2025 didn't just bring us some incredible albums and some defining releases from the biggest voices in the Indie world, it also uncovered a slew of exciting new voices who we believe are in for a huge 2026. From scrappy Indie Rock youngsters to bands who are on the crest of a wave ready to plunge into their debut albums, here's an unordered list of acts you need to watch out for this year. Florence Road Wicklow four-piece Florence Road have made waves on the Indie Pop scene w

Hundreds of people, us amongst them, were staggering through Hillsborough on Friday night. Our legs and backs already sore, ears ringing a little, we marched to the next place despite the cool that had taken the air, replacing the amber sun’s heat. The trams had been too full for us to attempt climbing into. Instead, we took upon ourselves the hike back to the city centre, to the late bars of West Street, so that we could keep dancing. We sounded like a zombie mob, all o

From new Indie gems and explosive Rock acts to intimate Folk songwriters and singer songwriters, we'll be showcasing our favourite Aussie acts and their new releases... Layer Cake Australian Indie band Layer Cake’s latest single ‘sunnyboy’ is a track destined for everyone's summer playlist. Bursting with instrumental sweetness and a lyrical tale of nostalgia and young love, Layer Cake crafts a sunset of a song where golden guitars shed gentle yet moving melodies, drums form c

Brickhouse Discover some of the best new music from emerging artists in Liverpool, Manchester and all the beautiful places in between! Opening with wiry guitars, captivating drums, and an addictive distortion, Brickhouse’s debut single ‘Angel Eyes’ immediately pulls all of us in with its violent waves of haunting romance and loss. ‘Angel Eyes’ expertly captures the essence of romantic grief - the feeling of being uncontrollably haunted by the nostalgic presence of a past lov

Our Hull-hailing Alternative favourite LIFE is back with a fresh experimental palette! Their highly anticipated June release of ‘ABSTRACT/NATURAL’ kicks off our summer with a banging start, incorporating their trademark Post-Punk boldness with an expansive taste of Folk influence - all eloquently expressed through frontman Metz Sanders-Green’s vivid vocal delivery. Carrying a similar musical intensity to that of early Shame, LIFE’s poetic meditations provide an emotionally p

Having faced an abundance of nepo baby discourse already at age 20, Violet Grohl proves exactly why she shouldn’t be written off with debut album ‘Be Sweet to Me’. After years of sharing the stage with her dad the alt-rock 90s influence is prevalent, but it’s clear Grohl hasn’t been complacent and uses her debut to define her own sound instead of sinking into expectation. Photo Credit: Bella Newman The fuzzy guitar on opening single ‘THUM’ compliment the haunting flexibility

Big Special’s latest album, ‘O’JOY’ gets us into the thought-provoking groove as West Midlands duo Joe Hickin and Callum Moloney craft the perfect blend of poignant lyricism and dynamic instrumentals, inviting us into their universe of Post-Punk, Folk, Rock, and Blues…just to name a few! In thirty minutes, Big Special delivers a sound so uniquely theirs, yet speaks to an entire nation as they relay themes of political turmoil, working class issues, and mental health through a

Garage Rock’s high priest continues to misuse priceless boutique recording equipment with aplomb, resulting in a riotous LP. Thrillingly live, with few obvious overdubs, White produces his most primal recent expression of Rock ’n’ Roll minimalism, while asking many big questions and answering few. Photo Credit: David Swanson Comparisons to his last effort, 2024’s ‘No Name’, are inevitable here, but there is divergence enough to make this a worthwhile add-on. ‘Frozen Charlotte

Few bands have evolved as fearlessly as Yard Act. Three albums in, and the Leeds four-piece have pushed the boundaries of post-punk more than ever. Now with their new record ‘You're Gonna Need a Little Music’ (Out July 17th), they take another confident leap forward. Photo Credit: James Winstanley Recorded together as a full band in the studio for the first time, it captures an energy that goes beyond their other records. There is a rawness to these tracks that almost mirro