There must be something in the water up North. From the swagger of Oasis to the raw honesty of The Lathums, the North West has never stopped producing bands that actually mean something, and Florentenes are the latest proof. The fast-rising four-piece are back with their brand-new single Madeline, and it’s the kind of track that makes you remember why you fell in love with guitars in the first place.
Madeline sharpens their sound without losing any of that Northern charm, instinctive, guitar-driven, and built to be played loud. It’s rooted in the storytelling grit that’s defined the region’s best music for decades: songs that aren’t afraid to wear their heart on their sleeve and their amps at full volume.
The single arrives with a live performance-style video that perfectly captures what Florentenes do best, connection. Frontman William Train Smith commands the space with equal parts swagger and sincerity, while Luke Holding (guitar), Harry Stubbs (bass), and Liam Fiddy (drums) lock into that effortless chemistry that can’t be faked. It’s the sound of a band who live and breathe their craft.
Behind the desk is none other than Dave Eringa, the man responsible for some of Manic Street Preachers’ most iconic moments, bringing that unmistakable punch and polish. With his touch, Madeline carries the melodic urgency of Arctic Monkeys and the restless energy of The Libertines, but there’s something distinctively Florentenes about it: tighter, hungrier, and more emotionally grounded.
If you caught our piece on their last single, The News, which we called a “cathartic new anthem” right here on Music and Gigs, you’ll know this band has been quietly levelling up. Where The News channelled release and frustration, Madeline is tighter and more reflective, proof they’re honing in on who they are and where they’re going.
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