Single Review: The Slates – Calling Up
Calling Up
Yorkshire’s The Slates are a band clearly on the rise. After building a loyal grassroots following and selling out headline shows in Sheffield and Leeds, they’ve started making serious noise in the UK indie circuit.
Their latest single ‘Calling Up‘ is their debut on This Feeling Records, this marks a noticeable leap forward, not just in terms of production but in emotional depth too.
There’s something instantly addictive about ‘Calling Up‘. It’s bright and bouncy on the surface, all jangly guitars, upbeat handclaps, and sun-soaked melodies but dig a little deeper and you’ll find something more reflective underneath. Frontman Louis Barnes delivers the vocals with an easy charm but there’s a hint of disconnection in the lyrics, the kind that hits hardest when you’re surrounded by people but still feel out of place.
The track captures that strange blend of optimism and isolation that often defines young adulthood. Inspired by a night out where Barnes felt like the odd one out, the lyrics manage to tap into something universally relatable without ever sounding forced or overly polished.
Musically, it’s another step up for The Slates there’s more space in the mix, more confidence in the delivery and more texture in the instrumentation. Credit goes to producer Peter Redshaw and mixer James Kenosha for keeping the energy raw while giving the song a clean, radio-ready finish.
At just 19 and 20 years old, The Slates are still early in their career but ‘Calling Up‘ suggests they’re learning fast and aiming high. It’s the kind of track that makes you want to see them live, ideally with a beer in hand, shouting along in the middle of a festival crowd and once you do see them live, you will be wanting to catch them again and again.
Next up is a series of major festival dates as well as a London show at The Water Rats. Their plans already stretch into 2026 with a rearranged show as guests to The Lilacs already on the calendar.
Get tickets here: https://linkfly.to/30103u30voS
JUNE
19th – Isle of Wight Festival
JULY
7th – London, The Water Rats
24th- Truck Festival
AUGUST
1st – Y NOT? Festival
16th – GorillaFest
FEBRUARY 2026
7th – Sheffield, The Foundry (with The Lilacs)
