This summer I was lucky enough to go to Scotland’s Wickerman Music Festival. An assignment that consisted primarily of camping, drinking more than a large bar full of wannabe Irishmen on St. Patrick’s Day, listening to loads of great music and then hanging out with the bands. It was hell, but I love Blogcritics that much, I did it without complaint. I know, my job really sucks.

On the second day of the festival I was wandering back to my tent after listening to some good bands, some truly awful bands and one really great band, Big Strides – one of the few I hadn’t gotten a chance to meet. (I told myself it was for the best, it had been a scorching day and I had more than my share to drink and would probably have fucked up the interview anyway). On the way to my tent I could hear a jam session going on not far from me. I peaked around the corner of a caravan (British term for an RV) and saw that great band jamming, having a few beers and a laugh. So I ambushed them and asked for a few minutes. Not the best decision I have ever made, because they said yes, and ambushed me right back.

They invited me into their camp and even gave me a beer. It was damn nice of them. Then they played me their new single – due out on the unfortunate date of 11/9 or, if you're American 9/11 – called “Smiling” and I was in heaven.

Big Strides are a mixture of punk, funk, indie rock, blues and jazz that is intelligent and eclectic with interesting beat poet lyrics of frontman Marcus O’Niell creating a sound so unique that no one could accuse them of imitation. This lo-fi, heterogeneous, punk/funk/blues/rock sound is absolutely groovy. With just O’Niell’s guitar and harmonica, Lewis Kirk’s minimalist drum kit (ala Victor DeLorenzo) and Chris Kelly’s double bass they have created their stripped-down, modern punk/funk sound.

Big Strides get their name from both the idea of making big strides in music and the Aussie slang for trouser (strides). All three are more than six feet tall and wear “Big Strides”. Kirk calls their sound Blues/Americana and says the aim of Big Strides is it to stay away from the fresh-from-the-factory sounds of other Brit rock bands trying to sound like Coldplay or Keane. “We just want to be something out of the ordinary. Maybe a bit funky”.