Our Story
After almost a decade of operation as a transcontinental project, with members separated by an ocean, guitarist/vocalist Andrew Bower returned from Houston, Texas to his hometown of Brisbane Australia in 2020, joining his brother Sean Bower (bass) and Dan McNaulty (drums).
After navigating some pandemic-related complications, this increased togetherness resulted in The Valery Trails' fourth album, The Sky is Blue, released in August 2022. The album was warmly received on both sides of the Pacific, charting on US specialty and college radio and with strong support from Australian community radio.
A headline tour of Australia’s east coast also served to raise the band’s profile in Australia, and the band are enjoying the chance to play more shows, as live performances were a rare occasion while the previous geographic arrangements were in place.
Critical response to The Sky Is Blue:
“Their new album finds that carefully carved out niche where the jangle of their fellow Aussies the Go-Betweens is married to the loud psychedelicized attack of a great late ’80s power trio. There’s passion and purpose in these songs that should be celebrated and analyzed by younger musicians. Do your homework, kids, and give this a spin." – Robert Ham, Paste Magazine
“‘The Sky Is Blue’ is a beautiful collection of acutely personal reflections delivered with an optimistic grace and stature, empowered by an inherent power and muscularity. It is the sum of many precious parts, reflecting an international perspective gained from travels, but grounded in something very antipodean and raw.” – Backseat Mafia
2024 sees The Valery Trails working on new songs and planning live performances, preparing to bring the next installment of their melodic guitar-based indie rock to the world.