Preston’s city streets provide the backdrop to a new music video released by local band Ginnel. Preston train station, the bus station, Preston Market Hall, Avenham and Miller Parks and Miller Arcade all feature in the video for Is Real, the first track off the band’s debut album. We went to find out more about this post-punk psych outfit from Preston.

Ginnel have been around for the past few years, they played and broadcast live from The Harris during the days of social distancing and have been quietly honing their driving sound in a rehearsal room somewhere in central Preston. Always very well received when playing live at The Ferret, they’ve travelled further afield to support The Blue Orchids, The Lovely Eggs, The Membranes, and Deja Vega.

The band is comprised of Mark Wareing (vocals and lyrics), Scrub (drums), Paul Lakin (guitar), and Pete Brown (bass).

“The inspiration for Is Real was old sixties spy films, the north west, true crime, and Judith Chalmers’ Wish You Were Here,” said Mark. “We love the video. It was all John Edward Turner’s work. He’s made Preston look cool.”

If the video below doesn’t play, view on YouTube.

The video was shot by John over four days in Preston. The video editor has worked on a number of high-profile projects in his 20-plus years in the industry, from I’m a Celebrity to Come Dine With Me, from TOWIE to Mr Tumble, as well as working on music video projects for Status Quo, Amy Winehouse and local legends Evil Blizzard.

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“Preston inspired the video,” said John, whose daughter Florence features. “I asked Ginnel to send me the track and listened to it walking around town. The city has so many amazing buildings that inspired me, the song is about a woman or girl, and I thought it should document her journey.”

Opening with a drone shot above Preston train station, the video for Is Real follows the mysterious girl as she makes her way out of the station and into Preston bus station.

“I thought it would be fun to put the bus station next to the train station as it should be!”

The video also features The Ferret, a joint decision made by both John and the band.

“We’ve played at The Ferret many times, it’s almost our second home,” said Mark. “Matt and the team always look after us. The venue is so important for giving up-and-coming bands somewhere to play, without venues like The Ferret we’d all miss out.”

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Is Real was mixed by Anthony Chapman from Collapsed Lung, and is one of the tracks off the band’s first album Swab, Scalpel, Sponge. The album was recorded in Salford and Preston and is due for release later this summer on Action Records. Gordon from Action also makes a brief cameo appearance in the video alongside the band.

“We went with Action as it’s local and independent,” said Mark. “We’ve all shopped there for years, Gordon is like a brother and has helped the local music scene for decades. Action Records is known the world over for some of the bands he’s released on the label: The Boo Radleys, The Fall, Fi Lo Radio, The Dandelion Adventure, and Common Cold to name a few.”

The album will be released as a download and on vinyl, with artwork created by the talented Paul Simpson of Teardrop Explodes fame. Paul created the wonderful artwork for the band’s first single Blueprint.

Ginnel play at Anarchy punk festival at The Waterloo Music Bar in Blackpool on Friday 7 April. The band also play at the Allan Atkinson Memorial Gig at The Continental on Saturday 8 April. Tickets can be purchased on Skiddle.

Follow Ginnel on Facebook and Instagram and You Tube. You can purchase and download Is Real from Bandcamp.

Follow John Edward Turner on Instagram.

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