Manchester duo, Dirty Blonde are one of our red hot tips for future, or should we say near-future stardom and a predicted big breakthrough – and they have a cracking new single just out in “Polly”.
They also now announce a new EP, “Looking for Trouble”, slated for release in April ’25.
We caught them live in London on their sold out five-date UK tour supporting Independent Venue Week, where our super snapper Liam Battersby was invited to shoot an exclusive portrait session and pictures of the full show.
The place was totally rammed for their incendiary set [a co-headliner with rising star Lizzie Essau.]
This “blonde-bombshell alt-rock duo” is fronted by the powerhouse pairing of Ailis Mackay (vocals, guitar, drums) and Hayley Tait (guitar, backing vocals).
Since forming in January 2023, they’ve shared the stage with acts such as Frank Carter and the Sex Pistols, The Lottery Winners, Cast, The Subways, and The K’s.
Their debut EP, “Favourite Record” quickly grabbed the attention of tastemakers at BBC Radio 1 and Radio X, landing spots on major Spotify playlists and scoring a video feature on Channel 4’s “Sunday Brunch” TV show.
Dirty Blonde’s latest track, “Polly” bursts onto the scene with grunge-infused guitar riffs. Channelling the raw energy of Pixies, the narrative flair of Taylor Swift, and the bold swagger of 90s Garbage, this “Sapphic anthem captures the unpredictable thrill of falling in love.”
Half Moon London Setlist
Come Over
Checkmate
Adore Me?
Northern Twang
Favourite Record
Rage
Don’t Cry
Polly
Rush
Run
Featured on their upcoming “Looking for Trouble” EP, “Polly” cements Dirty Blonde’s status as rising heavyweights in their genre. Their new EP will be released on 17th April 2025, ahead of their shows on 2nd and 3rd May at Liverpool’s Sound City.
On their new EP: Tracks like “Adore Me” and “Polly” carry a sly charm, serving as the “nicer cousins” to the fierce anthems “Checkmate” and “Rush”, while previous single “Northern Twang” stands as the powerful matriarch anchoring it all.
Writing the EP was more than just a creative process—it was cathartic, offering a rare moment of reflection, the duo report. Dirty Blonde aim to remind us that women in rock aren’t just part of the scene – they’re doing their best to redefine it!
EP Tracklist:
Northern Twang
Polly
Rush
Adore Me?
Checkmate
Speaking of the new single, the band say: “We wrote ‘Polly’ about that messy, crying on your bathroom floor, unpredictable side of falling in love that no one talks about. Someone can give you all the reassurance in the world, but how do you know that it won’t all come crashing down?”
“Polly” was born out of a spontaneous collaboration with their producer during a Covid-induced break, the song starting as a fast-paced grunge experiment before evolving into its current form.
The band now also release their DIY music video for “Polly”, complete with yellow lyric captions inspired by Arab-Australian artist Sarah Bahbah.
The duo are skilled videographers and filmmakers, with all their videos being completely DIY. They film high quality live sessions in studios, shops and venues.
Dirty Blonde have also launched their new YouTube series, “In Bed With Dirty Blonde”, which sees the duo talking through their song writing techniques and other band anecdotes, as well as answering fan questions.
Last summer, the band hit the festival circuit hard, tearing up more than 20 stages, including a game-changing set at the Isle of Wight Festival where they opened the second stage.
Add in further knockout performances at The Great Escape, Truck, Y Not, and NBHD festivals, and they can deservedly be hailed as one of the UK’s hottest new live acts.
Dirty Blonde have earned a reputation for punchy guitar work, heartfelt lyrics and powerful live performances – drawing on varied influences from indie, pop and classic rock. The duo [and their fine band] bring a fresh and nostalgic take on alt-rock.
Deffo ones to watch – quite literally!
All photos [Exclusive] – Live & portraits – shot at Half Moon, Putney, London by Liam Battersby
Words by Steve Best
