Twenty years since it first landed in Daresbury, Creamfields has cemented itself as one of the UK’s biggest dance music festivals, and this was my first time making the trip. Located just outside Warrington, the site pulls crowds from Liverpool and Manchester in their thousands, alongside ravers from every corner of the country. Several transport options run into the site, with signposts and security stationed throughout to keep the flow of thousands moving in the right dire

Keyside didn’t ease their way into their debut album ‘Keyside’ , they kicked the door wide open. With driving guitars and soaring choruses, Keyside makes an immediate statement of intent. But beneath the bright and infectious surface of the album, lies something darker. With songs tackling addiction and emotional struggle yet never losing their irresistible sense of melody. ‘Runaway’ establishes the balance of the album immediately. With the upbeat guitar line and expansive c

This weekend saw around 90,000 festival goers descend on the iconic Bramham Park site for a weekend of unforgettable music. Across the site, established headliners shared the bill with a wealth of emerging talent, resulting in a host of triumphant performances. Overall, Leeds once again proved why it remains one of the UK’s favourite festivals. Since its inception back in 1999, Leeds Festival has firmly established itself as a mainstay in the festival calendar. Whilst its roo

One of Sunderland’s most exciting stars Tom A. Smith is back with an outstanding EP ‘Put On A Record Tommy’. This unique dance driven record highlights the parallels of both confidence and insecurity, expressing the difficult changes of becoming a young adult. Smith’s honest lyricism on this record emphasises the vulnerability of establishing an identity and the challenges of embodying new perspectives. The overall sonics of the EP moves contrary to this theme, proving to the

After a recently celebrated decade of Indie-Rock anthems, Garage hits, and Britpop nostalgia, DMA’S are back and ready to reclaim the Indie scene with the release of their fifth, self-titled album, ‘DMA’S’! Released on the 21st August, ‘DMA’S’ beautifully encapsulates the trio’s sonic evolution since their 2016 debut ‘Hills End’, striking a satisfying stylistic balance of both nostalgic sound and a fresh reinvention. Opening track ‘El Alamein’ wastes no time in giving us a t

Whether its Folk, Indie, Rock our Alternative, discover the best new artists emerging out of America right now... Loose Buttons As we transition from summer into autumn, the debut album from American quartet Loose Buttons has arrived at the perfect time of the year. On the surface, many of the songs over an infectious m sunshine energy for singing along at summer festivals. However, there’s an underlying melancholy and grit that leaves a harsher lasting impression. Songs like

Discover the best new music from across the continent from Indie Rock and Folk Pop newcomers to new releases from Europe's most exciting bands. Leon Blane Taking us to his mystifying dancefloor, Berlin-born artist Leon Blane’s latest track ‘Raise Your Head’ opens a world of New Wave, Electro-Pop euphoria. Where Depeche Mode meets MGMT, the combination of shattering, blaring drums, and the stabbing, jolting, oscillating synths seamlessly melt together, forming this colourful,

September 2025 saw the release of South London, Post-Punk rockers, Shame’s fourth album, ‘Cutthroat’. A thrashing and adrenaline packed record, they have since been touring all around the world, from Tokyo to LA, and will be heading to Manchester on the 4th of September, where they will be playing at Projekts Skatepark, which frontman Charlie Steen believes will be “a nice explosion of Rock and Roll”. In this interview, Steen peels back the layers as he delves into the making

Cutscene Perhaps miraculously, the underground scene is proving, through the venue closures and the AI slop and the touring costs, that it is still alive and well. And right now, there is no one better to prove this than Cutscene, a Manchester based four-piece who have just released their debut EP ‘A Piece of Life’. It clearly feeds off of the modern scene, heavily inspired by the post-punk grit of Fontaines and the grunge-gaze fuzz of Ovlov. Photo Credit: Gracie Hall Their E

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... ALEIA Perth artist ALEIA has unveiled her enchanting Indie-Rock poetry via her latest track ‘Willpower’. Taking listeners into her climate of a smoky grey cloud haze, the track encapsulates romantic betrayal through poetically crafted lyricism, amongst the slow burning instrumental blaze. ‘Willpower’ opens wit

For one month Edinburgh becomes the centre of the cultural universe, inviting the best comedy, theatre and performance talent from across the world to enjoy a summer of pure cultural expression. We had the pleasure of visiting Edinburgh Fringe towards the end of the month and here's a quick rundown of our comedy highlights: Rob Auton - Jupiter With his trademark combination of dead-pan humour, absurd story-telling and strangely sentimental poetry, 'Jupiter' was Rob Auton at h

Located in Manchester's Northern Quarter, Maki & Ramen serves up traditional Japanese dining with a warm and welcoming atmosphere. We paid them a visit to try their famous Ramen and the first thing that struck us was the decor. The room is bright and colourful, filled with mirrors and bright pink flowers hanging down the wooden beams, giving the room a fresh, Japanese feel. The traditional Japanese drum that is struck by the waiters when you arrive instantly gives your trip a

Back in 19th century New York history, some people in the area didn’t know how trains worked. The ‘Westside Cowboys’ were born from this, horseback riders who helped keep train speeds in check. This is where the Manchester indie folk band originated their obscure but fitting name as Westside Cowboy, a band that invites you in to join their herd with folk infused alt rock tracks from their debut album ‘It Goes On’. This eleven track brand new album features a variety to liste

Australian rock trio DMA’S marked a major milestone earlier this year, celebrating a decade since the release of their debut Hills End. As the band reflect and reminisce on the journey that has transformed them from Sydney hopefuls into sell-out headliners, they are already looking ahead to the next chapter. On August 21st they will release their fifth album, a self-titled record that reconnects with the classic DIY ethos that put them on the map. The upcoming album will see

Here's a rundown of our favourite emerging acts from Denmark, Norway, Finland and Sweden. Ranging from intimate Folk Pop to lively Indie Rock, there's loads to discover... Bike Lane Norwegian Indie-Rock five piece Bike Lane have just released the guitar driven track ‘Viva la Sunday’ which celebrates the simple joy of doing absolutely nothing. Rejecting the modern notion of hyper-productivity, the single stays true to the bands 2000s alt-rock vibes. Introduced by catchy guitar

Nestled on Tib Street in the heart of Manchester's Northern Quarter is the cosy local Italian Soots. Offering a homely, free-going atmosphere and perhaps the most appealing menu of vegan Italian dishes we've seen, the restaurant was a perfect summer treat. The first noticeable quality of Soots is the atmosphere. As you walk in you feel like you're walking into the backroom of a local family, in the best possible way. The kitchen is small, open-plan and completely visible to t

Lewis Capaldi and Loyle Carner are set to take over Liverpool's Sefton Park on Saturday August 15th for In The Park with Capaldi set to deliver his biggest-ever outdoor headline show in the city. Loyle Carner will be bringing his signature blend of diaristic lyricism and genre-defying sound to Liverpool. Twice shortlisted for the Mercury Prize and the recipient of multiple BRIT and NME Award nominations, Carner has built a global following with over 1.1 billion streams to his

LAUGHTERAMA, Manchester’s mega-hit comedy festival, returns to Castlefield Bowl from 2nd-6th September with five nights of incredible open-air comedy, with MICHELLE WOLF set to headline the final night. Tickets are available here. Just announced, primetime Emmy nominee, Have I Got News For You star, and international comedy powerhouse Michelle Wolf will headline the final show, joining a line-up already packed with comedy stars. Michelle is known for her sharp wit, candid sto

Following the success of Kansas Anymore, ROLE MODEL returns with 'Chuck Timely & The Hourglass', a 47-minute record that feels like the soundtrack to a late summer evening. Rather than chasing nostalgia for nostalgia’s sake, ROLE MODEL uses vintage influences to create an album that feels warm, relaxed and perfectly suited to the final stretch of summer. Photo Credit: Chuff Media 2026 The album opens with the reflective 'Chuck’s Mantra' before quickly shifting gears with 'Hig

Combining modern music styles with vintage fashions, Opus Kink’s newest album ‘The Sweet Goodbye’ presents a somewhat gothic groove spun through varying genres of Punk, Jazz, Indie and even Ska. A tasteful and cutting-edge sonic experience is offered, where instruments of the brass family conjoin with drums both electronic and raw, gritty guitars, suave bass notes and husky vocals that dive in and out of a beautiful insanity. Photo credit: Jacob Ray Opening with the track ‘C