Indie rockers The Vandervalls look ahead to summer festival shows following latest EP release

In recent years, the quartet have gigged across the town, played on the main stage at the Northampton Music Festival, performed at Franklin’s Gardens and had a track included on the new ‘Click-er’ vinyl compilation.

With a sound that melds indie rock and pop, The Vandervalls formed in 2021 when teenage friends Esther Pembroke and Florence Rodgers began playing songs at each other’s homes.

After their debut release Crimson in 2023, this year’s Taxi EP brought together more recent singles alongside some new music – however the tracks had been written several years ago.

“Taxi had been kicking about for a long time before we released it,” explains Esther.

“The songs were written when we were 15-17 and released at 18-20. “We recorded at The Lodge, with Mark Cann as the producer and Stephen Kerrison as the mastering engineer.

“It was our second attempt at recording with so much change in the band with two new members.

“We decided to re-record the entire EP to make it as authentic to The Vandervalls’ sound as possible.

“We loved every second of recording it and I think that’s what makes it special. You can hear how close the band are and our love for music through every note.

Singer and guitarist Esther and bassist Florence are joined in The Vandervalls by drummer Archie Lantsbery and guitarist Nathaniel Doy.

Six track EP Taxi features the singles Tangerine, Be Mine and Smiling Like I Should alongside I’ll Follow You and Come On Over.

“They’re all teenage clap backs to break-ups - all very intense for 16-year-old us,” explains Esther talking about the singles.

“Tangerine talks about comparing yourself to someone else - in my case, the first person the other party gets with after a relationship ends.

“The song highlights the confusion- essentially saying, ‘Why not me?’ / ‘How could anyone be better than me?’

“Be Mine takes place slightly later down the line, knowing that they’ll never be the same person again and accepting the end.

“The final lyric being, ‘Now you’ll never be mine,’ People often get this song confused, assuming because it’s upbeat, it’s happy- but it’s quite the opposite lyrically.

“Smiling Like I Should is where it gets fun- it’s angrier than the other singles and shows the development of our sound. As for the story and the lyrics, the song certainly speaks for itself.”

The band’s song writing pulls from many influences, including the likes of CMAT, Wolf Alice, Black Honey and U2.

Esther explains that Archie’s drumming is rooted in pop punk while Nathaniel’s guitar has heavier influences such as Neck Deep with Florence’s influences rooted more in Britpop and the likes of Wunderhorse.

She adds: “I think our different music tastes and individual influences are what really make The Vandervalls’ sound.”

The Roseshire Festival is taking place across two days at Chester House near Irchester.

The Vandervalls are playing on the Saturday which will be headlined by The Charlatans with sets by Embrace, Cast and The Bluetones.

Other Northants acts playing on the Saturday include Luna Rosa, The Scenesters and Veins.

The Sunday will be headlined by Boyzlife with sets by Eternal, The Hoosiers and South with local acts Maddox Jones, Jamie Benkert and Northants Sings Out also performing.

Talking about being picked to play, Esther said: “We’re all undoubtedly looking forward to Roseshire.

“When we got the message, the first thing we all did was tell our parents and then went on our band group chat making sure the bands were not cover bands - they really are the real Charlatans and the real Embrace.

“I know for me, I cried, but we were and are internally screaming - some of us externally still. We’ve seen what the stage is going to look like and it looks spectacular.

“We’re still in shock over being picked and I’m not sure it will feel real until we’re on the stage trying not to faint.”

It won’t be the first time The Vandervalls have played to a big home crowd.

One of their highlights of 2026 was playing at Franklin’s Gardens for the Women’s Rugby World Cup for BBC Introducing.

They were also picked to play on the main stage at Northamptonshire Day and at Craufurd Arms’ Multitude Festival last summer on the same bill as Unpeople.

They have also previously played alongside the likes of Spyres, Freya Rose, Woegetter and twice been part of Independent Venue Week.

Esther adds: “For us, highlights aren’t always the big gigs, but the smaller gigs and the places we’ve been together, such as Brighton, London, St Albans, Bedford, Birmingham and more.

“Being part of the local scene and being chosen to represent Northampton in the new Click-er vinyl is definitely a major achievement for us too.”

Looking ahead to the second half of this year, they will be playing both the Music Barn and Forever Fest this summer as well as other gigs across the county.

They have also been back at The Lodge to record more songs which haven’t been released yet, but are part of their current live set.

“Our next single is definitely a song people have been wanting for a while,” says Esther.

“We can’t wait to show everyone what we’ve been working on and enter the new era of The Vandervalls.”

For more information visit https://linktr.ee/thevandervalls