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