Ahead of their headline show at Upstairs on 21 February, Riff Bank South reflect on their journey, their growing sound, and the stories behind their debut EP.
The Inverness rock five-piece formed in 2024, though the groundwork stretches back a little further. George Owen and Dave Forsyth had been jamming since 2022, shaping early ideas long before the band had a name. Things accelerated when vocalist Dougie Boyle arrived in spring 2024, followed by drummer Scott Maclean later that year. That line-up shift pushed the music into sharper focus and eventually produced the material that would become Filthy Lucre.
Their debut gig at Upstairs in April 2025 gave them confidence and momentum, and the band have continued to build steadily since. With a launch night now locked in at Upstairs, supported by The Gudgees and RipChord, Riff Bank South are stepping into a new chapter.
When did things start to click and feel like Riff Bank South had a clear identity?
In reality there have been a few iterations of the band before we settled on the name. George and Dave have been jamming since 2022. However, things really started to come together when Dougie joined in spring 2024 followed by Scott around Christmas the same year. They then both put their stamps on tunes, George and Dave had been playing for a long time and we even developed the title track of the EP in one sitting as a 4 piece.
Things really started to take shape from that point and lead to our first gig at Upstairs in April 2025 which couldn’t have gone any better for us as a group. Since then it’s been a case of taking things as they come and progressing steadily.
In August 2025 George had a month off and we had to pull in Paul Murphy and jam for a month for our Beauly Buzz debut, then all of a sudden we are a 5 piece and the sound is even bigger.
How would you describe the sound you’re carving out, and what are you trying to move away from?
We never given it any thought. For us we just play whatever comes out on the day and go from there. Without a doubt there’s rock, blues and a touch of metal… At the end of the day when we put it all together we can only sound like us…
It’s not a specific sound, it’s taking all our influences and making songs that hook you in with a riff, loud drums, catchy choruses and some tambourine for good measure.
Filthy Lucre is a bold title. What does it capture about the themes or attitude running through the EP?
From the 1st track Take the Money Filthy Lucre, inspired by the documentary Last Breathe, which is a harrowing and a hard watch but would you go back down, is it worth it?
To the final track White on White, I will be your Onlyfan, the theme is clear, we don’t like greedy bastards
When you first began writing these tracks, what direction were you aiming for, and how close is the finished EP to that original vision?
For George there was never a defined outcome, he is just happy to see all the riffs and song ideas he has been playing for over 20 years finally see the light of day and develop in to what the are now. It’s been a long time coming, we all knew we had something special and it just clicked, Take the Money came from nowhere and its one of our favourites to play live.
There was never a direction as such. from where they started with George and Dave, the songs developed as each member joined the band and put their mark on the songs. The EP marks the point where we were excited for everyone to hear what we had been creating.
Every recording process has a moment when the project comes alive. What was that moment for Filthy Lucre?
The recording process was new to some of us but Dougie and Scott had been in recording studios back in the day but technology has changed massively since then. We had been practicing for a long time before this point so we didnt need many takes and the sound and clarity through the studio monitors was a wow moment. Beats muffled phone recording in The Shed, this was when we knew we had something special.
The Gudgees and RipChord Punk Band are joining you as special guests. What made them the right pairing for this launch night?
This was a no brainer for us, Paul Oparka my good friend from The Gudgees came to one of our 1st gigs where we were supporting Pariah, he took me aside after the set and said you guys need to record your material it sounds great and guess what, I have a studio in my garden the rest is history.
Then comes along Johnny Urquhart who produces our EP at Byres Studio and he is in Ripchord, perfect trio for a cracking night of Rock, Bluegrass and Punk.
MacMoray Fest 2026 is a big addition to your live calendar. How does a festival slot like that shape your planning for the year ahead?
Macmoray is huge for us and we have never played on a stage this big before infront of thousands and also sharing the stage with some big names, respect to Andy at Macmoray for giving us a chance.
We are hopeful this will lead to building a bigger following and get us more festival slots this year, we are free for Belladrum hint hint.
We are playing Ozzcore 2026 this year watch this space and Beauly Buzz in September Mutiny on the Beauly, which is a cracking local festival.
For someone discovering you for the first time at the launch, what do you hope they take away from the set?
Dougie Boyle (Lead singer):
I want them leaving as new fans entertained by our energy, song writing ability and how to put on a show, all killers no fillers.
George Owen (Lead guitarist):
I don’t mind as long as it’s not my guitar…
Dave Forsyth (Bass):
Thought provoking lyrics and a sense of hearing something new and different
Scott Maclean (Drums):
They can see that we enjoy being up on stage playing our songs, there’s passion about what we are doing and that they like what we do and they want to come back for more. Also the drummer has some nice cymbals/drumkit and our frontman is awesomeRiff Bank South’s answers show a band comfortable in their skin and excited for what comes next.
The stories behind Filthy Lucre reveal an EP shaped by long-lived riffs, fresh ideas and a recording process that finally showed them what these songs could be. Launching it at Upstairs on 21 February gives listeners a chance to experience that shift in full.
