BILK SHARE THE NEW VIDEO FOR SINGLE ‘TOMMY’ FROM THE NEW ALBUM ‘ESSEX, DRUGS AND ROCK AND ROLL

Rachel Brown Published: December 2024 | Updated: December 2024 3 minutes read

Bilk have been building a cult-like grassroots following for a while now, but 2025 will be the year they break into far bigger things with the January 24th release of their second album ‘Essex, Drugs and Rock and Roll’. The three singles they’ve issued thus far – ‘Summer Days’, ‘F Up’ and ‘On It’ – have shown their ambition, accomplishment and versatility has gone up a gear, not forgetting that chaotic streak and larger-than-life personality that elevates them above the norm. Having recently received support from the likes of Radio X, Clash, and Dork among others, that statement gets re-iterated as they share album’s latest single ‘Tommy’.

Tommy’ has been the sound of the band playing for maximum effect – bouncy hip-hop-meets-indie-rock verses establish the tone before the hook unloads its raw punk rush, complete with a killer elastic bassline and searing hard rock solo. Vocalist/guitarist Sol Abrahams delivers every line with venom, with the song’s story-a young woman whose life is wanted by falling in love with a waster-inspired by their local Essex heartlands, but instantly recognisable everywhere across the UK.

‘Tommy’ is the story of an aspiring actress who gets involved with this guy who’s a bit of a wrong ‘un and he takes her down the wrong path. I wrote it quickly and the solo is enough to melt your face clean off.”
‘Tommy’ was written by Sol, and recorded with his bandmates Luke Hare (bass) and Harry Gray (drums) at sessions split between Edge Studios and Silkmill Studios, with production from Andy Gannon (AIKO, The HARA).

From their debut in 2018 to their self-titled album in 2023, Bilk’s approach has always been to release raw, honest rock ‘n’ roll that exists only in the present and is about escaping from the humdrum of life. It’s a stance that incites unhinged energy and drama at lives, with memorable London headline gigs at Omeara, The 100 Club, and The Garage, an infamous Rough Trade in-store that got them banned from the shop, plus big festival moments at Reading, Leeds, SXSW, Truck, The Great Escape, and Louis Tomlinson’s Away From Home.

Bilk end 2024 by headlining a special fundraising show at Guildford’s Boileroom to benefit the mental health charity CALM. 2025 then gets underway with their most expansive headline tour to date, which includes their biggest London show at the Electric Ballroom and then continues across Europe. ‘Essex, Drugs and Rock and Roll’ is available to pre-order or pre-save HERE.

TOUR DATES

DECEMBER
12th – Guildford, Boileroom (CALM charity show)

FEBRUARY
5th – Bristol, Thekla
6th – Cardiff, The Globe
7th – London, Electric Ballroom
13th – Manchester, Academy 2
14th – Leeds, Brudenell Social Club
15th – Newcastle, Northumbria Students Union
16th – Glasgow, SWG3 Warehouse
19th – Nottingham, Rescue Rooms
20th – Norwich, Arts Centre
21st – Birmingham, O2 Academy 2
22nd – Southampton, Engine Shed

MARCH
3rd – Paris, La Boule Noire
4th – Antwerp, Kavka Oudaan
5th – Rotterdam, Rotown
7th – Copenhagen, Ideal Bar @ Vega
8th – Hamburg, Hebebuhne
9th – Berlin, Privatclub
11th – Warsaw, Klub Hydrozagadka
12th – Krakow, Klub Gwarek
13th – Prague, Café V lese
14th – Vienna, Chelsea
15th – Munich, Milla
16th – Milan, Circolo Magnolia
26th – Cork, Winthrop Avenue
27th – Galway, Roisin Dubh
28th – Belfast, Oh Yeah Music Centre
29th – Dublin, The Workman’s Club

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