Lucy Fitzgerald 
South Wales folk-rock band Rusty Shackle have a new single on the way, “Stand Up Tall”, out Friday 24th July. It’s the first look at their upcoming album “Mayfield”, due at the end of August, and it’s a really promising sign of what’s to come. The song is about friendship, self-belief and getting through the hard stretches of life. The band wants listeners to take their own meaning from it, but there’s a clear message of encouragement running through it, for anyone who’s ever felt overlooked or a bit lost. It doesn’t need to shout to get that across. The band strip things right back on this one, going for a gentle, folk-rooted sound that pulls from the storytelling of Neil Young, the countryside warmth of The Decemberists and Fleet Foxes, and the quiet comfort of Wilco. Nothing is overdone. Every guitar line, every harmony and every bit of space in the arrangement earns its place, and that restraint is a big part of why the song works so well. It gives the words room to breathe and lets the sentiment carry the track from start to finish.
I’ll be honest, this one caught me off guard. I put it on expecting a nice folk tune and ended up sitting with it on repeat, letting the words settle in. There’s an honesty to it that a lot of songs try for and never quite reach, and that’s why “Stand Up Tall” is worth your time. Rusty Shackle have spent over a decade building their name through relentless touring and genuinely great live shows, picking up Wales’ Folk Favorites at the 2023 Wales Folk Awards along the way. Their last album, “Under a Bloodshot Moon”, reached number 2 on the UK Folk Albums Chart, so expectations for “Mayfield” are high, and “Stand Up Tall” is a great opening statement.
Do yourself a favor and give “Stand Up Tall” a proper listen, then add it to your playlist so it’s ready whenever you need a bit of a lift. Follow Rusty Shackle on Instagram and Facebook to keep up with tour dates and news ahead of the “Mayfield” release, and check out their Bandcamp to support the band directly. This is a group worth having in your corner, and this single is a great place to start.
Listening to songs so you don’t have to! Just kidding :D, you totally should. Music blogger by day, nurse by night
