming Tapes Tour Bus Tracks below.

Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever - 'Wide Eyes'

Andrew: I really like the scrappy, punkiness of their first few EPs. This tune is so propulsive and upbeat it’s a great driving song. It’s been on in the van quite a lot. Great, simple songwriting and delivered with Aussie charm. Perfect.

Strawberry Guy - 'What Would I Do?'

Lou: This is a great little jam from Mr Strawbs. It’s been on heavy rotation since we got in the van. We played with him last night in Manchester and it was wicked live too, even though it was his first gig. Good things ahead for this pup.

Teenage Fanclub - 'Don't Look Back’ 

Paddy: One of my top 5 bands, I went to see the Fannies in Camden the night before we left for the road. They played Grand Prix and Songs for Northern Britain in Full, it was so nostalgic for me. This will be bassist Gerard Love’s last tour with the band which is very sad but it made seeing this show more special. This is one on Gerard Love’s moments to shine on Grand Prix.

The Ramones - 'I Wanna Be Sedated' 

Robbie: They wrote this song about touring, not that we have the same schedule as the Ramones did, but it seems apt. It’s one of those songs that everyone can sing along to, perfect for hurtling down the M6 in a van.

Mogwai - 'Ether'

Jason: It seems pretty apt to pick a track by Mogwai as I’m travelling in the back of a van slowly encroaching on the city of Glasgow. ‘Ether’, from the album Atomic is one of those, travelling in the van post gig, it’s 2am and you want some mellow magic to brighten up your end of night blues. If my life was a movie soundtrack, this would be in the closing credits. Photography: Ben Young