MARKETPLACE Ode to Monty - 14th February 2025

Hartlepool's MARKETPLACE release their new single "Ode to Monty" on 14th February 2025.

Heartfelt, yet stylistically and playfully tongue-in-cheek, the track takes a comedic swipe at love songs by reimagining the tender ballad format, placing Gardener’s World sweetheart Monty Don at its centre.

"We wanted to write a real earnest love song, which is something we’ve never really tackled before due to a habit of not really taking ourselves too seriously." explains Evie Rhodes. "More often than not, that comes across in lyrics too, tackling subjects with a more tongue in cheek approach. So Ross (drummer) said, “Can you make it about celebrity gardener Monty Don from Gardeners’ World?" so he became the object of my affections for the lyrics of the song.”

Drawing influences from a wide range of artists including Alvvays, Declan McKenna, Pulp and Talking Heads, the band made up of Evie Rhodes (vocals/guitar), Joel O’Beirne (vocals/bass), Jack Purcell (guitar), Matthew Short (synth/vocals) and Ross Dixon (drums) bring their own individual tastes to create the signature MARKETPLACE sound.

With widespread backing already from tastemakers including Clash, NARC, BBC Radio 1 and heavy support from BBC Introducing, the band has received a number of editorial playlist placements on Apple Music. Having opened for the likes of Alfie Templeman, Swim Deep, The Lottery Winners and Abbie Ozard as well as selling out gigs in Manchester, Leeds and their hometown of Hartlepool, MARKETPLACE are set to tour the UK through 2025.

Recent Live Highlights

  • Support slots with Swim Deep, Alfie Templeman, Abbie Ozard, Spinn and The Lottery Winners
  • Sold Out headliners in Manchester, Leeds and their hometown of Hartlepool

Upcoming Live Dates

15th February - Playbrew, Middlesbrough

19th February - Supersonic, Paris

19th April – Stockton Calling, Stockton

May Tour (To be announced 26th February 2025 10am)

Socials

Contact: david@diversionmgmt.co.uk