Matthew Bakewell - Vocals, Guitars
Ewen MacLennan - Drums
Ciara Webb - Vocals, Keys, Strings
Dónal MacCarthy - Bass
Richard Beeby - Guitars, Vocals
Occupying a truly unique realm somewhere between gothic country and lo-fi alt rock, the sonic landscape of Edinburgh’s Scarred Lip frequently defies easy categorisation.
The first EP Fair Head featured songs written throughout vocalist and guitarist Matthew Bakewell's life, from an adolescence in Belfast’s vibrant DIY music scene absorbing the influences of American alternative music in the shadow of seismic political and cultural upheaval, to the best part of two decades spent embedded in Edinburgh as part of bands such as Half Formed Things and A Fight You Can’t Win.
The band are set to unveil their debut album, The Threshold, with an unforgettable launch show at the iconic Bongo Club on Saturday, 17th May 2025. Produced by the acclaimed Edwin McLachlan — renowned for his work with Kapil Seshasayee, Half Formed Things, neverfine and Day Sleeper — the album marks the arrival of an exciting new force in Scotland’s music scene.
Written over the course of 2024 and recorded in Edinburgh during December 2024 and January 2025, The Threshold is a deeply emotional and atmospheric record. Drawing on themes of generational trauma, grief, and love, the album captures Scarred Lip’s distinctive ability to weave raw, personal storytelling into a powerful and genre-blurring soundscape.
The launch event will feature support from the Edinburgh-based band Puppy Teeth, whose raw, melodic sound and emotionally charged performances have made them one of the most exciting acts in the city’s alternative music scene.
Praise for Scarred Lip:
"I hope we hear more from Scarred Lip as this set of songs sets a high standard of song writing. Highly recommended."
"Superb... I absolutely love it"