‘Yon Mon’ is the new project/persona from Bolton-based Roy Fletcher. Until 2024, Roy was the frontman/leader of The Shed Project and since that band’s demise, Roy has been working at The Ivy Studio in Bolton, assisted by Danny Hayes, producing what was to become the project’s first album, ‘You Bedda Believe It’.
Released last week, the album swaggers through topics as diverse as the state of the UK, war, love, hate, substance abuse, addiction and mental health issues… it seems no stone is left unturned, or rather unthrown…
At moments, such as opening track ‘Better Days’ (one of two tracks featuring Roy’s long time friend MC Tunes) it’s quite a raw, dark, gritty record offering aggressively pointed social commentary and yet conversely, there are full on janglefests such as debut single ‘Shine on’, ‘Picture This’ and ‘The Love Book’, all out and out indie ‘bangers’ that could have been released at any point during the last thirty years. The listener is left in no doubt which part of the world ‘Yon Mon’ hails from.
Previous single Warmonger gives no quarter! calling out the establishment, constant dismissal of the working classes, frustration of the masses… It’s all good stuff. The track may stop short of being a call to arms, but it’s certainly a rouser.
‘Can’t See Me’ not only provides the album’s main dancefloor moment (definitely a track for the shoulder and samba shufflers), but it’s also the track that best shows off Roy’s voice… think Brown meets Burgess and you’ll be in the ballpark. The guitar playing on this track is particularly atmospheric; all in all, it’s probably the album’s standout track.
As well as being available on all the usual platforms, there are a limited number of vinyl and cd pressings available.
‘Yon Mon’ will be supporting Yogi G and the Family Tree at Manchester’s Night and Day on the 9th December and at Glasgow’s Hug and Pint on the 19th.
Roy expects to announce more gigs and new music shortly.
CHECK OUT YON MON ON INSTAGRAM / X / FACEBOOK
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