ABOUT

‘Jangly, acoustic-meets-electric punk ripper that should appeal to fans of anything from The Menzingers to Frank Turner to classic ‘70s punk.’

Brooklyn Vegan

‘Billy Liar has a certain kind of charisma that can only be explained by listening to his songs. He could easily silence a room full of drunk punks with simply a guitar and his voice, but he also has the ability to play with a full band without losing any of the magic. Powerful, emotional, yet somber and sweet; a near perfect blend of punk rock sound and great songwriting.’

Punk News

‘Every label needs a vegan Scotsman, so went out and nabbed the very best: Billy Liar. The wee lad is known as a punk troubadour who has covered a LOT of ground in Europe and America with his acoustic guitar, but on Billy’s debut album, “Some Legacy”, our hero is backed by a loud rock band. Imagine a horde of rowdy punks led by a very, very small version of William Wallace with big songs about friendship, despair, tolerance, love, anxiety and life in Edinburgh. It’s an 11-song uplifting battle cry that will rally all the clans!'

Toby Jeg - Red Scare

Billy Liar grew up in the underground punk rock scene, finding his feet and forging his sound through a self-imposed relentless touring schedule, a love of playing live and an understanding that good things do not come to those who wait. Great things come to those who get out on the road and make a hell of a lot of their own mistakes.

On June 21st 2019, Billy released his first full-length record, ‘Some Legacy’ on Red Scare Industries. It was produced by Joe McMahon (Smoke Or Fire), and features Robin Guy on drums and Stina Tweeddale (Honeyblood) on backing vocals.

Select reviews of ‘Some Legacy’…..

'Jangly, acoustic-meets-electric punk ripper that should appeal to fans of anything from The Menzingers to Frank Turner to classic '70s punk.’

BROOKLYNVEGAN

'Upon first listen, it’s easy to classify Some Legacy as a damn good album. But after spinning it a few times, it becomes way better than just “damn good.” It’s hard not to notice the immediate presence of such raw emotion… combining his earlier material with uninhibited punk rock reminiscent of Against Me! or The Clash.’

PUNKNEWS - 9/10

'Some Legacy is an appropriately named album as that’s exactly what this near perfect eleven track album is.'

THE PUNK SITE - 9/10

'Hits you like a brick… it’s most definitely punk running through this young man’s veins! A storming debut.'

LOUDER THAN WAR - 4/5

Other select reviews….

‘Edinburgh, Scotland’s troubadour Billy Liar, whose take on acoustic punk has been widely appreciated throughout the scene in recent years, is what you get when you consider the punk-before-punk standard of the genre…….. with little more than his distinctive voice and trusty acoustic guitar, writing and playing songs infused with the products of a keen mind, a heart so involved in what he does you can almost hear it beating deep in the bodies of his songs, and a soul at once old in its observation and poetry and young in that it hasn’t yet been utterly destroyed by the world.’

THE EXAMINER

‘Scotland`s angriest young man. Watching Billy attack his guitar and spit into his mic on a live setting, you’re almost waiting for this head to pop off his shoulders with the ferocity of his delivery. A constant touring animal… you are left wanting more. Great shit! More please!’

PUNKNEWS (****)

‘Acutely sharp and self aware - uncluttered realism and a hand on heart narrative’

SUBBA-CULTCHA

‘A rousing attack….. a relentless work ethic……. Billy certainly comes across as an intense character, but you don’t produce this kind of passionate music without intensity. When Bill Hicks said that he wants musicians to “play from your fucking heart”, Billy Liar was most definitely listening.’

LOUDER THAN WAR (‘Artist Of The Week’)

‘A controlled nervous breakdown in the name of art. Intense, powerful stuff - really liked him. He seems to be just as intense offstage too… more people like him please.’

BERNARD O'LEARY (The Skinny)