Sunbeam

Five men posing together in front of a metallic roller shutter or garage door. They appear to be a band or music group taking a promotional photo. The group is arranged with four men standing in a row, while a fifth man (wearing a dark green t-shirt) is playfully hugging or climbing on the back of one of them (who is wearing sunglasses and light-coloured shorts).

One of my favourite places along the east coast is St Mary’s Church at the top of the abbey steps at Whitby, and inspiration for a number of scenes in Bram Stoker’s Dracula, however the town’s unequivocal acceptance of all things goth and steampunk has always felt a little crass to me. Enter Sunbeam, who far from distancing themselves have embraced the town’s unique Northerness forging a Britpop celebration of the immeasurable pleasures of living by the sea. Most recent single Haze is built on a catchy guitar jangle and layered vocal melodies that owes more to Dodgy than Oasis. (Steve Spithray)