Funk/Rock trio High Fade – consisting of founder Harry Valentino (Guitar, Vocals), Oliver Sentence (Bass, Mustache) and drummer Heath Campbell (Drums) has grown from Scotland’s most excited busking band into a household name across the world after bursting onto the scene with viral sensations such as “Burnt Toast & Coffee”, “Gossip”, “Burnin’”, and an audacious cover of Herbie Hancock’s “Chameleon”.

Sold out tours across the UK, USA, and Europe have seen the band get well over 1,500 shows under their belt, allowing High Fade to fast become one of the most ferocious touring bands on the planet.

Delivering shows that are packed with raw energy and jaw-dropping musicianship, they refuse to accept the limits of what a three-piece band can do. With sold out tours across the UK, USA, and Europe; and impactful slots at dozens of festivals like Boomtown (UK), Suwannee Hulaween (USA) and Glastonbury – where they performed three times in one day in 2024 – High Fade have come a long way from that street corner in Edinburgh.

Drawing inspiration from funk, rock, disco, jazz, metal, punk, soul, and beyond, High Fade has developed a sound that explodes out of a rip-roaring melting point of musical influences and tears at the fabric of space time by managing to feel simultaneously fresh and retro. Firecly independent, the band releases music via their own label RPN Records (“Rippin’ Records”), including their debut album, Life’s Too Fast (2024), which charted in the UK, Ireland, Germany, the Netherlands, USA, and Australia.

Not bad for an independent DIY band operating entirely outside of the Major Label system.

High Fade’s sophomore LP, Twice As Nice, released on RPN Records May 2026, was recorded at two of the world’s most renowned studios, East Iris Studios in Nashville and RAK Studios in London. The hotly anticipated new album arrived just in time for the band’s massive 50-date Twice As Nice tour that saw the band travel to all corners of the USA and Canada, before returning to the UK for another run of sold-out shows.

Support from Virgil & The Accelerators

European Blues Award winner Virgil Van Der Merwe makes a massively requested return to the live circuit - backed by a blistering new rhythm section and a heavy, modern take on classic blues.

Exploding onto the scene with their debut 15 years ago, Virgil & The Accelerators carved out a formidable reputation in the British blues-rock scene. Frontman Virgil Van Der Merwe’s guitar playing earned him Best Guitarist at the European Blues Awards, while the band's albums received critical acclaim, including "Album of the Year" from Classic Rock Magazine and #2 Album of the Year from Blues Rock Review (USA). The band shared stages with blues giants Joe Bonamassa, Johnny Winter, Uriah Heep, Wilko Johnson, Michael Schenker and Joanne Shaw Taylor, and recorded the acclaimed Live at Marshall album at a sold-out Marshall HQ.

Now, after a prolonged hiatus, Virgil returns with powerhouse rhythm section Maddy K (bass) and Jamie Williams (drums). Playing together across multiple projects, they have developed an instinctive musical chemistry that gives Virgil the freedom to push his improvisational guitar style to its limits. With over 20 years of combined professional performance, Maddy and Jamie bring backgrounds spanning heavy blues, psychedelic rock, prog, jazz and soul — giving the new lineup a heavier, more groove-driven and exploratory edge, while retaining the live energy that built the band's reputation in the first place.

Despite time away from the touring circuit, Virgil & The Accelerators continue to attract more than 11,000 monthly Spotify listeners — before the new lineup has even embarked on its full touring schedule. The new lineup has already begun generating fresh momentum online, with the band's audience continuing to grow since their return to the stage. On stage, Virgil & The Accelerators deliver a heavy, modern take on classic blues-rock, combining established fan favourites and deep blues influences with fresh material and extended improvisation. Every show is a distinct experience, shaped by the band's chemistry and commitment to spontaneous, high-energy performance.

With a proven international track record, an established audience and a new lineup built for the stage, Virgil & The Accelerators are ready for their next chapter.

Contact the host of High Fade + Virgil & The Accelerators

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