Although Manchester's Brit-Pop Indie legends James have been playing for over 40 years, we knew they would still have a few tricks up their sleeve ready to make the gig a standout performance. The hype for the show started hours before they came on, with hundreds flocked outside the stadium wearing James ’ signature daisy on t-shirts, hats, hoodies and bags. Despite the overarching nostalia of the night, there were people of all ages queuing at every entrance, speaking to the

The time has come to start planning your festival schedule for 2026! Here's some of our favourites where you can discover your new favourite artist... Photo Credit: Kendal Calling 2025 Sound City - Liverpool (2nd-3rd May) Liverpool's city festival always provides one of the best venue hopping experiences and always guarantees new music discovery. The 2026 line up features some of the most talked about newcomers from the world of Indie and Post-Punk including Keo , Westside Co

There is a delicious irony in watching one of the most abrasive bands in the UK right now perform in a room bathed in neon pink. Last Thursday, Mandy, Indiana took to the Yes Bar Pink Room stage for the opening night of the BBC Radio 6 music festival delivering a performance that solidified their status as the definitive torchbearers of European noise rock. Mandy, Indiana (BBC 6 Music) Following a blisteringly high-octane support act in Silverwingkiller , the Manchester/ Berl

The Great Escape has unveiled a fresh wave of 100+ artists joining this year’s line-up, bringing emerging talent from across the globe to Brighton for the festival’s 2026 20th anniversary edition. This year’s daily highlights have also been revealed, spotlighting the artists set to make a major impact across the four-day festival, alongside the introduction of new TGE Wristband Rewards, offering exclusive perks and discounts for attendees across participating Brighton venues

BBC 6 Music Festival 2026 saw a weekend packed full of some of the most exciting breakthrough acts such as Mandy, Indiana as well as Indie legends like Bloc Party. However, our favourite moment of the festival was the reappearance of Leed's Post-Punk troubadours Yard Act who filled out The Pink Room at YES for a thunderous and experimental return. Yard Act // BBC 6 MUSIC Firstly, it has to be said what a treat it is to see one of the countries biggest and best Indie/Alte

Last week, Norwegian singer-songwriter Sigrid took over Manchester Academy to showcase her new infectious 2025 album 'There's Always More That I Could Say' . Her notable confidence and comfortability in the spotlight let the connection between herself and her audience prevail, driving an energetic set that underscored her undeniable enjoyment and on-stage prowess.  Photo Credit: Paul Lang // @paullangphotographer She kicked off her set with ‘I’ll Always Be Your Girl’ , the op

Where have all the goths in Liverpool gone? The punks, the queer kids, the ones that used to hang out by the courts, or around the museum? They’re here, in Outpost, a sticky backroom thick with gig posters and synth, seeing the very best of Liverpool’s local bands.  The first wave of fabric draped gig goers are here to see The Nocturnal , a gothic swirl of Siouxsie vocals and Cure covers. They’re volatile, with safety pins stringing together their lines of synth and shimmerin

Over the last 5 years, Better Joy , the project of Bria Keely , has gradually stoked the flames of Manchester’s indie scene. Introspective and emotionally raw lyrics have crafted a unique sound that lies somewhere between The Strokes  and Phoebe Bridgers . The final few months of last year saw the release of her second EP ‘at dusk’, shortly followed by a tour announcement with a run of dates across the UK and Ireland. BOOT caught up with her at her hometown show in the iconic

Georgia Johnson  headlined a sold out show at ARCHIVE in Liverpool on Thursday night, taking to the stage after four other excellent artists from a range of genres had warmed up the crowd. Accompanied by a cellist/banjo player, drummer, lead guitarist, bassist and trumpet player, Georgia Johnson and her band captivated the room at the cosy and intimate venue, but you could easily imagine them selling out much larger venues with their dazzling stage presence. Georgia was clea

Future Yard is expanding, in style. It’s constructing a new building with greater capacity to highlight local acts, there’s going to be more studio space and additional training hours for the young people that they support. Some of them are clearly here this weekend; Geese look-alikes who should probably be revising for their A-levels mixing with the groups of familiar faces who will swear that they saw The Beatles in a venue this size. They’re all the people that Future Yard

The Good Times and HSP Presents have announced So Long Good Friday, a new multi-venue all-dayer in Liverpool showcasing the best new music at an affordable price. In spring 2026, a brand new all-dayer brings some of the most exciting upcoming bands to Liverpool for a multi-venue all-dayer. Taking place on 3rd April, the first edition of So Long, Good Friday already boasts an impressive lineup, including a headline set from rising rock ‘n’ roll cowboys Fat Dog. The London-born

On Friday night, Gorillaz kicked off their ‘The Mountain’ tour at Manchester’s Co-op Live. In what can only be described as a striking, immersive spectacle, Damon Albarn lead the virtual band through a masterclass performance. Every single inch of the stage was utilised by the extensive, diverse array of live instruments, and the on-screen graphics truly transported the audience into their virtual world. Overall, the finely-honed stagecraft and attention to detail was omnipr

Jazz legend Courtney Pine returns to Liverpool's Tung Auditorium on Saturday 14th March with this award-winning show, House of Legends . Courtney Pine (Credit: One Fell Swoop) In 1986 a 22 year old Courtney Pine appeared on the front cover of the iconic British music publication NME, he is the only Black British jazz artist to do so - the last quote in a two page interview read “You know I’m doing this for a reason” and you better believe he still is… House of Legends is a ve

On Friday night, the Liverpool's O2 Academy saw Man/Woman/Chainsaw supported by Little Grandad. This event is probably best described as the inside of the weird kid's orchestra practice room. There were instruments scattered around the stage, a couple of the performers had made it into suits but most of them were in stripy tights and graphic tshirts, and the music was an experimental mixing pot of everything from David Bryne to  Fat White Family. And it was brilliant.  Little

After dropping their sophomore album 'NATIONAL AVERAGE' last summer, completely by surprise, Black Country duo BIG SPECIAL immediately cemented their place as one of the most exciting new Rock acts in the country. Their blend of cynical social commentary and angsty Punk attitude blended with moments of more thoughtful, vocal reflections has hints of Yard Act and Sleaford Mods while also embodying a definitively unique spirit all of their own. Photo credit: @honeyrobertsp

Celebrating the 20 th  anniversary of their debut album in 2025, Kaiser Chiefs’   20 Years of Employment  tour truly took fans back in time. The Indie Rock band hailing from Leeds found success with their debut album, ‘Employment’ , released in 2005 and selling over three million copies. Playing the full album alongside their greatest hits, Kaiser Chiefs rocked their Manchester performance from start to finish on Saturday, 14 th  February 2026. Supported by Corella , O2 Victo

Since we last saw Cardinals back in 2024 when they supported Been Stellar , it’s clear a lot has changed. Gone are the fresh-faced, Fred Perry-clad members of the past. Now they enter the stage – hoodies up and puffer coats still on – as a band who no longer need to question their place in the room. The shift is subtle but clear. Where they once carried themselves as EP-era hopefuls, tonight they stand firm in the identity their debut has carved out. That confidence bleeds i

Given that Ash  burst out of the blocks with their debut album ‘1977’  thirty years ago, the youth of today would be forgiven for not being familiar with the nature of these Northern-Irish alternative rock and rollers. But whilst ignorance may be understood, it is certainly still pitied, because an Ash gig is a palate-cleanser that we could all do with - a night off from reality, on a harsh winter’s evening. Photo Credit: Paul Lang They kick the gig off with the barnstorming

Ahead of the BRIT Awards coming to Manchester for the first time in its history, The K’s  took to the Gorilla Stage on Friday night in support of War Child as part of the highly-anticipated Brits week lineup. The Merseyside quartet showcased their ever-growing prowess on the concert stage to a sold-out crowd, creating the perfect sense of communal celebration not only for their music, but for an incredible cause.  Photo Credit: Paul Lang / @paullangphotographer On what would

It’s not often you get a line up that demands you arrive the second the doors open but that was the case last Friday night at Manchesters New Century Hall. Headlining the night was the energy-fuelled Indie Pop duo Good Neighbours but first up was FLETCHR FLETCHR , one of the most exciting new live acts in the country.  From start to finish their set was filled with a dramatic tension. A blend of moody synths, dense drum beats and echoed vocals that floated through the venue.