We’ve had this under our hats for a while now, but we are very excited to finally introduce you to our brand new venture. Ladies and gentlefolk, we give you…

THE BALLADMONGRELS

The Balladmongrels is a raucous new band featuring Dogs D’Amour frontman Tyla J. Pallas and Northern Irish singer-songwriter Matty James Cassidy. Their glorious mix of raw guitars, dark romantic lyrics, beautiful melodies and rousing choruses will implant themselves in your brain, heart and soul and never let go.

The Balladmongrels’ debut album Trouble is set for release in the Spring of next year with their first single, the rollicking and crashing guitar-driven ‘Ballad of the Knucklemen’, out Friday 9th December 2022.

PRE-SAVE NOW

Towards the end of the UK’s 2nd lockdown, Tyla and Matty discussed releasing a 7” single with one of their own songs on each side. After a few drinks they decided instead to write some new songs and record an entire album. After a few more drinks (red wine & Guinness if you’re interested) they further developed the idea into an all new transient band with their co-written songs at it’s core.

And so… The Balladmongrels were born…

Initially they thought about calling themselves The Balladmongers. A name taken from Tyla’s first solo album (The Life & Times of a Balladmonger) to reflect both Tyla’s career – in which he has variously been described as a balladeer and street poet – and Matty treading a similar, but different musical path. Matty suggested “mongrels” might be a better fit…

Mongrel n. an individual resulting from the crossing of different breeds; a cross between types of persons or things.

Speaking about the name and concept, Tyla said,
“I loved the idea of two songwriters from different generations collaborating – taking one of my ballads and getting a younger mongrel, like Matty, to give it some bollocks” 

Matty added,
“We also liked the juxtaposition of having “ballad” in the name, as most of the album is full-tilt rock n’ roll. People may have seen us playing together acoustic and expect the album to be the same… it’s not”

As an album, Trouble has much to offer fans of The Dogs D’Amour and Tyla’s and Matty’s solo material. It presents the meeting of their distinct songwriting styles as they share and take turns on vocal duties, complementing each other while bringing in a range of their wider musical influences from Thin Lizzy to The Pogues.

Stay tuned for more announcements coming soon.

Follow The Balladmongrels on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Words: Graeme McAlister
Photo: Ronan McGrade