YES AND MAYBE - 26 May - The Waiting Room London

Pinstriped Suits In The Height Of A Heatwave

On one of the hottest days of the year, it was surprising to arrive at a delightfully air-conditioned, but empty basement. Both YES AND MAYBE, and their support band Parlay could be seen milling around the upstairs and downstairs bars - jovial and happy to have a chat or a drink, but with a nervous preshow energy.

By Chloe Liston on 03/06/2026

Freya Ridings HMV Manchester 1st June 2026

Mother of Pearl Album Launch Show

With the release of her new Album Freya Ridings is on a promotional tour doing intimate short shows in record stores. We managed to get in at the last minute to the one at HMV Manchester. A 5 o’clock show and album signing.

By Ben Avery on 02/06/2026

The Rooks - Fright Years - Fool Nelson

Great Escape pre show @ King Tuts Glasgow 8th May 26

The Road to the Great Escape began at the iconic Glasgow venue King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut, a week before the big 20th anniversary show for the annual Brighton festival.

By Dylan Hughes on 26/05/2026

Bleech 9:3 - Scala London - 16 May 26

Scala gig + EP review

Bleech 9:3 have been on a meteoric rise and they’ve earned every bit of that momentum. But with any take-off comes turbulence. Grab a pinch (or a pound) of salt, because I’m going to break down the magnitude of that effort using some extremely approximate figures: Since 2024, Bleech 9:3 have written and played at least 13 different songs, released 5 on an EP and starred in music videos for most of them. And in the 700-ish days since their formation, they’ve played a whopping 100+ shows, around 1 show a week. It’s one hell of a grind, and the response to them is not incidental, it’s an accumulation.

By Chloe Liston on 23/05/2026

Et Al. - Liverpool Sound City

@ Tunnel - 3 May 26

As a band, Et Al. have barely celebrated a trip around the sun, but on Liverpool Sound City Saturday, Tunnel was abuzz.

By Chloe Liston on 20/05/2026

Fletchr Fletchr - Secret Set

Liverpool Sound City - The Jacaranda - 2nd May 2026

Not every secret set feels worth the scramble. Fletchr Fletchr’s did. Ever since a clip of unreleased track Life tore through the internet during their support slot for Imagine Dragons, a quiet but dedicated fanbase has been building, and with their upcoming EP An Island We Call Home on the horizon, that momentum is starting to feel tangible.

By Chloe Liston on 18/05/2026

Florence Road at the QMU, Glasgow

23 May 2026

Is it possible to transition online popularity to a successful live show? This was the question that brought me to Florence Road, an indie rock quartet made of four childhood friends from Ireland and named for the street on which they met. The band has built up a following for years through posting quirky covers online, several of which went viral. Millions of eyes were on them before they’d even released an original song of their own.

By Emily Strout on 18/05/2026

Pacifica - Yes Manchester - 11th May 2026

Argentinian Indie Rock

Pacifica arrived in Manchester looking every bit the well-oiled indie machine: a three-piece who clearly know their set inside out, but work hard to make it feel loose and spontaneous. The band took turns addressing the crowd, keeping things conversational between songs, even if the rehearsed slickness occasionally peeked through.

By Ben Avery on 13/05/2026

Bleech 9:3 - 4th May 2026

@ SWG3 Poetry Club

It seems you can’t be at any indie rock gig these days without hearing hushed whispers about them—“them” being Bleech 9:3, an alt-rock Irish four-piece from Dublin that has been making waves as they’ve recently toured in support of bands like Shame, Keo, and Sorry. For good reason too: I can now safely confirm that Bleech 9:3 puts on an absolute show. Their sound is grungy and loud, and their few released tracks sound even better in person.

By Emily Strout on 12/05/2026

Paul Simon - Armadillo Glasgow - 9th May 2026

One of the greatest living American songwriters

Last night I had the privilege to see one of the greatest living American songwriters at Glasgow’s Armadillo. I’m talking about Paul Simon, one half of Simon and Garfunkel, the 84-year-old has crafted a career defying the norms of genre. From rhythm and blues to reggae, folk and jazz, the two-time Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee has a legacy that speaks for itself.

By Adam Hamill on 11/05/2026

Kneecap - Fenian - Album Launch Show

Content - Liverpool 5th May 2026

There was a massive buzz about the place as a really excited crowd full of the tricolour balaclavas, Ireland sports shirts of all sorts and other Kneecap and Fontaines DC merch, filled into the 1500 or so capacity ‘Content’ venue in the former Cains Brewery in Liverpool's Baltic triangle.

By Ben Avery on 07/05/2026

Marli - Liverpool Sound City

Spanish Caravan - 2nd May

Marli brought an early spark to the weekend at Liverpool Sound City, opening proceedings inside the beautifully intimate Spanish Caravan stage on 2nd May. With the sun still hanging over Liverpool and crowds filtering in fresh-faced and expectant, the small space quickly filled, a sign that word is already spreading.

By Isaac Bradley on 06/05/2026

Kowloons - Arts Club Liverpool - 24th April 2026

Homecoming Headline Set

Liverpool’s Arts Club was packed to the rafters as Kowloons stepped onto the stage for their biggest headline show to date - and from the first note, it felt like a band fully stepping into their moment.

By Isaac Bradley on 28/04/2026

Lime Garden - album launch show - 14th April 26

Instore at Wax and Beans Bury, Manchester

This is the second full length album by Brighton based all-girl indie band Lime Garden and it's a good one.

By Ben Avery on 15/04/2026

Genesis tribute act The Watch - Band on the Wall Manchester 22nd March 2026

“Take a little trip back from Trespass … to Wind and Wuthering”

The Watch is a five-member band from Milan, Italy, whose music is inspired by the classic progressive rock of the 1970s and in particular the music of Genesis.

By Liam Hughes on 01/04/2026

Big Sleep

Wax and Beans - Bury, Greater Manchester - 24th Feb 2026

Big Sleep were in town as part of a run of shows for their debut album launch. This gig was in Wax and Beans, which is an independent Greater Manchester record store / coffee shop based just north of the city in Bury.

By Ben Avery on 25/03/2026

Slag - Bootleg Social

Blackpool - 21st March 2026

Slag are a math/prog rock quintet formed in late 2023. After establishing themselves in their native Brighton they are now roaming the land bringing their music to the masses. Signed to the same Oxford-based independent label as Lambrini Girls, Big Scary Monsters, they've recently released their debut EP Losing.

By Liam Hughes on 23/03/2026

Tei Shi

Yes - Manchester - 19 Feb 2026

This was essentially a one-woman show in a packed, hot and steamy room full of adoring fans. From deep within the dry ice and dim lighting, Tei Shi slowly emerged with ballet-like, sensual movements.

By Hannah Alcock on 20/02/2026

Hot Stamp - The Lexington, London - 29th Jan 2026

Good Karma Club, hosted by BBC’s Abby McCarthy, reaches an impressive milestone this year: ten years of championing live music. To celebrate, McCarthy is curating a special run of nights titled ‘Future Karma’, spotlighting the artists she believes are on the brink of breaking through in 2026. Tonight’s pick felt like an especially exciting one.

By Ben Avery on 17/02/2026

Brain Leak - Rat and Pigeon Manchester - Jan 30th 2026

New Cult

Heist or Hit’s ‘New Cult’ night on the last Friday of every month showcases some of the best new talent. It takes place at The Rat and Pigeon on Back Piccadilly, Manchester UK.

By Matthew Murray on 15/02/2026