Cumbrian trio Vacant Weekend have returned with their anthemic new single, ‘Cool New Friends’. It’s filled with layers of bright, funky guitar work and tight-knit interplay between the wandering bassline and razor-sharp drums. In a way reminiscent of The Kooks, they’ve blended 70s funk influences with a deep understanding of what made mid-2000s indie bands so memorable: massive choruses and groovy verses. Lyrically, the band explain in their own words that “the song deals with themes of romantic confusion and addresses a character who almost perfectly contradicts the song’s title.” Be sure to keep an eye out for more from Vacant Weekend this year. -Dan Peeke.