integrity news

Integrity News
(I Wanna Be) A Pop Star
Posted on April 15, 2026 by nick

‘(I Wanna Be A) Pop Star’ is the new single by Tribes of Europe & Barbara Stretch, out 17th April 2026 via Integrity Records (INT 107) – think Young Marble Giants jamming a glorious ‘60s anthem with the indie-pop energy of The Primitives.

Following a clutch of 2025 singles including ‘Opportunity’ (“An other-worldly shimmer and sparkle”– MusicLoveMusic) and ‘Spooky’ (Big Tune blog Singles of the Year), the band’s new release explores the enduring power of pop music, with its ability to affect the lives of performers and listeners alike. With the current state of the world and the mood of its leaders, those fragments of light and joy spawned by art, music and culture are arguably more vital than ever.

Martin from the band explains:

“We were trying to capture that feeling when you’re a little kid and you get that first rush from pop music. It’s like the singers and the guitars and drums and everything have all just beamed down from space to show us how life could be. Eventually reality bites and you learn it takes a lot of effort to look that free, but some of us never lose that first flush.”

Tribes of Europe, the alter ego of Fenland-based multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Martin Elsey, are joined on ‘Pop Star‘ by vocalists Barbara Stretch (Spoilsports, The Vernons) and Max Taylor (Mika, Groove Armada, Roots Manuva), with Andy Gangadeen (Massive Attack, The Bays) on drums, and Chris Taylor (Poison Girls, The Bays) on bass. Chris and Martin share production and mixing duties amongst the resident chickens at the wonderful Bluebarn Studios in the Cambridge countryside.

Tribes of Europe & Barbara Stretch have enjoyed national support on BBC 6 Music, BBC Radio Wales, BBC Ulster, BBC Radio 3’s Late Junction and various specialist stations across Europe & the UK. The band have previously recorded live sessions for the late great Janice Long on BBC Radio Wales and for Gorgeous Radio.

“Unashamedly ‘60s but with a new twist” – Steve Lamacq, BBC 6 Music

“An instantly catchy and uplifting retro-futuristic creation” – Get In Her Ears

“The whole goddamn super-group bring their A game on this one” – LWM

https://tribesofeurope.bandcamp.com

https://bsky.app/profile/tribeseurope.bsky.social

https://www.facebook.com/TribesOfEurope

Tagged , , , , , , , , ,
Tribes & Barbara get Spooky
Posted on October 15, 2025 by nick

‘Spooky’ is the new single by Tribes of Europe & Barbara Stretch, out 31st October 2025 via Integrity Records (INT 106) but available for radio immediately. The band’s version of Dusty Springfield’s 1970 classic features a serene one-take vocal by Barbara Stretch and Martin’s enigmatic but understated nylon-strung guitar solo in place of the original saxophone.

The band initially added the cover to their setlist for a radio session but now, following recent singles ‘Opportunity’ (played by Gemma Cairney on BBC 6 Music) and ‘Sun Don’t Mind’ (“The song of the summer … sexy, sultry” – MusicLoveMusic), ‘Spooky’ has its own Halloween release.

Barbara says: “When a radio station asked us to include a cover for a live session, for me it had to be Dusty Springfield. She was the biggest influence on me as a teenager and I’d always wanted to have a go at Spooky. I love that we played it live.”

Martin adds: “Barbara’s vocal is sublime. It was only meant to be a guide vocal, just to keep the rest of us on the straight and narrow while we recorded the backing track but, on the first playback, we all knew she’d already knocked it out of the park. There’s something extra special about the whole band performing in the studio at the same time, all wanting to put the tune across just right.”

Tribes of Europe is the alter ego of Fenland-based multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Martin Elsey, joined on ‘Spooky’ by vocalist Barbara Stretch (Spoilsports, The Vernons), with Max Taylor (Mika, Groove Armada, Roots Manuva) on Fender Rhodes and backing vocals, Harry Bennett (Clor, Creepy Neighbour) on drums, and bass maestro Chris Taylor (Poison Girls, The Bays) on production and mixing duties amongst the resident chickens at the wonderful Bluebarn Studios in the Cambridge countryside.

Tribes of Europe have enjoyed national support on BBC 6 Music, BBC Radio Wales, BBC Ulster, BBC Radio 3’s Late Junction and various specialist stations & new music shows across Europe & the UK. The band have previously recorded live sessions for the late great Janice Long on BBC Radio Wales and for Gorgeous Radio.

“Unashamedly ‘60s but with a new twist” – Steve Lamacq, BBC 6 Music

“An instantly catchy and uplifting retro-futuristic creation” – Get In Her Ears

“The whole goddamn super-group bring their A game on this one” – LWM

https://tribesofeurope.bandcamp.com

https://bsky.app/profile/tribeseurope.bsky.social

https://www.facebook.com/TribesOfEurope

Tagged , , , , , ,
Million Dead – Vinyl
Posted on September 5, 2025 by admin

After a remarkable comeback set at this year’s 2000 Trees Festival, the full original line-up of noughties post-hardcore heroes Million Dead are set to tour this December for the first time in 20 years.

To celebrate the band reuniting, 5th September sees the first ever release of seminal debut album A Song To Ruin on vinyl, and all 3 tracks from their debut single Smiling At Strangers on Trains available digitally for the very first time. On its initial release in February 2003, the single received BBC Radio 1 support from John Peel, Mike Davies, Mary Anne Hobbs and Steve Lamacq.

Whereas the album and two further singles taken from it (Breaking The Back and I Am The Party) were recorded with Joe Gibb at Mighty Atom in Wales, the single version of Smiling … captures the raw energy of a young band being put through their paces by White Stripes producer Liam Watson at the fully analogue Toe Rag Studios in Hackney.

Support at all dates comes from noisy Essex punk duo The Meffs.

  • December 4, 2025: Queen Margaret Union, Glasgow
  • December 5, 2025: Manchester Academy, Manchester
  • December 6, 2025: Project House, Leeds
  • December 7, 2025: Tramshed, Cardiff
  • December 11, 2025: Rock City, Nottingham
  • December 12, 2025: Electric Bristol, Bristol
  • December 13, 2025: Chalk, Brighton
  • December 14, 2025: Electric Ballroom, London [SOLD OUT]

With London now sold out, an extra date in tandem with Banquet Records, who are selling an exclusive colourway of the album, has been added on Sunday 30th November at Circuit, Kingston.

The original line-up of Frank Turner, Julia Ruzicka, Ben Dawson and Cameron Dean will be joined on tour by guitarist Tom Fowler who replaced Cameron Dean for the recording of the band’s second album Harmony No Harmony.

Online

https://www.milliondead.co.uk

https://www.instagram.com/milliondeadofficial

https://www.facebook.com/milliondeadofficial

Tagged , , , , , , , , , ,
Tribes of Europe – Opportunity (single)
Posted on August 1, 2025 by nick

‘Opportunity’ is the new single by Tribes of Europe, out 8th August 2025 via Integrity Records (INT 105). It’s a laid-back summer anthem perfect for the golden hour as day turns into night – think Kruder & Dorfmeister remixing Air for a cloudless Balearic sunset. Rhodes piano and a languid bass groove lead the way, with trumpet, trombone and sparse vocals sauntering by in turn, hinting at the euphoria promised by the long hot night ahead.

The follow-up to ‘Sun Don’t Mind’ (“The song of the summer … sexy, sultry” – MusicLoveMusic) builds on musical threads from its predecessor in a mellow makeover as we watch the deep golden orb drop behind the horizon and the sea turn black, with the heavy scent of jasmine and orange blossom filling the air.

Martin from the band adds:

“I always sleep with the radio on and sometimes, as I’m drifting off, I’ll hear a really interesting piece of music. Then, in the morning, I’ll look it up, play it and feel a bit cheated when it’s nowhere near as good as I’d thought in the small hours. Perhaps being on the edge of dreaming makes the music feel like it’s coming from an altogether more exotic place. ‘Opportunity’ is an attempt to make music that builds in that other-worldly shimmer and sparkle. And you don’t need to put your pyjamas on to listen to it.”

Tribes of Europe, the alter ego of Fenland-based multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Martin Elsey, are joined on ‘Opportunity’ by vocalists Barbara Stretch (Spoilsports, The Vernons) and Max Taylor (Mika, Groove Armada, Roots Manuva), with Harry Bennett (Clor, Creepy Neighbour) on drums, Ric Elsworth (Underworld, Bastille) on bongos, and Phil Cambridge (Kensington Symphony Orchestra) on trombone & trumpet, with bass maestro Chris Taylor (Poison Girls, The Bays) sharing production and mixing duties with Martin amongst the resident chickens at the wonderful Bluebarn Studios in the Cambridge countryside.

Tribes of Europe have enjoyed national support on BBC 6 Music, BBC Radio Wales, BBC Ulster, BBC Radio 3’s Late Junction and various specialist stations across Europe & the UK. The band have previously recorded live sessions for the late great Janice Long on BBC Radio Wales and for Gorgeous Radio.

“Unashamedly ‘60s but with a new twist” – Steve Lamacq, BBC 6 Music

“An instantly catchy and uplifting retro-futuristic creation” – Get In Her Ears

“The whole goddamn super-group bring their A game on this one” – LWM

https://tribesofeurope.bandcamp.com

https://bsky.app/profile/tribeseurope.bsky.social

https://www.facebook.com/TribesOfEurope

Tagged , , , , , , ,
Tribes of Europe & Barbara Stretch
Posted on August 15, 2024 by nick

‘Sun Don’t Mind’ is the new single by Tribes of Europe & Barbara Stretch, out 16th August 2024 via Integrity Records (INT 104) – a slab of summer soul about finding your own reasons for living – on digital and limited edition, hand numbered 7” lathe-cut black vinyl.

Do you ever wonder what happened to the characters in songs?  How did things turn out for Tommy and Gina from ‘Living On A Prayer’? Or the young woman in Candi Staton’s ‘Young Hearts Run Free’, seemingly in a desperate place with no-one to turn to?  Now time has moved on, are she and her babies in a better, safer place? ‘Sun Don’t Mind’ takes up the story.

Martin from the band explains:

“Listening to ‘Young Hearts Run Free’ often left me wondering how things turned out for them in later years.  I took up the story of a protagonist who must believe in her love for herself and her children because the rest of the universe has demonstrated, at best, indifference to her existence.  She’s grown into a strong woman and 100% cool with that … now she knows the rules of engagement!”

Tribes of Europe, the alter ego of Fenland-based multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Martin Elsey, are joined on ‘Sun Don’t Mind’ by vocalist Barbara Stretch, former member of 70’s Pride pioneers Spoilsports (featured in Channel 4’s recent documentary – Freedom: 50 Years of Pride), drummer Harry Bennett (Clor, Creepy Neighbour) and Chris Taylor (Poison Girls, The Bays) who provides the propulsive bass groove and shares production and mixing duties amongst the resident chickens at the wonderful Bluebarn Studios in the Cambridge countryside.

Earlier singles by Tribes of Europe & Barbara Stretch enjoyed national support on BBC 6 Music, BBC Radio Wales, BBC Ulster, BBC Radio 3’s Late Junction and various regional shows. The band have previously recorded live sessions for the late great Janice Long on BBC Radio Wales and for Gorgeous Radio.

“The song of the summer … sexy, sultry” – MusicLoveMusic

“Unashamedly ‘60s but with a new twist” – Steve Lamacq, BBC 6 Music

“An instantly catchy and uplifting retro-futuristic creation” – Get In Her Ears

“The whole goddamn super-group bring their A game on this one” – LWM

https://tribesofeurope.bandcamp.com

https://www.facebook.com/TribesOfEurope

Tagged , , , , , , ,
back to news

recent news

April 15, 2026

(I Wanna Be) A Pop Star

‘(I Wanna Be A) Pop Star’ is the new single by Tribes of Europe & Barbara Stretch, out 17th April 2026 via Integrity Records (INT 107) – think Young Marble Giants jamming a glorious ‘60s anthem with the indie-pop energy … read more

October 15, 2025

Tribes & Barbara get Spooky

‘Spooky’ is the new single by Tribes of Europe & Barbara Stretch, out 31st October 2025 via Integrity Records (INT 106) but available for radio immediately. The band’s version of Dusty Springfield’s 1970 classic features a serene one-take vocal by … read more

view all entries

video of the day

One Step – Ida Wenøe - Official music video for the single

view all videos

Upload your music for free at ReverbNation.com