Under the Radar: Helicon
Following the success of their latest album, Arise, East Kilbride seven-piece Helcion are heading off on a tour of Europe, write Olaf Furniss and Derick Mackinnon
Hailing from East Kilbride, Helicon have become a firm fixture on the global psychedelic scene, touring the UK and Europe and performing at prestigious events including Fuzz Club Eindhoven, Liverpool International Festival of Psychedelia, Manchester Psych Fest, Edinburgh Psych Fest, Stellar Swamp Fest (Brussels) and Kelburn Garden Party.
Comprising seven members with a range of interesting backgrounds – including a former Dundee United footballer, a gardener and the owner of a dog-walking business – their most recent album, Arise, went top 20 in the UK download chart, aided by support from BBC 6Music. Released in February it’s a collaboration with LA-based DJ and producer Al Lover, and offers a rousing sonic experience with slow-builds working up to all-enveloping soundscapes.
The band are about to embark on a tour of Germany, France and the Netherlands before returning to the UK for summer shows which will coincide with the release of a short documentary, We Sound Like Helicon. Scottish dates are set for August, September and October, with a special edition of Arise featuring remixes by members of Mogwai, RIDE, The Black Angels and Belle & Sebastian due out in the autumn. See www.heliconglasgow.com
Olaf Furniss and Derick Mackinnon run music industry seminar and social night Born To Be Wide, see www.borntobewide.co.uk
Join music/tech social enterprise Off Axis at FOCUS Wales on Friday 8 May 2026 at The Wynnstay Hotel, as part of the international music and film festival. Showcasing Welsh talent alongside international acts, over 250 emerging artists will perform across 20 stages for 25,000 attendees throughout Wrexham 7-9 May, marking the 16th edition of FOCUS Wales. Off Axis Tours CIC presents FAEDA, Tom Collins and Wynona Bleach alongside headliners Fat Dog, IDLEWILD and Shame. Find out more here.
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