False Advertising

False Advertising are a Manchester, United Kingdom group active since 2015. They develop a grungy strain of alternative rock with roots in DIY recording and rehearsal-space production, combining grunge, noise pop and rock elements.

Background and releases

The band emerge from Manchester’s DIY scene and build much of their work from home recordings made by Jen Hingley during the Covid period, later developed with bassist Josh Sellers and producer Luke Pickering between 2021 and 2023. Those sessions are completed with former member Chris Warr at London’s Church Studios. The material is described as a return to their DIY roots, while also drawing on the polish of a major studio environment.

The band release the album Brainfreeze before the 2024 single “Don’t Ask Me”, both issued via Alcopop!. “The Sorry Window” follows as the second new single from the group’s next record.

Live activity and collaborations

False Advertising go through a lineup change in the previous year and continue with a headline tour and festival appearances. Their live history includes support slots with Idles, Jamie Lenman and Everything Everything. Jen Hingley later joins Jamie Lenman’s band on lead guitar.

The group also play SXSW and appear at festivals including 2000 Trees, Truck, Sound City, Manchester Punk Festival, Strangeforms, Duck and Dive, and Zandari Festa in South Korea. They are invited by Robert Smith to appear at Meltdown alongside Deftones and Nine Inch Nails.

Recognition and media

False Advertising run their own Manchester event, “Falsestival”, and receive support from NME, Dork and DIY. Their music also receives airplay and coverage on BBC Radio 1, BBC 6 Music and Kerrang! Radio, and the band land a full-page feature in Kerrang!.

Production details

Their forthcoming record is produced at London’s Church Studios by Luke Pickering, who works with Fontaines D.C., Sam Ryder and Arlo Parks, and it is mastered by Kevin Tuffy, who works with TTSSFU and Metronomy. The recording process begins as DIY material before being developed into finished sessions.