Airways

Airways, a band consisting of Jake (singer/guitarist), Alex (guitarist), Jamie (bass), and Brian (drums), originated from a chance encounter in Los Angeles. Jake met Brian, a drummer, while in LA writing music, and promptly invited him to join his then-non-existent band. Two months later, Brian arrived in Peterborough, where Airways was officially formed. Jake then recruited his lifelong friend Alex and Birmingham-based Jamie to complete the lineup. The band quickly immersed themselves in practicing and writing new material, driven by a shared commitment to their musical pursuits.

Their dedication was evident as they performed at Reading and Leeds festivals within their first year as a band in 2016. Airways has since supported various artists on sold-out UK tours, including Nothing But Thieves, Sunset Sons, and The Hunna. They collaborated with Dom Craik, guitarist from Nothing But Thieves, as a co-producer for their debut EP, and also worked with Julian Emery, known for his productions with Nothing But Thieves and Lissie. In early 2016, Airways released their first song, ‘Ghost Town,’ an upbeat track reflecting on societal changes and technology’s influence. This song quickly gained traction, being added to the playlist of Amazing Radio by Charlie Ashcroft and picked up by John Kennedy for Radio X, alongside plays on BBC Introducing shows.

The band continued to build momentum with their follow-up track, ‘One Foot,’ accompanied by a video addressing the challenges of youth in the 21st century. After self-releasing three songs, Airways released their debut EP, which garnered comparisons to artists such as Jamie T, Cage The Elephant, Gorillaz, and Twenty One Pilots. The band describes their sound as “groovy rock,” with Jake emphasizing the importance of creating distinct songs that are unified by his “whiny shitty voice” and “quirky lyrics.” A successful UK headline tour in February led to their American debut at SXSW 2017. The band’s live shows are characterized by confidence, attracting a steadily growing fanbase.