PONY UP presents Crawlers

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Every so often, a new band arrives that feels important; like they’re about to mean something to so many. Liverpool’s CRAWLERS are just that – a group built not just on an undeniable ability to write exciting and eclectic rock songs, but an empathetic passion that fuels them to stand up, speak out and open their arms to anyone in need of a safe space and community.

They began their journey in late 2018 when Amy Woodall (guitar) messaged her childhood friend and former bandmate Liv Kettle (bass) to suggest starting a new band together. Simultaneously, Liv’s new college friend Holly Minto (vocals) had the same idea. “Within 10 minutes of each other, I had the same message from both of them,” she explains. “It was like, ‘OK, it would be silly [to say no].’” With drummer Harry Breen joining in 2021, the line-up was finally complete.

Since their inception, CRAWLERS have been putting the work in, gigging across Merseyside, working on their songwriting and steadily building an impressive following on social media that is often hard to come by for unsigned bands. The latter has been an essential tool for the group, who already have over 650k followers on TikTok. Holly’s knowledge of social media helped them plug their gigs and releases effectively online, opening up new opportunities for the band.

As that organic growth flourished, so did their songwriting. Early singles like 2019’s ‘So Tired’ and 2020’s ‘Placebo’ and ‘Hush’ presented a band with a knack for pairing poetic, personal lyrics with guitar and bass riffs that reel you in and wrap you up in them. Last year’s self-titled EP took another leap forward again, the four-piece incorporating some of the world’s broader issues into their lyrical tales. The record garnered praise from BBC Radio 1’s Jack Saunders, Clash, Gigwise and more, while the stunning single ‘Come Over (Again)’ crashed into the Official UK Singles Chart thanks to fan power alone.

No matter how many people are listening, using their platform is something that remains at the heart of what CRAWLERS want to do with the band. “It’s really hard to find a safe space – especially for young people, queer people, and other misrepresented or underrepresented groups – and being able to do that with our platform is something we’re looking forward to exploring and breaking new boundaries with.”

The band’s next raft of releases will continue to mix the personal with the issues that matter to many in our world. Their next single ‘Fuck Me’ – a compelling concoction of big, grungy riffs – pivots their lens inwards as Holly examines her relationship with her own body. “I know I used to be in love,” she whispers on the song. “The kisses that led to sex were close enough.” It’s yet another example of the bold, probing songwriting that makes them such an important new band and a powerful force to be reckoned with. Continuing to keep the world on its toes and questioning society, CRAWLERS are firmly on the path to becoming one of Britain’s most vital acts.

CRAWLERS are: Holly Minto (she/they), Amy Woodall (she/her), Liv Kettle (she/they) and Harry Breen (he/him)