Wild Isles: The Origins of a South West Band no-one knows.
A Nostalgic Sound with a Modern Edge
When Wild Isles formed in late 2023, the goal was clear: capture the nostalgic energy of the bands we grew up with but bring a fresh, modern twist. We wanted to craft something familiar yet new, powerful yet melodic.
Finding the Lineup
It all started with Ant, James, and Kyle revisiting old songs from A Way With Words and The Oxymora, but something was missing. The spark wasn’t quite there. Enter Macca, who had spent years fronting covers and function bands but was eager to dive into something original. The chemistry clicked immediately, and the first songs started to take shape. Initially, Macca played guitar, but after a gig with DJ, the opportunity arose to bring in a true lead guitarist—someone with experience driving original projects like When Words Fail and SN Dubstation. With DJ in place, Wild Isles was born.
From the start, the band’s four-part harmonies became a defining feature. With Macca, Ant, and DJ all having fronted bands before—and Kyle’s soaring high notes adding another layer—we began crafting songs that fully utilised our vocal power, layering harmonies over big riffs, big hooks, and explosive choruses.
The Name & First Gigs
The name Wild Isles? We’ll be honest—it came straight from the David Attenborough show. But it sounded cool, and it fit.
Our first live outing came in December 2023 at Swindon’s 12 Bands of Christmas, a lighthearted, no-pressure show where we got to rock up Ricky Martin’s "Livin’ La Vida Loca" and Anastacia’s "Left Outside Alone." It was fun, chaotic, and the perfect way to introduce ourselves.
What’s Next?
Right now, we’re building momentum. Swindon and Wiltshire have an incredible live music scene, and we’re proud to be part of it. But this is just the beginning. We’re writing, gigging, and setting our sights on expanding beyond the South West—bringing our sound to bigger stages, bigger crowds, and more cities.
Want to hear what we’re all about? Head over to our Music tab and turn it up.
