The Act: CHINA BEARS

The Release: 'PARTICIPATION TROPHY'

The Formats: COLOURED VINYL / COMPACT DISC / CASSETTE / DIGITAL

The Release Date: JULY 12TH 2024

The Digital Link: orcd.co/participation_trophy

The Tracklisting:
1. To Pull You Back
2. Easy Kill
3. I Will Break My Own Heart
4. Beck and Call
5. North Star
6. I Always Wish You Were Here (With Me)
7. Total Communication Breakdown
8. Blue Eyes
9. Gracie
10. In Good Timing
11. Sunday
12. Wasting My Life
13. Participation Trophy

The Truth: Originally formed in Somerset by twin brothers Ivan (lead vocals / guitar) and Frazer (lead guitar), the China Bears line up was completed after meeting James (bass) and Dean (drums) at university in Guildford. 'Participation Trophy' is the Bears' loooooong-awaited debut album and is available to order right now on a variety of fruity formats and bundles as well as the chance to win tickets for their October tour - full dates below and full details over at https://chinabears.tmstor.es/?utm_campaign=TM%20Breakthrough%20Vol.%2031&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Mailjet

The 'Participation Trophy' album was recorded in the autumnal sunshine of Leith with Rod Jones from Idlewild at the production controls. 'Easy Kill' was the perfectly imperfect entry point in January, it being muscular and moving and epic and ever-so-quietly putting the 'emo' into 'emotional', and second single 'North Star' fitted that same dynamic dynamic, with the hyper-energised 'Total Communication Breakdown' completing the hectic hattrick.

Current single 'Gracie' (released on June 15th) is the fourth track to be lifted from the album and reveals a softer side to the Bears' furry palette. See the beamingly DIY video over here: youtube.com/watch?v=wcolaWFoxk0

"'Participation Trophy', at its core, is an album about loss, grief, friendships, relationships and overcoming feelings of inadequacy," muses Ivan. "The album is a nod to the journey China Bears have taken from inception up until now, four friends growing up from late teens into adolescence. It's very much about the idea of being part of something, with all the good and bad. Life isn't always a clear upwards trajectory, and as we've grown we're learning that what's important is turning up, being there for yourself and others and always doing your very best."

If melodic diligence counts for anything in what is left of the music industry China Bears are masters of their arty leftfield craft: throughout a series of terrific tours and exquisitely-balanced EP releases with names like 'I've Never Met Anyone Like You', 'Statue Still' and 'All That Distance', they have displayed an innate ability to blend the alt.rock rush with the acoustic hush.

Whether it’s ripping apart the stage with their misery-anthemic indie or calming the room to pin drop silence singing their songs shoulder to shoulder in the middle of the crowd, China Bears have gained recognition for their emotive high energy and intimate performances which have drawn knowing comparisons to The National, Death Cab For Cutie and Frightened Rabbit.

Having spent the spring astounding half of Austin at SXSW and having a ball on the beaches of The Great Escape and the summer touring with the Xcerts, China Bears take their angst and angular emotions to these places here:

October 1st SHEFFIELD Sidney & Matilda
October 2nd NEWCASTLE Head of Steam
October 3rd GLASGOW Broadcast
October 4th MANCHESTER Off the Square
October 5th NORWICH Voodoo Daddy's
October 8th NOTTINGHAM Bodega
October 9th BIRMINGHAM Hare & Hounds
October 10th LONDON HACKNEY Oslo
October 11th BRISTOL The Exchange

facebook.com/chinabearsband