An insane 12 months for the boys from bangor
In the midst of the ‘Great Toilet Paper Famine of 2020,’ a dynamic quartet germinated in the suburban back gardens of Bangor.
Formed during the unusual times of the pandemic, Dharesh, Ben, Reuben and Charlie quickly became the remedy everyone needed. The four-piece breathed a blend of infectious energy, melody, and genuine enthusiasm into the NI Rock scene, their undeniably potent prowess delighting fans and industry insiders alike.
Winners of Rockshore's 'Battle of the Bands' competition in the Summer of '23, they defeated over 50 other bands from across Ireland to claim the title of Rock Band of the Year. Tournament organiser Phil McCarroll (SONI)
said of their victory:
" :Panic :Over feel very much like a fully formed band for one so early in their career. Their tunes are instantly appealing, melodic and hooky, and they seem to be devoid of cynicism. Their connection with their audience is already evident despite having only played a relative handful of gigs to date. They were worthy winners of the Rockshore Battle of the Bands, amidst strong competition, and have a bright future."
Phil's predictions came true when the boys embarked on their first mini-tour of the UK in the early Spring of 2024, with sold out shows in The Garage Attic, Glasgow, and The London Troubadour, Earls Court. Even though these were their first gigs outside of Northern Ireland, the fans knew every word, and the famous 'Gosh Pit' formed at the traditional moment during 'Paper Planes'!
In an equally remarkable feat, :Panic :Over's debut single, 'Paper Planes," demonstrated its immediate impact by securing a coveted spot in Rigsy's 'Top 50 Records of the Year 2023' in the Daily Mirror. This is particularly noteworthy given that the single had only been released six days prior to the newspaper's publication:
"Huge swooping single from a band brimming with excitement. The janky riff lurking under the second verse hints at Bloc Party and Puzzle-era Biffy, which is never a bad thing"
:Panic :Over's trajectory continues its steep incline in 2024. 'Paper Planes' was picked up by ITV Sport and featured in the big closing montage of the Eng vs Ire 6 Nations Rugby clash, UEFA chose 'Part of Something' from their debut album for the official song of the u19s Euros 2024 Opening Ceremony, and the BBC and ITV used both it, and 'Figure it Out', in their coverage of the Senior Tournament - to audiences of over 20 million!
BBC/ATL Introducing's Gemma Bradley earmarked :Panic :Over as 'ones to watch' in 2024 - and she was NOT wrong!!
