ALL FOR JOLLY, THE CORNISH CREW BLENDING FOLK AND PUNK, AND THEIR LATEST ALBUM

Logo for All For Jolly of Penzance, Cornwall / Provided by SanPR

If I had a nickel for every time this week I've opened the Novacaine inbox only to be grabbed by the scruff of the neck but a vibe I wasn't anticipating, I'd have two nickels, which isn't a lot but it's weird it happened twice.

Following the discovery of Ye Banished Privateers (review coming soon), immediately tumbling into the realm of All For Jolly was an unexpected surprise. Home-brewed in Penzance, Cornwall, this group combines Celtic folk sounds with fast-paced punk vibes that keeps you hooked from start to finish. Just listening to one song - 'On We Row', the latest single and video released by them - told me everything I need to know about their upcoming album; to expect fresh, fast-paced energy and passion.

Music video for On We Row

This being my introduction to All For Jolly, one MV alone had me falling in love with their whole vibe and the message. The unyielding determination, the return to one's roots, the looking ahead even with the Devil at your heels - this song has it all, and is backed up by a fantastically-shot MV that shows the enigmatic front-woman of the group, Sammantha Hannah, growing from a determined child into a powerful woman who keeps her love and devotion for music at the centre of all she does.

The backdrop of rugged, Cornish coastline doused in a greyish overtone makes the jaunty music shine through, especially when we see the full band collected together, singing and playing. This is the heart of what music should be; the bond that music creates between souls.

And, as if we haven't already been spoiled enough with the new single and MV, their album has dropped too! An eclectic mix of buoyant and breezy tunes like Rolling With The Punches that offer bolstering lyrics to uplift the soul, spliced with slower, more mournful pieces like Oh My (which is a sensational display of Sammantha's range). Then you have the wonderful Get Rid Of The Shit, which I can see being sung boisterously in a pub or tavern to a tune of stomping feet and tankards on tables, only to suddenly side-wind you with an electric guitar riff?!

This entire album is not only a masterpiece, but a veritable journey of emotions, passion and energy.

All For Jolly, who have played 700+ gigs in their five years, are a breath of fresh sea-breeze to the alternative music scene, and I am very much heart-eyes for Sammantha's vocal style. She's powerful, she's bold, and hearing more of her accent in On We Row was fantastic! I'm also a sucker for the 'we don't look how we sound' bands - if you showed me the photo at the bottom of the article, I would never have guessed the vivacious, hard-shanty style I heard.

With the release of their new album also came the announcement of a 2025 tour surrounding it, however, this is listed as postponed on their website, but I will be keeping a very close eye on this as they'll apparently be right in Novacaine's hometown! Fingers crossed they keep this venue because a can only imagine how fantastic a live show will be, having gone snooping through their Youtube channel for more live content!

Also, for all of you out there who are corvid-coded like me, they have some lovely shinies on their website! Inverted pentagram earrings, stickers and a jacket patch? Going straight in my basket!

Here's to you, All For Jolly, and to the very bright and very jaunty future ahead of you! I hope to see you live some day!

To hear more: Youtube / Spotify / Apple Music

For more All For Jolly content:  Website / Twitter/X / Facebook / Insta

All For Jolly / Credit: Onyx Images