Idlewild

Formed in Edinburgh in 1995, Idlewild first made a mark on the Scottish scene with a nervous, fast and dissonant brand of rock at the crossroads of punk and indie rock, before gradually broadening their songwriting toward a more melodic, expansive alternative rock. Centered on Roddy Woomble, Rod Jones and Colin Newton, Idlewild initially released Captain and Hope Is Important in 1998, then sharpened their approach with 100 Broken Windows in 2000, where the guitars remained taut but greater emphasis was placed on choruses and arrangements. The Remote Part in 2002 signaled another shift, with more open songs nourished by British pop and a more contemplative sensibility, continued on Warnings/Promises in 2005. Over the years Idlewild moved from an indie-circuit quartet to a more fluid lineup, with several bass-player changes and the lasting additions of Andrew Mitchell and Luciano Rossi when the band revived. After Make Another World (2007) and Post Electric Blues (2009), Idlewild went on hiatus in 2010 before resuming activity in 2013. That new period produced Everything Ever Written (2015) and Interview Music (2019), records where the band still blends rock energy, airier textures and a strong taste for clear melodic lines.