Campfire Social - “Everything Changed”

SXSW 2023 - OEB Score: 8; Popularity Index: 2

Pairs Well With…Kings of Leon, Felice Brothers, Frightened Rabbit

Welsh band Campfire Social continue to meld indie and folk rock on their sophomore EP Everything Changed, a collection of tight singles that put guitar and vocal hooks right at the forefront. While relatively unknown, Campfire Social have achieved a big-stage sound. Full harmonies, big choruses, and efficient songwriting highlight the songs of Everything Changed, tracks that are instantly catchy and fulfilling. Horns and tinges of emo rock amend the richness of Campfire Social’s sound, elements that should account for a killer live set as they swing through Austin this year and hopefully with new songs making the trip across the Atlantic as well. (Kevin McStravick)

2020 Review: Campfire Social play accessible indie rock music, consistently building their tracks around catchy choruses and guitar melodies. Their debut EP Wellbeing and a string of follow-up singles are consistently bright, but employ some natural, alt-country air to sand down their sound noticeably. That said, it’s easy to hear arena-rock ambition in big tracks like “Ginnie & Margot” and “Tiny Specks of Dust”, tight grandeur popping off right in verse one. The Welsh quintet balance that forward sound with tender ballads like “The Great Unknown”, cleverly letting the band’s Americana-leaning songwriting stand in center.