Everybody knows and loves (and if they don’t, it’s thier loss) Heavenly. They formed in 1989 out of the ashes of short-lived punk pop combo Talulah Gosh. Original members Amelia Fletcher, Peter Momtchiloff, Rob Pursey and Mathew Fletcher were joined later by Cathy Rogers, and the full Heavenly sound – a combination of an energetic punkish rhythm section, sweet, wandering lead guitar lines and full-on girl group harmonies – was consolidated. The band recorded for cult label Sarah Records in the UK and, by the time of their second album, for K Records in the US. Members of the indiepop scene in the UK and the burgeoning Riot Grrrl scene in the US, Heavenly created a unique blend of infectious melody and sharp-edged lyrics. The band’s career was cut tragically short when drummer Mathew took his own life in 1996. In 2023 the band started the process of re-releasing their four LPs and have played a handful of live shows, with drummer Ian Button completing the line-up.  Concerts in London, Paris and across the US have sold out quickly, with original Heavenly fans clamouring to see a band that they still love. Along the way, Heavenly’s music has also found a new, much younger audience, with P.U.N.K. Girl and Me And My Madiness gaining many millions of streams and Tiktok ‘likes’. These days, Amelia, Rob and Ian currently also play in Brian Bilston and The Catenary Wires (here the review for their Birling Gap record) and Swansea Sound. Peter plays in Would-Be-Goods and Tufthunter.
Portland Town is Heavenly’s first single in 29 years!

What They Say: “The single is out digitally today, June 6th. The 7” physical release date will be July 18th, to coincide with Heavenly’s only show in 2025 – at the Highbury Assembly Hall in London. The band will be also re-issuing their 1996 album, Operation Heavenly, on vinyl a week later and a new album will follow in early 2026!
Portland Town is as effervescent a pop song as any of Heavenly’s past recordings, with duelling vocals from Amelia and Cathy; looping, twanging, ‘how-did-he-do-that’ guitar escapades from Peter, and a super-catchy melody. As so often with Heavenly, though, the lyrics have real bite.  
The song embraces those who find themselves on the margins of a hostile world where maleness, straightness and conformity are in the ascendant. So why Portland?  It has always been a sanctuary – one of those places where difference is celebrated, a place where, as the song puts it, anyone can fit in. The B side is a cover version of a much-loved Only Ones song, Someone Who Cares“.

Portland Town is out now on Skep Wax Records. Look HERE for more information on Heavenly.