Luke & Mel announce double A-side single ("Bad Habit" Review)

Luke & Mel formed in 2012, having met through performing in the UK’s top touring theatre show, Country Legends. Luke’s experience as a session guitarist has seen him play on top theatre stages in the UK with shows like ‘One Night of Elvis’, ‘Dolly The Show’, ‘Country Legends’ (Luke was taught to play guitar by the legendary John Pettifer) and PJ.Proby’s 2010 UK Tour. He has also performed on other artist’s albums including Raintown’s WRITING ON THE WALL and Thorne Hill’s NO MORE HOLDING BACK. 
Before meeting Luke, Melanie was performing singer/songwriter shows as well as performing in musicals up and down the UK including London’s West End.

Having built a name for themselves on the live circuit, the duo released their debut EP In December 2014, which debuted at number two on the iTunes UK Country Album Chart, where it stayed in the top 10 for 2 weeks.

The Lees, Greater Manchester based duo have since been championed by BBC Introducing, Amazing Radio and Chris Country.

They have supported Engelbert Humperdinck, Will Hoge and the Pistol Annies’ Angaleena Presley.

At the end of April Luke & Mel will take to the road once again, joining British/Texan quintet Jess and The Bandits on their headline tour. The duo will hit the festival circuit once again this year, with performances at FSA (Fort San Antone) Festival, Rock Ridge Roundup, TowerFest, Buckle and Boots and Dart Music Festival.

As they build towards their summer packed with dates, the duo are also excited to unveil their new double A-side – Bad Habit / Somethin’ About A Woman.

Bad Habit (Digital Pre-Order 29 Apr 2016; L&M Music):
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Physical copies will be available on the merch desks when they support Jess and the Bandits from April 27th in Hull.

Of the release the duo state: ‘We’re releasing a new Double-A side which will feature our brand new single "Bad Habit" and also a new mix of our award-winning song Somethin’ About A Woman. We chose these two songs because we feel they represent our sound going forward.

"Bad Habit" represents that age-old problem of always finding someone who treats you badly but you can never seem to let go of them – it’s also an upbeat edgy track with a catchy riff. Somethin’ About A Woman won us the award of Song of the Year at the British Country Music Awards (BCMAwards) 2015 and we wanted to include a new mix of it in our new release as a way of honouring that.” The song was written by Ann “Thunderlungs” Bailey and Matt Greaves.

Luke & and Mel (Saddleworth native Luke Thomas (27) and former Cumbrian singer/songwriter Melanie Greggain (27)) were quickly recognized by the BCMAwards having previously won the Horizon Act of the Year (Sponsors. Digital Rodeo) and in 2014 they snagged the Duo of the Year.

Tour Dates:

Friday, April 22, 2016 - Epsom Playhouse, Ashley Ave, Epsom KT18 5AL (with Country Legends £19)

Wed Apr 27, 2016: Hull, Fruit (FRüIT, 62-63 HUMBER STREET, HU1 1TU Kingston upon Hull) supporting Jess & The Bandits £12

Thu April 28, 2016: Birmingham, The Dark Horse (The Dark Horse, Alcester Road, Moseley, B13 8JP) supporting Jess & The Bandits £12

Fri April 29, 2016: London, Bush Hall (Bush Hall, 310 Uxbridge Road, London W12 7LJ) supporting Jess & The Bandits £16.80

Sun May 1, 2016: Gateshead, The Sage (St Mary's Square, Gateshead Quays, Gateshead NE8 2JR) Sage 2 Event

Mon May 2, 2016: Southampton, Talking Heads (320 Portswood Rd, Southampton SO17 2TD) supporting Jess & The Bandits

Sat May 7, 2016: Norwich, Waterfront Studio (The Waterfront, 139-141 King Street, Norwich, NR1 1QH) supporting Jess & The Bandits

Fri May 13, 2016 - The Comedian, Birmingham (57 New Road, Tipton, West Midlands, DY47BX) w Gary Quinn and Special Guests The Ash Cooper Band + Darcy

Sat May 14, 2016 - Dart Music Festival, The Old Market Square, Market St, Dartmouth, Devon TQ6 9SE FREE Event

Sat June 11, 2016 - The Mill Arts Centre, Spiceball Park, Banbury Oxfordshire OX16 5QE with Country Legends

Fr, June 17, 2016 -  Towerfest, Drax Power Station, Selby, Yorkshire

Sat June 25, 2016 - Buckle & Boots Country Festival (Whitebottom Farm, Etherow Country Park, Compstall, Stockport SK6 5HZ) Day Ticket £25 (+ fee) / Weekend £50 (+ £5.25 booking)

Saturday, July 9, 2016 - The Tyn Y Capel, Minera, Wrexham (Little Mountain Country Music Festival)

Luke & Mel - Tour Dates

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Bad Habit (Single Review)

Release Date: 29 April 2016

Label: L&M Music

Total Length: 3:48

Genres: Country, Indie & Alternative

Rating: 85/100

The track was recorded at Mirage Studios with John Taylor, a place where Luke & Mel have previously cut songs. John Taylor plays bass with later additional parts (from home) from Parr Street Studios musicians Scott Poley (mandolin/ dobro) and Jroom3 US producer Justin Johnson (drums). With recent 5 star albums from fellow British country acts Raintown and Thorne Hill (both recorded at Parr Street), it seems that Poley is very much in demand as the go-to “PhD in back porch pickin’” man! He really plays a musical starring role on both those projects.

“Bad Habit” was born from an idea the attractive Mel had from her younger days. Its basic concept is a poisonous relationship with young girls electing to go for the wrong guys (or visa-versa). It’s about getting treated real bad, but emotionally addicted to the point where it’s like a fire you can’t extinguish and can’t bear to let go.

Luke & Mel (Luke Thomas and Melanie Greggain) co-wrote the song with Devon based Steve Black (Alan West) with Thomas having pre-prepared the riff and groove.

This terrific track with its lovely swampy sound opens with gentle acoustic and sweeping dobro as a steady beat kicks in.

Mel takes lead vocal duties, with Luke on harmony, on this lyrics-with-a-bite number using some slight US phrasing but thankfully not adopting an American accent, a noted sad trait on the Brit Country circuit.

You lock me up, and then you put me down, I’m like a cigarette turning into ash she scowls. The hurting and low blows are felt with the words: And that’s what’s up, pushing me around, And I ain’t burning out like that that.

She’s struggling to find the reasons why she’s in an addictive relationship akin to poison flowing through veins. 

The chorus underlines the sentiment: 

You’re my bad habit, Something I should break, I’m like an addict, Something I can’t shake

Fed up with how he gets his kicks and down on her knees she desperately pleads - I need to break these chains

As the pace picks up, with its edgy rhythms, Luke and Poley trade licks with some delightful interplay. Jerry Douglas-esque dobro, a raspy electric and a jangly mandolin are stirred into the toxic pot.

As the track nears its close could revenge be on the horizon?! - Staring down the barrel of that gun, And I’ll be on the run

There’s a determined spirit to be set free: It’s a chance I’ve got to take, you’re not so tough pushing me around, I ain’t burning out like that

This track is worth seeking out and could well receive another BCMA nomination later in the year.

What others are saying:

"They're lovely people, lovely couple and write wonderful songs" - Steve Cherelle BBC Radio Essex (March 27, 2016)

"Great band" - Keith Greentree BBC Norfolk playing "Bad Habit" on April 9, 2016.

“What a musical line up, I thought that was absolutely brilliant, you’ve got a winner there, it’s a great song” - Jim Duncan BCMAward panelist/ Wolvestock Festival promoter/ presenter Wolverhampton Community Radio WCRfm 101.8 FM

“Country Royalty” – Peter Englefield (Belter Radio)