BRING THE NOISE FESTIVAL | INTERVIEW STRAY PURSUIT

The Stray Pursuit is an exciting alternative rock band. They are known for their engaging live shows that feature catchy guitar riffs and strong vocals. They take inspiration from bands like Royal Blood, Foo Fighters, and Nothing But Thieves, creating music that connects with rock fans. The band has performed with artists like Andrew Cushin, The K’s, and Vida, and has shared the stage with The Lottery Winners, Pastel, and Trampolene. They are featured on This Feeling’s “Big in 2025” and will perform at the Isle of Wight Festival in 2025. They were also chosen as one of the ‘Class of 2025’ to watch by Drowned in Sound and the Music Venue Alliance.

The band includes frontman Aaron Morgan, lead guitarist Dylan Cooney, bassist Fred Wilkinson, and drummer Nicholas Bevan. In December 2022, they faced a tragedy when founding drummer Nicky Bevan passed away. This loss motivated the band to honor Nicky’s memory and show their potential. He is deeply missed by many. Ben Lewis joined the band in April 2023. They began a new chapter at Longwave Studios in Cardiff, where they worked with Grammy and Mercury-nominated producer Romesh Dodangoda to record their first EP called “Domino Effect” and several singles. After the EP was released on December 8, 2023, the band went on a South Wales tour, selling out shows at Cwrw in Carmarthen and ending at The Moon in Cardiff. Their latest single, “I Don’t Know,” was released on all platforms on November 1, 2024.

Could you introduce yourselves, who’s in the band, what your sound is, and how you came together?
We are The Stray Pursuit: Aaron (frontman and singer), Dylan (lead guitar), Fred (bass), and Ben (drums). As a rock band, we’re all about heavy riffs, soaring vocals, and big, unapologetic guitar solos.
Aaron and Fred first crossed paths in college, where they started jamming together before Aaron joined Fred’s band. Wanting to write original material, Aaron reached out to Dylan, a bandmate from a previous project, who brought along his schoolmate, Nicky. That’s how The Stray Pursuit was born. Tragically, in December 2022, we lost Nicky to suicide. He’s deeply missed and forever in our hearts. After healing, Ben joined us in April 2023, completing the lineup we have today.

What’s happening for you right now? Any new releases, upcoming gigs, or exciting projects in the works?

We’ve been working on our next single release, ‘Mess with My Head,’ which will be coming in mid-May. To prepare for the release, we’ve been shooting a music video and preparing content for socials behind the scenes. Next up for us is ‘Bring The Noise ‘ at Network, Sheffield, on 26th April. We’re buzzing to be back. The last time we played in 2023 was class. We’ve got a hometown headline in association with This Feeling to mark the release of ‘Mess With My Head’ on June 6th, so we’re super excited to play Swansea again; it’s been a little while. We’ve got our first major festival this summer, which we’ll announce very soon, so watch for that!

Looking back, how has your music evolved since you first started out? Are there any key moments that shaped your sound or approach?

As we’ve grown as a band and gained more experience writing songs and seeing how people react to them, our sound has naturally shifted from indie to a more solid rock identity. There wasn’t a single moment when everything changed; it probably had a lot to do with us getting older and what we were listening to at the time. We’ve just found ourselves drawn to writing heavier, more in-your-face tracks the kind of songs that feel way more exciting to play and experience live.

What’s the biggest challenge you’ve faced as an independent band, and how have you navigated it?

There are two challenges that go hand in hand and are ones every independent band faces: getting exposure and finding the money to keep things moving. Between gear, studio time, music videos, travel, photographers, marketing (the list goes on), it can be tough to afford the momentum you need to grow. To fund it all, we play functions, weddings, and birthdays under a separate cover band name. Without some kind of financial backing, chasing down any version of the potential you imagine for yourself is near impossible.

What’s your songwriting and recording process like when creating new music? Do you have any unique rituals or methods?

Dylan’s our main songwriter, particularly with the current sound we’re chasing. Sometimes, he’ll bring a fully written track to the table, complete with ideas for each of us, and we’ll jam it out together. Other times, it might just start with a riff or a vocal hook we’ve got, and we’ll build the rest around that. Weirdly, we’ve got this thing about playing in the dark usually once a song’s nearly finished. It’s a good way to test ourselves, forcing the parts into muscle memory without relying on watching each other.

If you had to describe your upcoming (or latest) release in just three words, what would they be?

Gritty, raw, and energetic (upcoming single ‘Mess With My Head’).

What made Bring the Noise stand out to you? What excites you most about playing (or being part of) the festival?

Bring The Noise was the first festival we played outside of Wales, so we went in with open minds, just ready to enjoy the experience. The lineup’s brilliant for catching bands who are right on the cusp of breaking through to the next level. We caught up with the lads in The Mercians there in 2023; they’re absolutely smashing it now. And, of course, The Lottery Winners headlined that year and have only gone from strength to strength since. It’s one of those festivals where you know you’re watching future big names. Music aside, there’s a great energy there; everyone’s just buzzing and out to have a laugh.

Sheffield has a rich musical history; how do you see your band fitting into or challenging that legacy?

Being a rock/alt band, we feel like we slot naturally into Sheffield’s scene, a city that has produced some of the most iconic names in British music. Growing up with bands like Arctic Monkeys and Bring Me The Horizon on constant rotation, it’s impossible not to be shaped by what they’ve done, both for Sheffield and for the wider rock world. But while we wear those influences proudly, we’re also conscious of carving out our own space within that legacy. Sheffield’s always been a city for underdogs and outsiders, people who don’t quite fit the mould but go on to reshape it. That’s the spirit we want to tap into. We’re not here to imitate what’s come before; we’re here to add our own chapter to the story.

The indie scene is constantly evolving. Where do you see it heading, and how do you hope to contribute to its future?

The indie scene is alive and well; we only see it growing stronger. It’s such a vital space that helps shape people’s identities and gives them a sense of belonging. There’s something powerful about finding a band whose lyrics feel like they were written just for you, then going to a show, meeting people who get it, and realising you’re part of something bigger. It’s everything to so many people, us included.
Looking ahead, we hope to see more funding and support for the venues and artists that keep this scene alive. In the short time we’ve been together, we’ve already watched too many brilliant grassroots venues shut their doors, and without them, the foundation of the scene crumbles. Organisations like The Music Venue Trust have been incredible in fighting that fight. Their #OwnOurVenues campaign literally saved Swansea’s The Bunkhouse, and it’s moves like that which keep the heart of live music beating.
For us, the dream is to reach a point where we can make music full-time and give back to the scene that raised us. Whether that’s through our own gigs, supporting other bands, or getting involved in projects that help the next wave of artists come through, we’ll jump at any chance to be part of it.

Who would you choose if one band on the lineup could cover your tracks?

That’s a tough question with so many great bands on the lineup. I really like Holy Youth Movement and the sound they’ve developed. I think that’d make for an interesting cover of one of our tracks.

Stray Pursuit plays at the Bring The Noise Festival at Sheffield’s Network on the 26th of April. Tickets are available here: https://www.skiddle.com/festivals/bring-the-noise/