Discover some of the best new music from emerging artists in Liverpool, Manchester and all the beautiful places in between! The Great Unwashed Bleeding in with lilting guitar plucks elevated by ambient echo, Manchester-based six-piece The Great Unwashed’s latest single ‘ I Do Try’ captivates its listener from the outset with an edgy ethereality. Enriched by a quirky drum beat, boasting ghost notes and trills, a playful energy is maintained amidst the song’s gentle, nostalgic

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' confront

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

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

Mary Middlefield’s  sophomore album, ‘Will You Take Me As I Am?’ , explores the complexities of identity, relationships and validation. Finding catharsis in creativity, her album was released on March 6 th  and has garnered significant praise and visibility.  Photo Credit: Valeria Shashenok The first track of the album, ‘Ladida’ , opens with a beautiful string composition and layered vocal harmonies, leading into Mary Middlefield’s  heartfelt lyricism. Drawing on a previous l

‘ How To Exist ’ is a sucker punch of an introduction to The Clockworks’  second album, ‘The Entertainment ’. An unfiltered stream of consciousness, the opening track is upbeat and with the final lyric ‘I’m looking for something to believe in’, quickly sets the backdrop of the album. ‘ Best Days ’ follows and is a quick shift in sound and pace. The slowly chugging verses bleed into an anthemic chorus, creating a track that feels effortless and yet carefully crafted, a highlig

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

Seattle based Pop – Rockers , Instant Crush are the band playing at prom in an alternative 2000’s movie, shimmering with glitter and confetti yet electrifying with guitar riffs and piercing vocals. In 2024 they released their explosive debut album ‘I’M SORRY I DIDN’T BITE MY TONGUE’ and in 2026 comes the deluxe version, with three brilliant new tracks and three demos to sink our teeth into.      Deluxe addition ‘ GRUDGE’ opens the album with a surge of angst and Emo-Rock .

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

Balancing Act  are back with ‘ Who’ve You Come As Part 2’ , which picks up straight where its predecessor, the group's debut album left off last October and it has undoubtedly been worth the wait. As per their namesake, they have proven once again their musical versatility and ability to combine influences from several different genres seamlessly. This iteration showcases a more confident, seductive version of the group, as all they needed to do was amplify everything that ma

Hailing from Toronto, visionary band Ace of Wands  released their latest single, ‘Black River’ , on March 25 th . Written during the COVID lockdown, the song is immersive and unique, reflecting the complexities of life at the time.  The band’s identification with the Dream Rock genre is thoroughly reflected in the essence of their latest single. Inspired by an eclectic mix of artists, including Kate Bush  and Nirvana , Ace of Wands have a truly unique and constantly evolving

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