Swallowtail

Swallowtail may have found a new home by the sea, but their roots run deep in Nottingham’s fertile music scene. This Brighton-based quartet weave the gritty textures of shoegaze with the angular intricacies of post-punk, crafting a sound that’s equal parts atmospheric and unrelenting. Think heavy reverb-laden guitars colliding with wiry, melodic basslines, all wrapped in a hazy, melancholic intensity—like Slowdive jamming with Interpol after a long night out.

Their story begins in 2023 as an acoustic duo under the moniker Smokey Penny, before quickly morphing into a full-fledged band, electrified in both sound and ambition. With a penchant for sonic experimentation, Swallowtail spent their early months obsessing over effects, textures, and dynamics, shaping a setlist that would soon make waves in the East Midlands scene. They first caught local attention supporting the likes of Cages for Preachers at Rough Trade Nottingham and Wynona Bleach at The Angel Microbrewery, two gigs that cemented their presence as a band to watch. Their momentum carried them to Hockley Hustle, where they delivered a performance that was both raw and immersive, proving they weren’t just another shoegaze band draped in pedalboard mystique—they had the hooks and the energy to match.

Their debut single, ‘Spring Guillotine’, landed with a bang, earning immediate praise from BBC Introducing East Midlands, who raved, “Imagine that live!” It’s a fitting sentiment. Swallowtail’s music begs to be heard in a dimly lit venue, where the walls shake with distortion and the air hums with reverb-drenched melodies.

Swallowtail are proving that shoegaze isn’t just about nostalgia—it can be visceral, urgent, and defiantly modern. Whether they’re drenched in pedalboard fuzz or laying down intricate post-punk rhythms, this Nottingham-born band is carving out a sound that lingers long after the last note fades.