Song of Return are a Scottish

indie rock Indie rock is a Music subgenre, subgenre of rock music that originated in the United States, United Kingdom and New Zealand from the 1970s to the 1980s. Originally used to describe independent record labels, the term became associated with the mu ...

band from

Glasgow Glasgow ( ; sco, Glesca or ; gd, Glaschu ) is the most populous city in Scotland and the fourth-most populous city in the United Kingdom, as well as being the 27th largest city by population in Europe. In 2020, it had an estimated popul ...

. The band consists of Craig Grant (vocals/guitar), Louis Abbott (guitar/vocals), Dave Reekie (bass), Alex McNutt (programming/keyboards), and Pete Kelly (drums). Song of Return was the winner of the Tartan Clef Big Apple Award on 13 October 2011. The band's live performances have been well received, with

The Scotsman ''The Scotsman'' is a Scottish compact newspaper and daily news website headquartered in Edinburgh. First established as a radical political paper in 1817, it began daily publication in 1855 and remained a broadsheet until August 2004. Its par ...

remarking that "the combined vocal prowess of Craig Grant and Louis Abbott, coupled with top drawer musicianship throughout the band, makes for an enthralling prospect."

History

Formation and ''Limits'' LP (2010 - 2011)

The band was formed by Craig Grant and Chris Gordon (formerly of

Baby Chaos Baby Chaos are a Scottish rock band based in Glasgow, Scotland, who originally formed in 1993, then returned in 2015 after a long hiatus. The band consists of Chris Gordon on lead vocals and guitar, Grant McFarlane on guitar and backing vocals, ...

) in 2010 after the dissolution of Scottish electronic/indie outfit

Union of Knives Union of Knives are a Scottish electronic rock band from Glasgow, a trio consisting of producer and musician Chris Gordon (also known for the band Baby Chaos), programmer Dave McClean and singer Craig Grant. Described by Time Out magazine as ...

. Grant and Gordon began writing music together and wanted to continue making music. Soon after forming, Chris Gordon decided he did not want to continue to play live. Afterward, Grant began to recruit other members to participate in writing and studio work, as well as provide a backing band for live shows. Producer, mastering engineer, and programmer Alex McNutt (of Glaswegian bands June and Paige. Louis Abbott (of Scottish indie-folk group

Admiral Fallow Admiral Fallow are a Scottish musical group formed in 2007 by singer-songwriter Louis Abbott and based in Glasgow. They were originally named Brother Louis Collective. The band's first album, '' Boots Met My Face'', was released worldwide in 20 ...

) came in for guitar and vocals. Dave Reekie (of Scottish alternative pop outfit Otherpeople) was brought in to play bass, and Peter Kelly (of Scottish psychedelic rock trio Moon Unit and formerly of Single Helix ) was brought in to play drums. While Gordon continued to be referenced as a non-live member of the band, he is no longer listed among band members on the group's official Facebook page, while the live band is listed with equal billing to Grant as members. The group's debut album ''Limits'' was released independently on 6 June 2011. The album featured 11 tracks and was released as a digital release as well as a limited CD release.

''Trajectory'' EP and The Big Apple Award (2011 - 2012)

Song of Return were crowned victors of the 2011 Big Apple Tartan Clef Award as Best New Band at The Garage in Glasgow on 13 October 2011. The award was a competition between Scottish acts vying for the right to perform at the Scottish Music Awards in November 2011 and perform during Scottish Week 2012 in New York City. The award is a collaborative partnership between Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy (a Scottish music charity), Creative Scotland, The American-Scottish Foundation, and Clash. Song of Return was selected over Laki Mera, Finding Albert, Wrongnote, and Woodenbox with a Fistful of Fivers. On 5 December 2011, the band released the digitally distributed ''Trajectory EP'', which featured a single edit of "Trajectory" from ''Limits'', along with three previously unreleased tracks. In March 2012, the band briefly allowed their fans a preview of a new track called "Trapped Inside The Night". The band performed in New York City at Joe's Pub on 11 April 2012, and Mercury Lounge on 14 April 2012, with Scottish harpist/pianist/vocalist Phamie Gow opening. While in the United States, the band recorded one of their songs for Balcony TV in Brooklyn, New York.

Discography

*''Limits'' (6 June 2011) *''Trajectory EP'' (5 December 2011)

Awards

Tartan Clef Awards

The Tartan Clef Awards are an annual music awards show in Scotland. , - , 2011 , , Song of Return , , Creative Scotland Big Apple Award , ,