Dirty Blonde are a fierce female alternative duo comprising members Ailis Mackay (vocals, guitar) and Hayley Tait (guitar, backing vocals). Back in August 2023, we chatted to Ailis Mackay about the new single at the time, “Don’t Cry, It Doesn’t Suit You,” and the girls have been very busy since then, building up an ever larger audience (I’ve put an earlier single, “Polly,” at the end of this review for your further listening pleasure). But “Rush” is out as of February 13 and you can stream it now.
Hailing from the North West of England, the duo have quickly gathered pace as one of the most exciting new acts right now and were praised as ‘one of the most exciting acts to come though Radio 1’s Future Alternative.’ Ailis (an ex-session drummer) told us, “Sonically, we are doing an Indie thing, but it is female-fronted and has an Oasis meets grunge vibe. Hayley and I met on Instagram, and the rest is history.”
Adept at delivering storytelling arena-ready anthems, Dirty Blonde live shows are a must-see. The girls have the ability to address each crowd uniquely whilst playing tightly honed songs with heavy riffs, leaving everyone wanting more. It’s clear to see why they are growing such a dedicated fanbase in such a short space of time, shaping 2025 up to be a busy year ahead.
My review:
Lock up your dads—their favorite band is back!
Checking in on the girls again, they have hit us this time with a master blast of pop-rock, big drums, guitars and vocals. What happens to the rush, asks Ailis and the guitar work of Hayley provides a dynamic riff that kicks some significant ass. For me as a reviewer, this was a very good way of unwinding after a busy day: a cup of tea, a biscuit and this one hitting the speakers hard. It will definitely add to their live show set and, bluntly, its damn good.
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Stream music from Dirty Blonde here
By Anna-Louise Burgess