Brave Rival unleashes “Wild Child” video
Brave Rival, the award-winning Portsmouth rock and blues outfit, have released their new EP 5 to 4, accompanied by the video for their explosive single “Wild Child.”
If opening track “Let Me Rock n Roll” was a statement of intent, “Wild Child” is the perfect bookend. It’s a big-riff, classic rock anthem packed with high-energy drumming and a chorus built to stick in your head. The lyrics are witty and playful, delivering tongue-in-cheek verses that invite fans to sing along.
Bassist Billy Dedman reflected on how the song came together. “Wild Child started as this really groovy riff over a shuffle feel. Lindsey quickly came back to the next rehearsal with this great chorus hook which we tried over a totally different feel which at first, it just wasn’t working quite right. Eventually we found the right chords, with the right feel and it just became this monster of a song!”
Drummer Donna Peters added, “I really love the way the syncopated vocal part on the final chorus fits within the same floor tom part that is used on the intro! It’s such a fun song to play live.”
5 to 4 marks a major new chapter for Brave Rival as their first release as a four-piece, capturing the band’s full rock and blues firepower.
Vocalist Lindsey Bonnick explained, “5 to 4 is a result of a burning fire that was lit beneath us at the start of the year to get new music out into the world that represents us as a four piece. This new 5 track EP is fuelled by passion and an unwavering love of rock and blues rock music. We are never a band to shy away from being eclectic in our writing and performing and this new body of work really sums up what we are about, it’s fast and furious and it’s delicate and deep. We are very proud of it and we hope you love it as much as we do.”
Guitarist Ed “the Shred” Clarke added, “It is a statement of intent for sure. We really wanted to pull out all the stops as just a 4. It’s the first record we have made which doesn’t feature any additional musicians. It’s just us. Raw and powerful.”
5 to 4 is out now on CD, digital download, and vinyl in four limited-edition color variants. The band is also aiming to become the first independent act from Portsmouth to break into the official UK Top 40 charts.
To support the release, Brave Rival are embarking on an extensive UK tour kicking off October 18th in Aldershot and running through March 2025. Stops include festival appearances, co-headline shows, and dates across the country.
Tour Dates
18 Oct – Aldershot West End Centre
25 Oct – Hartlepool Hallelujah Festival
26 Oct – Lincoln The Drill
6 Nov – Derby Flowerpot
7 Nov – Whitby Rocks Festival
8 Nov – Dudley Lamp Tavern
5 Dec – Looe Blues Rhythm and Rock Festival
6 Dec – Bristol Louisiana (Co-Headliner with Alice Armstrong)
7 Dec – Staines Thameside Taphouse and Brewery
18 Dec – Leighton Buzzard Library Theatre
19 Dec – Portsmouth Wedgewood Rooms
21 Dec – Hastings The Carlisle
8 Jan – Ramsgate Red Arrow Music Club
20 Jan – Chislehurst Beaverwood
30 Jan – Trecco Bay Planet Rock Winters End Festival
1 Feb – Blackpool UK Blues Rhythm and Rock Festival
6 Feb – Reading Facebar
13 Feb – Winchester The Arc
15 Feb – Cambridge The Junction
27 Feb – New Milton Forest Arts
28 Feb – Wimbourne The Tivoli
1 Mar – London Milkfest
12 Mar – Grimsby Yardbirds
13 Mar – Preston Continental
14 Mar – Milton Keynes Stables (Co-Headline with Will Wilde)
