Easy Life frontman and songwriter Murray Matravers has issued an emotional update explaining more details surrounding the band’s ongoing lawsuit at the hands of easyJet and the easyGroup conglomerate over naming rights.
In case you somehow missed it, earlier this week the Leicester-based five-piece revealed they had been threatened with the prospect of being sued by the company owned by Greek-Cypriot billionaire, Stelios Haji-Ioannou, and best known for its budget airline, easyJet.
As ridiculous as it sounds (because it is), the multinational corporation intends to sue the band — whose name is stylised in lowercase as ‘easy life‘ — for using the word easy in their name, which they claim to have trademarked and have already been collecting royalties from other companies for some time.
Now, the latest according to Matravers is that the band and their legal representation have a clearer picture of how much fighting this in court will cost and when the wheels will really start moving.
Starting off by thanking fans and concerned parties in general for their “outpouring of love, anger, support and compassion” following the news, he labelled the reaction across the music industry and online as both “overwhelming” and “beautiful”.
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Despite multiple groups having “offered to crowdfund” to help the band take on the lawsuit, the singer, lyricist and co-founder reiterated that “this case is going to be extremely expensive to fight in the High Court” and wouldn’t actually begin until 2025.
“We would be undertaking an absolutely massive, potentially two-year-long fight against a billion-dollar corporation”, he continues. “We’re not a limited company: it’s our name on the lawsuit, they could take everything and we could be completely financially ruined — they know that and they are extremely aggressive”.
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With several dozens of ‘easy’-prefix businesses to their name, not mention countless more trademarks in existence (be they defunct, future-proofing or otherwise), the holding group has attempted to monopolise the word and already taken several other companies to court on the same grounds.
The full list of active easyGroup brands at present (Credit: Stelios Philanthropic Foundation)
The 27-year-old also commented on how both the company and other media outlets such as the Daily Mail are trying to discredit the group and “running [his] name through the dirt”.
Adding that he and his bandmates “feel intimidated” and “are going through it” during a very clearly emotional moment in the lengthy video statement, he went on to say that he believes they “have a very strong case” but warned they are going to need “upwards of half a million quid to get a fair trial”.
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Speaking passionately and defiantly, he ultimately declared that the ‘easy life vs easyGroup’ lawsuit is no longer just about the band but is instead “a case about corporate bullying” and merely one in a long line not just by this particular organisation but several others. Many of those commenting have been quick to draw comparisons between this situation and Joe Lycett‘s famous protest stunt against Hugo Boss.
As for the band, they have received a tidal wave of support from others in the music industry, with the likes of Arlo Parks, Mahalia, Professor Green and several others sending messages of solidarity and offering to help fundraise on their behalf. Murray was also praised for proving how the company doesn’t have a leg to stand on when it comes to who came first:
In their latest statement on the looming legal battle, the now deeply unpopular easyGroup labelled Matravers as a “brand thief” and argued that Stelios has owned the ‘easy’ family of brands since 1994, adding that he “needs to understand that he is not being sued by an airline” but its parent organisation.
Warning that the company “has a legal budget of £4 million per year with which to take action against brand thieves, big and small”, they even went so far as to highlight “negative PR about Matravers (for example having to be carried off stage for being too drunk to perform)”, suggesting that this could “reflect badly on easyGroup” and that “confusion is not necessary for such tarnishment to occur.”
They also drew attention to some of Easy Life’s previous merchandising such as tour posters with planes on and band t-shirts, both of which appear to mimic the company’s branding.
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The statement continues to progress in a rather personal manner, claiming that “Mr Matravers has also tried to develop the story that this is a ‘David vs Goliath’ and somehow the ‘little guy’ has the right to use any name he likes because he can’t afford lawyers.” Let’s just say we sincerely hope David wins this one.
Featured Image — easy life (via Instagram)/easyGroup
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Neighbourhood’s city centre festival returns to Manchester with promising first wave
Danny Jones
Neighbourhood Festival’s city centre all-dayer is returning to Manchester for 2026 after a year off, and this first wave of the lineup is looking promising already.
Following teasers over the past month or so, it didn’t take long for us to figure out that NBHD Festival was coming back, especially with the Weekender in Warrington having taken a similar hiatus in 2024.
However, when festivals like these take time out, it can be easy to worry whether or not they’ll lose momentum or come back stronger.
Judging by this initial batch of acts alone, there’s no doubt NBHD Fest ’26 will be another cracker.
Neighbourhood Festival 2026! Manchester’s biggest multi-venue festival returns on Saturday 17 October. The first wave of acts just announced with many more brilliant artists to be revealed. Sign-up for exclusive pre-sale which goes live 10am Tue 10 Mar. https://t.co/Qq0c7Ibuxqpic.twitter.com/8CQoeqdpWm
As you can see, as well as the fast-rising grungey alternative and garage rock quartet, KEO, being announced as one of the first big hitters on the list, there are some other familiar names on the lineup.
Especially for us Mancs.
With both Bolton and Altrincham youngsters, Florentenes and The Guest List, both joining the roster, as well as the likes of Bury-born ‘rockabilly’ revivalist Elliot James Reay also featuring on there, there’s a good deal of local talent to be enjoyed as always.
That goes for the regional delegation in general, too, with the likes of Jos River heading back up this way from her base in London, and Leeds’ fittingly named indie four-piece, The North, also booking a slot.
We’ll admit there are plenty of bands and artists coming up from the capital for the all-day festival, but at least they know where the UK’s real home of music is.
You only have to look at the festival vibes up here to know that…
It’s worth reminding, once again, that since its inception in 2016 (yes, it really has been a decade now), Neighbourhood Fest has continued to serve as a proper launchpad for the next wave of superstars, not just here in the North West but across the country.
We still remember seeing the likes of Sam Fender, Holly Humberstone, Declan McKenna, Mahalia, The Lathums and more – some for the very first time – on these city centre stages, and it’s crazy to see how big some of them have gone on to become.
Set to take over some of Manchester’s most iconic venues along the Oxford Road Corridor once again, this is, without a doubt, one of the best dates for independents on the annual live music calendar.
Hosting a total of 11 stages on Saturday, 17 October for a full day of live music, tickets for this year’s Neighbourhood Festival go on sale HERE at 10am on Friday, 13 March – and remember, there’s still plenty more to be added to the 2026 lineup.
A (completely subjective) ranking of Harry Styles’ new album, based off one listen
Daisy Jackson
Kiss All The Time, Disco Occasionally is finally with us – HS4 really did drop at midnight this time.
We all expected the fourth album from pop megastar Harry Styles to be a disco album (… because of the title, and the disco ball on the cover), and it is, in places. But there’s a lot more going on here too.
You can tell he’s spent a lot of time in Berlin, which means the disco here is pretty modern, but it’s all still quite tame. This is a pop album at its core and it needs to be one that will fill stadiums (that are already sold out).
And long-time Harry Styles fans will be pleased to find a few stripped-back ballads alongside the heavily-produced bigger tracks.
He kept us waiting for this one, but was it worth the wait?
Here’s my (completely subjective) ranking of every track on the album, based off precisely one listen. I might end up eating my words after a second go-around…
Every song on Harry Styles’ Kiss All The Time, Disco Occasionally, ranked
I’m finding this one a bit annoying until it gets to about the 1.45 mark and builds. I’m all for experimenting with new sounds but it’s all a little disjointed and messy. ‘What drum effect would you like for this one, Harry’ – ‘All of them please’.
You know that feeling you get when you’re boiling the kettle and the extractor fan’s on and the microwave’s going and then your phone starts vibrating and it’s too much noise? Same energy.
11. Paint By Numbers (Track 11)
Bored. Have gone to make a cup of tea.
10. The Waiting Game (Track 6)
I know the girlies have been crying for a Harry ballad like Matilda, but you can’t really have one now because he’s been to Berghain and it’s changed him. He likes synths now.
This one is a close contender though. It’s nice enough but there’s not a whole lot of substance.
9. Are You Listening Yet? (Track 4)
Oh no, speak-singing, in his odd Cheshire-LA accent too (listen to the way he says ‘dancing’). Even with that crescendo with the choir near the end it’s a bit of a plodder. NEXT.
8. American Girls (Track 2)
Idk much about music terminology but whatever key he’s singing in here is scratching my brain just right. I feel like a dog when you scratch the part of their belly that makes their leg shake.
This is a really nice second track and I already know I’m going to regret ranking it so low after a few more listens. But that’s not the point of this ranking. Eighth place for you, American Girls.
7. Coming Up Roses (Track 8)
OH HANG ON, we have a string section! I’m awake again! YES HARRY STRIP IT BACK!! I take back what I said for The Waiting Game, the sad ballad girlies will lap this up. Can’t wait to hold my phone torch up in Co-op Live for this one.
6. Pop (Track 9)
The baseline on this has melted my spine (complimentary). I want to put my head inside the subwoofer. I much prefer the verses to the chorus but can imagine this one will go off in a live setting. To the dance floor!
5. Dance No More (Track 10)
Dance No More? Don’t tell me sh*t like that then hit me with a funky beat like this, Harry! I’m a sucker for a funky indie band (see: Parcels, Phoenix, Jungle, etc etc) so this was always going to work for me.
4. Aperture (Track 1)
Obviously this is not my first listen of this song. Now that we have the context of the rest of the album I can see why this was the lead single. I’ve liked it from the get-go and still do. But if you don’t like this song, you might not love what’s coming.
3. Ready, Steady, Go (Track 3)
More like OK Go, amirite?! Again, the harmonies in this are simply heavenly in the verses, I have been beamed right up. The megaphone vocals in the chorus might divide some people though. Funky little baseline may even tempt me off the couch even at this hour (it’s 7am).
2. Taste Back (Track 5)
This a bit more like old Harry. I can absolutely imagine myself walking to the tram in the morning with this in my ears feeling like the world’s not so shite after all. Might even frolic in a field to this one in summer. Very lovely.
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1. Carla’s Song (Track 12)
Talk about saving the best til last! This is really reminiscent of another song, can’t put my finger on it, but I feel transported and immersed and all other good things music should make you feel. His vocals are stunninggggg in this.
Danny Jones -
6th October 2023 
