The Twang

Formed in Birmingham in 2004, The Twang sits in the tradition of English indie rock of the 2000s with a sound that blends direct refrains, tense guitars, and a touch of urban pop closely tied to its West Midlands roots. The band first drew attention in the mid-2000s, releasing their debut album, Love It When I Feel Like This, in 2007, followed by Jewellery Quarter in 2009, whose title refers to an iconic Birmingham district. Over the years The Twang's writing evolved toward more melodic tracks and more open to pop influences, without completely abandoning their rock base. The lineup has undergone several personnel changes around a nucleus led by Phil Etheridge, Jon Watkin, Stu Hartland and Ash Sheehan, with the departure of Martin Saunders in 2018 marking a new chapter in its history. After 10:20 in 2012 and Neon Twang in 2014, the group returned with If Confronted Just Go Mad in 2019, where more clearly contrasts emerge between on-stage energy, looser song formats, and arrangements less strictly centered on guitars. Present on British festival circuits and on tours alongside bands such as James, Cast, The Libertines, The Enemy or Shed Seven, The Twang remains associated with the English indie scene, with a trajectory closely tied to Birmingham and its musical identity.