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Scottish Hard Rock quartet Blackfyre Rising deliver their blistering new self-titled EP on Friday, 6th June. The engaging hard rockers have also dropped their new single and video, I’m Alright – get to know the band, below:
What are the origins of Blackfyre Rising, and how long have you been playing together?
In 2018, the idea for the band was put together by the band’s drummer, Tom, and Dave was the first person he spoke to about putting a band together since they already knew each other from playing in another band beforehand. James and Tom met at the open mic at The Banshee Labyrinth in Edinburgh, and they got talking about putting something together. Magnus was the last to join after the original bassist decided to step away a couple of years.
What should people expect when they check the band out? How would you describe Blackfyre Rising?
We are a modern hard rock band that combines both classic and modern influences to create a punchy and groovy sound, and we aim to make every live show a memorable one.
How did you feel performing your first gig as a band, and how was it?!
It was obviously somewhat nerve-wracking, and yet it was extremely exciting. Our first show was Bansheemans Fest 2019, an all-day festival in Edinburgh taking place in The Banshee Labyrinth and the legendary Bannermans.
What are you working on at the moment that people can check out?
We have a new EP that is being released VERY soon. May 30th will see the release of our new single ‘I’m Alright’, and the EP will follow shortly after on June 6th.
Regarding a similar audience, which band at the moment do you feel that Blackfyre Rising would be best suited to open for?
There are plenty of bands we would love to support and actually feel we would be a good fit for. Florence Black, Stone Broken, Phil Campbell and the Bastard Sons, Fury. Of course, there’s our influences too, Black Stone Cherry, etc, as well.
Excluding yourself, which new band would you like to see break out and become a success?
We’ve supported Kira Mac in the past, and they’ve done really well so far. It would be great to see them continue their success!
What frustrates you about the music business?
The social media side of things can be pretty frustrating, always trying to think of something good to post. It can also be very frustrating when trying to sell physical tickets for one of your shows, it can be a bit disheartening, but it’s just the nature of it sometimes.
What are your first musical memories? And what lightbulb moment made you say, “I want to do that”?
For me personally, (Tom), I took part in a Rock School workshop where over 4 days, industry professionals such as John Sinclair, who used to play keyboard for Ozzy Osbourne, showed the ropes of various parts of the industry, and you’re also put into bands. At the end of the 4 days, the bands put on a live show. That was my first experience playing live, and I was hooked after that.
What was the last gig that you attended as a fan?
The last show I attended was Ghost at the OVO Hydro in Glasgow back in April. I’ve been a fan for a while now, and that was a fantastic show; it was a spectacle.
What current social issues are you particularly passionate about?
None of us leans towards any particular social issues, and if we do, we tend to keep it to ourselves. We tend to just stick to the philosophy of being a nice person and not being a source of drama.
The album that you have in your album collection/Spotify playlist that would surprise most people?
I can’t speak for everyone, but I have a couple of folk albums from Jethro Tull and also Dougie Maclean. This is a byproduct of my highland upbringing.
Everybody is a fan of something. Who or what are you a fan of?
We’re all fans of great live bands. Black Stone Cherry are always the first one that comes to mind. Once you’ve seen them live, you’ll keep wanting to.
What new music have you been enjoying so far this year?
The new Ghost album ‘Skeleta’ has been taking up a lot of my listening time, simply can’t stop. Absolutely jam-packed with catchy hooks.
What does the rest of 2025 hold for Blackfyre Rising?
On top of the new music we have scheduled for release, we’re also playing SOS Festival in Manchester on July 6th, which is looking to be our biggest show of the year. We’re also headlining in Edinburgh in August, and we have other shows being worked on behind the scenes.
How active are you on social media, and where can people connect with you?
We’re active on Facebook and Instagram the most, but we are also on YouTube. If anyone wants to get in touch with us, they can easily do that through our social media sites, and also our band email, which can be found on our Facebook page.
