How The Balla Went From Sound City Newcomers to a Sold-Out Jacaranda in 11 Months
Photo via @theballaband
When The Balla introduced themselves at Liverpool’s Sound City Festival in April 2025, they were a brand new three-piece. And yet, in the space of just eleven months, they have already sold out their first headline gig and shared stages with Jamie Webster, The Sway and The Clause. “We can't believe the response we have had to our first year as a band,” they say. “It has been insane and hopefully it carries on! From our first gig at Sound City we have seen our audience grow a lot and it is so motivating as a band to see people who love it as much as we do, there’s no better feeling.”
Frontman Harry McKenny leads on vocals and rhythm guitar, holding a room with equal parts talent and humour. Behind him, Ste Turnock drives the beat on the drums and Joe Verdin lays down a deep melodic bass. Their influences pull in different directions: Harry leans indie, raised on Oasis, Stereophonics and The Verve, while Ste and Joe range from 90s hip hop to Red Hot Chili Peppers. “As a band [our influences] all blend together and it just fits. We don't know why but it does,” they laugh.
Their debut single ‘I’m Not a Number’, released back in June 2025, is a statement piece that gives back to the people and challenges the hierarchy in a workforce, wrapped in a catchy ballad that lands from the first drop. “It has a strong message and we didn't know what the reception was going to be, but we knew it would be relatable for many and had full confidence people would enjoy it”. It’s since racked up 27,000 streams, 10,000 of them in the first ten days. “People love this track [...] and sing it back every time without fail. I think the relatability of the lyrics helps people feel the song is written for them and about their struggles,” Harry explains.
When creating a song that fits their sound, The Balla work together to master the melody, lyrics and message they want to send across. “Sometimes Joe will bring a riff in and we go from there, or Harry will bring in a song written on an acoustic and take it from there and bring it alive,” Ste explains.
Photo via @theballaband
Their second single, 'Paris', marks what they call a "turning point" for them, as they lean towards a heavier sound compared to their debut. To promote it, the band flew to Paris, filming in iconic spots including under the Eiffel Tower and inviting locals to dance along. And the promotion worked because in just ten hours, The Balla sold out their Liverpool gig at the iconic Jacaranda Club as part of This Feeling’s ‘Big in 2026’, and pressed ‘Paris’ on vinyl. “We have some massive gigs and plans for 2026, some gigs and offers we have had are unbelievable and something we didn't dream of getting in just a few months as a band.” There's plenty more music on the way this year, and on current form, the bigger crowds and bigger venues feel like a matter of time.
In just under a year, The Balla have gone from a brand new name on a festival bill to a band selling out rooms before the doors even open, and not without the worry of whether it would hold up in a brutally competitive industry. And on this evidence, the dream was never the ambitious part, but keeping up with it is.