Merseyside's multi-venue festival Sound City returned once again on Bank holiday weekend and proved why we love it so much. Running from venue to venue to catch everyone on your packed schedule, inevitably bumping into your best mates, your favourite band and that ex you haven't spoke to in 5 years... Photo Credit: Paul Lang (@paullangphotographer) // BOOT Magazine With an absolutely stacked line up filled with the most exciting new acts from the UK and beyond, are schedule w

Norwegian Dream-Pop duo Misty Coast have once again entranced listeners with their fifth album ‘Always Sun’, released on April 24th. A whirlwind of synth-induced psychosis, this record traps you in a void of swirling sounds, with harmonies like golden embers, and guitars flickering with sunlight. We are thrown straight into the psychedelic deep end with no arm bands as the titular track begins. Engulfed in smoky synth waves, Linn Frøkedal's ethereal vocals softly speak, “It’

Philadelphia 5-piece Soft No have once again proven that Rock n Roll is not dead. Their latest track ‘Probably Fine’, released on April 23rd, is unsettling in all the right places, with thunderous chords crashing and thrashing, drums becoming more and more volatile with every smash, and vocalist Allie Lannutti piling in with raw unfiltered energy, this is most certainly not a track to be missed. Since the band’s debut in 2024, they have combined everything good about Alternat

Courtney Hadwin’s ‘You Only Love Me When I Lie’, featuring guitarist Little Steven, of Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band, has kicked off the month of May with a track that is bursting with soul, and magnetic with seduction. With its slow but swaying beat, Hadwin’s growling vocals, reaping with an intoxicating rasp, are lyrically enticing and complex. The titular lyrics are repeated throughout, later joined by lines such as, “There’s a darker side of me”, we are presented with

Daisy Grenade is the embodiment of glitter and lipgloss plastered grunge and their newest release ‘Girls Are So Lucky’ is no exception. Hailing from Brooklyn, the female Alt-Pop duo give us a taste of their upcoming EP ‘So Much To Say’ coming out on 15th May with this lead single and it doesn’t disappoint. ‘Girls Are So Lucky’ acts as a satire of the challenges of tour life and the added pressure of being a ‘girl in a band’ in a male-dominated industry. Edgy and raw, the song

Music serves many purposes: escapism, entertainment, relaxation, but relatability is arguably one of the most important usages. Through Larlin’s new track ‘Sondhiem’, they lyrically craft a beautiful and resonating tune that is direct and unafraid in confronting challenging emotions, which many listeners will align with. Fronted by Maryann Hoar, her dreamy vocals shine through the cozy chords that wrap you up in their indie softness, as the lyrics paint on a canvas of vulnera

Iona Luke’s poetic and honest lyricism takes the form of a comfort blanket of relatability through her latest single ‘Existential’. An authentic vulnerability shines through her angelic vocals as she illustrates the complexities of identity, and the entrapment that can accompany this. Photo Credit: Daisy Dickinson Throughout the track, the notion of being stuck in a cycle is prevalent both lyrically and instrumentally, as we are faced with purposeful bleak and repetitive guit

Kick-ass Australian Rock star Courtney Barnett returns from a five-year album hiatus with ‘Creature of Habit’. The album is strong, showcasing Barnett’s signature deadpan delivery and witty lyricism throughout. While it stays rooted in her Indie Rock foundations, there are subtle shifts in texture and influence, with country-tinged flourishes woven into the mix. The record moves comfortably between punchy guitar-driven tracks and more melancholic, stripped-back ballads, showi

This month saw the highly-anticipated sophomore release from Alt-Pop princess Holly Humberstone. Despite its pessimistic title, ‘Cruel World’ is undeniably Humberstone’s most confident, polished release to date. Across its tracklist, she builds an almost ethereal, fictional landscape that moves effortlessly between forward momentum and a lingering trance of vulnerability and yearning. Photo Credit: Silken Weinberg The album starts with the interlude ‘So It Starts…’, which se

Enter Shikari are back with a surprise release album, ‘Lose Your Self’, announced to be dropping at midnight at their intimate gig at Satan’s Hollow in Manchester. The four-piece have been looking back on where they first started, discussing their first ever Manchester show as “the first sense we got that something was happening”. We see through the album they haven’t forgotten their Electronicore roots, using it to push their frustration over the lack of connection growing e

Lime Garden are back with their fresh album ‘Maybe Not Tonight’, spilling out energy and revitalising the spirit of Indie music. The release is the successive album to the band’s debut ‘One More Thing’. The band have evidently kept the momentum going in a fusion of lively vocals, and energetic instrumentation. The album holds its four singles within the first five spots on the album, with each packing its own powerful punch. ‘23’ expertly establishes the feel of the record,

Fresh from signing with REX RECS, Isle of Wight's alternative trio UGLY OZO are gearing up for their sophomore EP (OUT MAY 1ST). Led by the creative vision of Jessica Baker, UGLY OZO deal with all the angst-ridden trials and tribulations of a young-adult life. There's tinges of American teen drama with a gritty Indie-Alt texture. They swith between introspective melancholia and punchy expressions laced with angst, chaos, love and longing. Their upcoming EP 'dive' confronts li

Scott Quinn’s latest single, ‘Overdrawn’, is vulnerable and quietly comforting, exploring the difficult truth that love alone isn’t always enough to sustain a relationship. As the third release from his upcoming debut album, the track places the singer-songwriter’s talent for lyricism and storytelling at the forefront, balancing empathy with poignant observation. Opening with a moving piano sequence, ‘Overdrawn’ initially feels hopeful, with Scott Quinn’s vocals taking centre

Discover some of the best new music from emerging artists in Liverpool, Manchester and all the beautiful places in between! Cutscene Thrusted straight into the chaotic wall of sound that belongs to Cutscene’s ‘Concrete Line’ is seductive with its aggression. Guitars full of fury, pulsating with rage, we have no time to prepare for this relentless tune. With a sound reminiscent of early Fontaines DC, you can’t help but get sucked in by the Punk magnetism that is concocted as t

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

Australian duo, SALARYMEN release shimmering new single ‘Borrowed Time’ . As the final track on the extended version of their debut album ‘Take It Or Leave It’ , this track is a master stroke in how to write a deep and meaningful song, that doesn’t detract from the punch of a chorus. In February, the rock outfit supported fellow Aussies DMA’s on their UK tour. It’s no wonder, when ‘Borrowed Time’ resembles a stark likeness to indie contemporaries Wolf Alice and Blossoms . Th

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. søftbleach Reminiscent of early 2000s alt rock, ‘fight or flight’ holds a temper force

Philadelphia-based artist, Julia Pratt , also known as JULITH , disembarks from the Indie - Acoustic inspirations of her previous discography with recent EP ‘Right From Left’ . With a refreshed aesthetic to match her evolving sound, Julia explores Electro-Pop , R&B and Rock sounds, whilst maintaining her signature angst. Each track stretches outward, building high-energy soundscapes that resist confinement to a single genre. Title track ‘Right From Left’ kicks off the EP

SALYA ’s voice becomes the comfort we didn’t know we needed in her latest single ‘TALK’ . Described by SALYA herself as ‘a love letter to introverts’, the up-and-coming Indie-Alternative Pop singer perfectly captures the introvert experience in a spotlight-driven world. SALYA makes it clear that she ‘doesn’t want to talk right now’, but she doesn’t have to, this single says everything we need to hear. Building up from subdued restraint, the track rises to a raw, emotional rel

Fiona-Lee is a pioneering force in the indie music scene at the moment, as she expertly translates her personal struggles into songs that evoke a strong emotional response from her fans. With reclaiming power and validating experiences at the forefront of her lyricism, her fiercely independent spirit is nothing short of inspirational. With her sophomore EP ‘Every Woman’ set for release on April 14th, we caught up with Fiona to chat about how her own experiences shaped the pr