As the last few tickets remain to see the Reytons at the Portsmouth Guildhall on Saturday the 21st October, I took time to look over the success of the band storming the UK on tour.
After a successful Summer of European festivals and securing a number-one album in January, the Yorkshire indie rock band has been eager to greet UK fans once again.
Early shows at the start of the tour in Manchester and Newcastle have had the high energy that the band have become recognised for and pleased crowds across cities up and down the country.
Having just played the gig of their lives at the Sheffield Arena to a 13 thousand set of fans at the end of September, the 4 lads, Jonny, Joe, Lee and Jamie are taking in the hard work they have done to keep the momentum going with the band. Monday the 2nd of October saw them announce their biggest open-air gig in their hometown at Clifton Park and sold half the tickets of the 20,000 capacity on the first day of general sales.
The Clifton Park gig will be the first time a band has played at the Rotherham Park for 50 years, with T-Rex being the last band to play in 1973!
Heading to Portsmouth on Saturday, Joe, the lead guitarist in the band said, “Portsmouth and Southsea are both cracking places. My parents moved here going on nearly 7 years ago, so I know the place like the back of my hand. Getting to come play here for the third time, now at the Portsmouth Guildhall, is a special one for me. When my parents moved, I stayed home, up north, to do music and follow the dream, but if I had moved down here, things like playing the main stage at Victorious and now playing the Guildhall would have still been on the bucket list. The fact I get to experience the best of both worlds is unreal. I walk about the streets here as a second home for sure.”
Speaking of visiting Portsmouth regularly, Joe said. “Obviously, being big on my music, you’ll probably find me chilling with the boys at Joy Fantastic spinning garage records or picking up gig tops from Bored Of Southsea. One of the main things for me is the independent scene and culture Portsmouth has… It’s one of the reasons the parents stayed and one of the reasons it always brings me back, not just for Christmas.”
The Reytons have become a band that shows true grit with their hardworking nature of never giving up and coming up with clever marketing ideas to keep ahead in the game. John Fury helped to promote the current tour and animation was used for the first time to promote their 2024 performance in Rotherham. It is always cool to see what ideas the boys will come up with next.
The band have worked so hard, and securing a number 1 album, ‘What’s Rock and Roll’ at the start of the year showed the true capacity of what the lads can achieve. Having had no financial backing from the start, they have pushed to drive their story of how a band can make it with drive and dedication. All of the marketing is thought up and created by the 4 band members and Rich Goodwin, the manager of the Reytons. Rolling up their sleeves to get the work done, whether that’s folding the t-shirts for the merchandise stand or designing and creating the programmes that were for sale at the Sheffield Arena, proves attention to detail pays off.
Having watched the band grow from the beginning, I am excited to see the journey unfold over the next 12 months. Clifton Park will be a memorable gig as it will be historical and I can’t wait to see the atmosphere on the 6th of July. Album 3, called ‘Ballad Of A Bystander’ is on the way, and after all the excitement drummed up for the number one album, you can see they haven’t stopped the energy at all. Keeping busy by planning, creating and working hard to achieve what is next for the Reytons is something that is everyday life to this South Yorkshire crew.
Saturday night at the Portsmouth Guildhall will see a lively crowd of all ages, from young teenagers to retired folk who just love the sound of the band and want to be a part of the story. With fantastic support from Declan Welsh and the Decadent West and The K’s who headlined the Golden Touch festival earlier in the year at The Wedgewood Rooms, this gig is one not to miss!
You can get the last remaining tickets here.
