As they anticipate the release of their debut album, ‘Masquerade’ , on the 13th of February 2026, we spoke with Irish up-and-comers Cardinals . The Cork-based outfit masterfully entangle gritty traditional Rock music with complex stories that stick true to the band’s Irish roots. With four fantastic singles from the album already released via So Young Records, ‘Masquerade ’ promises melodic Folk and traditional Rock that has an unforgettably modern shine. Themes of identit

London’s rebellious trio, Dream Nails , have been at the forefront of feminist and queer punk, igniting a new wave of music and storming over those who doubt them. Having shifted their sound into a slightly more considered and nuanced direction for their upcoming debut record ( OUT ON MARSHALL RECORDS 6 FEB 2026), we can't wait to see what it has in store. This new album, ‘You Wish’ is an exploration of an undiscovered dark cave, full of insight and emotion and like always,

Discover some of the best new music from emerging artists in Liverpool, Manchester and all the beautiful places in between! Ty Freeman A singer songwriter with all the sensibilities and passion of Rock and Roll, Ty Freeman emerged as an exciting new act in Liverpool last year. What will instantly grab you when listening to his three singles is the raw, raspy power of his vocals. They elevate each line to become a heartfelt exclamation. ‘One Way Love’ has a seductive high en

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. Basht This year we've seen a much deserved rise in appreciation for talent coming from

The last 12 months months has produced some incredible albums, from scorching debuts announcing some of the best new acts to albums cementing artists as true greats. From Indie Rock to Post Punk to Folk Pop and more, here's our countdown of our 50 favourite albums of 2025. Adult Leisure - The Things You Don't Know Yet Bristol Alt-Rockers Adult Leisure burst back onto the scene with their jazz-tinged, nostalgia-ridden debut album, ‘The Things You Don’t Know Yet’ . It’s an alb

Playing the final night of their 2025 ‘Songs for the Spine’ tour, The Royston Club took to the stage at Mountford Hall on December 13th. Having sold out every date of their UK tour this year, The Royston Club ended their performances in their home from home, Liverpool. Originally from Wrexham, the Indie band have taken the UK’s music scene by storm, playing festival after festival and heading out on an extensive run of UK and EU tour dates in 2026. Finding huge success fo

One of the standout alt. rock bands of the last decade, Wolf Alice recently released their fourth album, 'The Clearing' . The London-based band have grown from supporting small gigs in 2010, to an arena tour around the UK.  The new album, 'The Clearing' , showcases the duality of their music, ranging from the dreamlike atmosphere of 'Just Two Girls',  to the adrenaline-charged 'White Horses'.  Their songs range from intense and dramatic to delicate and eerie.  Photo Credit:

We caught Delaner at District for a headline show that felt less like another date on the calendar and more like a marker of progression. Busy from the first doors, there was a sense early on that this was a band stepping into their own space. Operating within an Indie Rock framework, Delaner blend loud, rhythm-driven arrangements with emotive songwriting and dynamic shifts, drawing from classic alternative influences while maintaining a distinctly modern edge. The band’s s

In times where music can seem commercialised and inauthentic, ‘A Different Animal’ by Dog Years opposes this entirely. There is an unapologetic rawness to the vocals and lyrics. Feelings bubble under the surface throughout the verses which are unleashed in the chorus. Pairing this with the punchy electric guitar that vibrates around your ears and entire body, combines fun and playfulness with musical power. Dog Years utilises the contrast between the quietness of the bridg

Dubinki’s new single ‘Back to Basics’ starts with nostalgic guitar and drums, reminiscent of many an early-2000s Indie tune, but they take the nostalgia and turn it into a modern insight of our wants and needs, battling against derealisation and the uncomfortable feeling of being ‘me’ .   Aside from the lyrics, ‘Back To Basics’ has a contagious, foot-tapping quality, but the lyrics take it from great to superb. Dubinski explore the feeling of wanting to be better and prac

Keyside returned to Liverpool last Friday with an exceptional sold-out headline performance at the O2 Academy  as part of their 2025 UK tour. Following a busy summer on the festival circuit, featuring BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend , and supporting the likes of The Wombats , Keyside  continue to prove themselves as one of the North West’s most exciting rising bands. Photo Credit: Marieke Macklon Supported by The Cases  and The Kowloons , both acts delivered rocking performances th

Barnsley native Joshua Hawkes has proven his talent for dimensional, emotional writing and continues to contribute fresh sounds to the Indie Singer/Songwriter scene. His recent single ‘Carry It All’ combines the strengths of his previous singles in one anthemic track.   Indie-Folk undercurrents, reminiscent of  Mumford and Sons, combine with crisp, energetic instrumentals and thoughtful lyrics reminiscent of Sam Fender . The result is a sense of clarity within every elem

Over the last two years The Last Dinner Party have sky rocketed from exciting newcomers to one of the most acclaimed bands in the UK. Having broken through with the hit ‘Nothing Matters’ which blew up online, they quickly proved that they’re far more than a one hit wonder. Their debut album ‘Prelude To Ecstasy’ was one of the standout albums of 2024, filled with a shimmering expressionist singles, giving graceful Baroque Pop ballads a maximalist twist to wonderful effect. 

‘Is It Too Late To Freak Out?’, Lowgirl’s greatly anticipated debut album, is almost too intimate to listen to. It holds the kind of material that Suzanne Vega would write about turning her head away from; yearning and hauntingly dark.  At its root, it is pure indie, wandering around like a Laufey tune, stumbling into the gentle embrace of Adrianne Lenker. Yet there is something else that drives it, an electric pulse, a heartbeat that runs through it at 120bpm. It takes on th

Tucked away on the corner of Hardman Street, one of Liverpool’s most beloved grassroots venues, Quarry , begins to swell with swathes of eager fans of local band Monks , as they prepare for the final show of the year. Photo Credit: Kieran Shayle Stepping down into the newly re-opened venue, the intimate 250 capacity lent an air of exclusivity and mystique to the evening, which was only emphasised by the dimly-lit rooms, draped in veils of smoke and occasionally pierced by sha

You can’t help but be lured in by the melodic, haunting pull of soft siren ’s new single,  ‘California Heatwave’ . The side project, formed by members of Sidewalks and Skeletons and CASHFORGOLD , they join forces to produce a dark spectral fusion of gothic sound. The layered guitars shimmer and wash over you, while a familiar bass line drifts beneath, creating a Shoegazey haze that feels both nostalgic and otherworldly. Photo Credit: soft siren 2025 The vocals rise into the

Even before the release of their first EP, Søftbleach are making waves that transcend the boundaries of Pop and their single ‘ Ego Boost ’ has our hearts pounding. Boundless vocals from Darla Jade illuminate the intimacy of longing with the trepidation of self-discovery and self-confidence. In the aftermath, our egos are rightly bolstered and our minds struck with this captivating melody. Multi-instrumentalist Dustin Dooley unleashes ethereal distorted guitars which pulse

CARNE ’s new single ‘Lurk’  hits like a creeping shadow. Shoegaze meets Grunge on a Metal backdrop, the track swells with thick, distorted guitars and sudden, powerful breakdowns that punch straight through the mix. Vocally, it leans into that raw, 90s edge — Courtney Love  grit with a modern bite — backed by wrenching screams that lift the intensity even further. Lyrically, ‘ Lurk ’  sits in a world of paranoia and obsession: “something is awry,” “fire lingers,” desire simme

Following their debut album at the end of last year, Brisbane’s Layer Cake have released a pair of singles in 2025, the most recent being the melodic and reflective ‘ HEY MR. ’   The track combines soft guitar, light synthesizers and a delicate and masterfully blended vocal harmony, creating a breezy and dreamy feeling around the track, despite the seriousness of its lyrical content.  Layer Cake 2025 Instantly, the band present an internal conflict as they ask “Hey mister, w

Future Yard on the 22nd of November was a little like an old picture of your parents; slightly hazy, glamorously messy and probably fueled by something not mentioned after the night is over.  Opening this affair were Idyllic, a jumble of jangly 60s guitar lines and 90s indie-rock crescendos. They’re the back room of an old record shop, bits of Jimi Hendrix  and a couple of tunes by The Verve , with whisky stained dust sleeves and old guitar picks that rattle around. Each song