Sounds of Manchester 20/02/21: Rivver

This four-piece band from Wigan are on the scene and trust me they’re here to stay.

The first song they performed was Blue Lagoon, with its fabulously fresh bassline – supplied by James Snow – had everyone in the studio grooving along to their amazing innovative sound. Lead singer Matt Barber has such a soulful voice that will stay with any listener no matter how long ago you listened to them. The look the band has is quintessential Manchester, but trust me, they don’t try to be like anyone, they are unashamedly themselves, they have a spirit and sense of showmanship that to me will put them on the pyramid stage at Glastonbury in the next 5 years.

Blue Lagoon was followed by Tap Dancing which also has a funky danceability. The bands sense of rhythm is astounding, I’m not a dancey person, but let me tell you, I was dancing! The way the whole song is constructed screams talent and a vibrance that is sorely lacking in the modern independent scene. Both Blue Lagoon and Tap Dancing will appeal to all music tastes, not only the movability, but also the lyrics and overall style of the band.

The final song recorded by Rivver was Echo. Initially the instrumental has a Smiths vibe to it (which let's be honest I will eat up, as one of the biggest Smiths fans going), but when Matt started singing, I fell in love, he brought himself wholly to the vocals. I think one of the great things about this band is the way that they are so original. As a group, they have an amazing aura about them, the instruments are fully fledged, the lyrics are well written, and overall they bleed talent. I hope to see more of Rivver soon.

You can find Rivver on Facebook and Twitter.