Join the only fan club producing post-macho noise pop.

What began as an excuse to get drunk on bottles of cider to the surprise of everyone included grew into a self-sufficient band, smashing out notes on the verge of hardcore and noise rock. Still, The Byker Grove Fan Club’s boys don’t take themselves too seriously. Now, they’re in recovery after getting overwhelmingly positive feedback to their freshly released debut EP. Despite the fact, that their name is a pun on BBC’s teenage drama, they don’t associate with the mindsets of the period. Their tracks laugh and point fingers at horrible men around them. Even though we’ve never been truly obsessed with 90s sitcoms, we’re signing up to The Byker Grove Fan Club.

Can you tell us who you are, where you’re from and about the music you make?

We’re The Byker Grove Fan Club. Huw Allen, vocals and bass, Connor Dack, guitar and Louis Lanfear, drums. We describe ourselves as post-macho noise pop; hoping that description sticks.

How did it all start?

We started writing songs together in Connor’s mouldy basement flat. We didn't really intend on it developing into anything at the time we just used it as an excuse to get drunk on litre bottles of cider. We genuinely thought Louis was so above our skill level that he wouldn’t be interested in working with us; however, he's a masochist and here we are. The music has changed a lot since then and it took a while to find “our sound” but we’ve managed to mash up our tastes and now have a pretty streamlined songwriting process.

If you were to describe your sound to someone who’d never heard you before, what would you say?

We were trying to write pop songs but we fucked up somewhere down the line and ended up writing hard-core infused noise Rock. We just wanted to be Katy Perry.

How are you feeling about the release of your debut EP?

Relieved... to be honest, we've been sitting on it for close to two years and we’re just really happy to have it out. We've been genuinely shocked by the reception, it’s weird but super humbling to have people respond so positively to something we've been sat on for the duration of lockdown. We’ve listened to those songs so many times that it can sometimes be easy to forget how much we love them.

Can you tell us more about how you produce your music?

It isn't all that straightforward; a lot of the time it's us jamming in a room although equally, it can be single members bringing a full song idea. For example, there might be a subject Huw wants to attack vocally or a rhythm/riff a member has been excited by. It genuinely gets quite explosive when an idea we can all get behind gets brought to the table which makes writing always exciting. We’ve been fortunate enough to have a space we’ve been able to freely access to write together through most of the pandemic which has given us a huge advantage when coming out of lockdown and finally performing.

What inspires your music?

Horrible men.

Where did you get your name?

We toyed with Keanu Greaves but genuinely didn't realise what a tragic life he’s had, he seems like such a lovely guy. We always wanted the name to be juxtaposed to the severity of the subject matter we were tackling. With the songs we wrote using a name like "pig destroyer" would be in bad taste. Hoping the BBC don’t come after us.

Can you tell us something interesting about the band that doesn’t have anything to do with music?

Huw’s in the top 2% of Magic The Gathering players in the world. Only Huw seems to find that very interesting but he’s adamant that its “a big deal”.

What advice would you give for anyone trying to achieve a similar sound to your band?

Go listen to these bands. Shellac, Girl Band, The Jesus Lizard, Drive like Jehu. Steal what you like, leave what you don't and use your own identity to fill the gaps. Easy.

If your band were a film or TV show which would it be?

Connor: Bridget Jones' diary

Huw: Brass Eye

Louis: Byker Grove

Name an album you’re still listening to from when you were younger and why it’s important to you?

Huw: Billy Talent’s first record, my brother gave it to me when I was in school and I still go back to it. It's angular and awkward, but it's still essentially a pop album. Cracking.

Connor: Pet Sounds; it's done to death; however, the wacky instrumentation and composition have made it prominent as an emotional rug under me for most of my life.

Louis: Nevermind; my brother and sister gave me it on cassette when I was about 5, I loved the catchy melodies mixed with raw aggression and as I got older it practically taught me how to play the drums. It's wall to wall bangers and it never gets old.

What do you hate right now?

Connor: The Youtube algorithm; anyone else just getting Gordan Ramsey videos suggested to them 24/7? I do end up watching most of them which makes the problem cyclical.

Huw: Poorly designed kitchenware.

Louis: Trying to think of witty answers for this interview.

What do you love right now?

Huw: My family, my partner, my band and my friends. I find myself loving a lot at the moment which is excellent.

Connor: I love that Ted Lasso is getting a third series, that show has been brilliant.

Louis: Trying to think of witty answers for this interview.

What comes next in The Byker Grove Fan Club story?

We’re going to tour next year which is going to be huge for us, just genuinely excited to finally be travelling and making so many experiences. Can’t get over how surreal it is to be playing shows again, we’re desperate to throw ourselves into that now that the EP is out.

Is there anything else you would like to share with our readers?

We have an EP out! Also a few grim music videos on YouTube; don’t know how they haven’t been booted off the platform yet.