The Smokehouse Presents indie pop trio Girl Ray for Independent Venue Week 2020!

Tickets are now sold out.

North London band Girl Ray return for their second album with a delightful, sun-kissed tribute to their love of pop and R&B.

Back in 2017, the band Girl Ray released Earl Grey: a debut album of expertly-crafted, sweet, hummable songs about longing, friendship, self doubt and contemplation. It was a success. “With Girl Ray, we knew we had found something special,” says Stephen Bass of Moshi Moshi who signed the band in 2016.

It was Ariana Grande’s explosion into pop culture that kickstarted a new era for Girl Ray. “Thank U, Next came out and that kind of changed everything,” Poppy says. A quick glance at the band’s most-listened-to Spotify playlists informed them that they were far more into music from the likes of Calvin Harris, Destiny’s Child, Dua Lipa and Britney than they were into guitar music.

After that realisation, everything clicked into place. Poppy began experimenting with writing songs over beats. “I had to start learning how to write on a computer, using keyboards, and that made everything sound more pop,” she explains.

The songs poured out. A collection of shimmering, foot-tapping, sparkling pop bangers. It’s unmistakably Girl Ray, but with added synths. If Earl Grey was a hot cup of tea and a cuddle on the sofa, Girl is being in a cab with the windows down on the way to a beach bar for sundowners.

Support from Polly Preacher and Masked Marcus.