The revitalisation of folk-pop over the last year or so has been—big shock!—the source of much discourse. Some are into it; some hate it just as much as its original stint a decade ago; some just appear to be adopting a grin-and-bear-it mentality. Still, when you’ve got a band like The 502s feeling the benefit of the rising tide, it can’t all be bad. They’re definitely less gentrified in sound, pulling from country, Americana and roots-rock in a way that lends credence to their ‘folk orchestra’ tag. Tonight on their UK tour, they find themselves in Manchester’s O2 Ritz, shaking away the January cold with some Floridian rambunctiousness that’s too appealing not to give a look at. Ben Whitehurst headed over to check it out.
Jamie McIntyre
The 502s
Photos by Ben Whitehurst (Instagram)
