Scientists of Sound - sos-MUSIC

Cutscene - Concrete Line

2026-04-30T17:16:38.630+01:00

Photo Credit: Isabella Bull

Manchester based, North East raised, Cutscene have this week announced their signing to Heist or Hit as they share new single ‘Concrete Line’. The track leans in to its moody, atmospheric territory as a steady, almost hypnotic rhythm builds tension beneath before a euphoric break. The band explain, “This track presents a character who is on a single track, someone living in a small town. The idea was conceptualised after equating the feeling of being ‘stoned’ to the paralysis people feel in modern urban centres where nothing new or exciting really happens. The ‘concrete line’ represents that stuck-in-stone mindset, that constant, unchanging, cynical stream of consciousness.” Take a listen below.

Cutscene are Seb Mason (vocals/guitar), Jack Ellis (bass), Jacob Shotton (guitar), Ollie Little (drums).

LIVE DATES
April 29th - Glasgow - SWG3
April 30th - Newcastle - Xerox
May 1st - Sheffield-Sidney & Matilda
May 2nd - Manchester - YES Basement
May 6th - London - The Waiting Room
May 7th - Manchester - Deaf Institute
May 10th - London - Sebright Arms
May 20th - St Albans - The Horn
May 23rd - Stones Throw Festival, North Shields
May 24th - Mews Festival
October 7th - Beyond The Music - Manchester

i: https://www.instagram.com/cutsceneband

Family Unit - Need Some Rest EP

2026-04-29T21:40:43.788+01:00

Recorded in Brixton, South London trio Family Unit have recently released their debut EP, Need Some Rest. Lead single Shea Butter lands with a loose, fuzzed-out immediacy that feels instinctive, its guitars blurred at the edges while still cutting through with clarity. There’s a scrappy charm throughout, with hooks half-buried in distortion, drifting vocals, and a steady surge of grunge. The EP marks the culmination of two years spent refining their sound across London’s underground scene, offering an exciting and assured introduction to the band. Dive in to Shea Butter below, with the full EP streaming here.

Need Some Rest by Family Unit

i: https://www.instagram.com/familyunitband

Saint Clair - Too Young To Notice

2026-04-29T12:32:35.466+01:00

Following a string of demo releases, London 4-piece Saint Clair mark their prominent arrival with debut single ‘Too Young To Notice’, out now via Black Butter Records. With a relentless live presence, the band's raw energy and youthful vigour is hard to replicate, but here they capture that exhilarating essence as soaring choruses charge over its explosive backdrop. “Too Young To Notice is a song about patience and youth,” Saint Clair say of the track, “about naivety and inexperience making it difficult to see that everything happens at the right time.” Take a listen below.

SAINT CLAIR · Too Young To Notice

Catch Saint Clair live
2nd May - Liverpool Sound City, Liverpool
5th May - Dork Birthday, 100 Club, London
6th May – The Blue Basement, London SOLD OUT
7th May – The Blue Basement, London
14th May - The Great Escape, Brighton
15th May - London Calling, Amsterdam NL
13th June - Golden Touch Festival, Portsmouth
24th July - Tramlines Festival, Sheffield
25th July - Truck Festival, Oxfordshire
2nd August – Wilderness Festival, Oxfordshire
29th August - Into the Great Wide Open, NL
17th October - Neighbourhood Festival, Manchester

Saint Clair are: Toby Bardsley (vocals/guitar), Lawrence Bordean (guitar), Adam Anderson (bass), Beth Diana (drums)

i: https://www.instagram.com/saintclairband

Editors - Call It In (Official Video)

2026-04-28T22:14:09.589+01:00

Credit: Rahi Rezvani

Making their very welcomed return, Editors have today unveiled their brilliant new single Call It In. Coinciding with news of a full run of UK and European tour dates, it marks the band’s first new music since 2022’s studio album EBM, and emerges from studio sessions in between Tom Smith’s debut solo record There Is Nothing In The Dark That Isn’t There In The Light and continuing live dates. On the single, frontman Tom Smith has said, “We spent a lot of summer ‘25 holed up in rural Gloucestershire, working on songs with all of us in a room, in a more traditional band set up. ‘Call It In’ is one of the newest songs we worked on, it’s a song about asking for help, really, in the presence of an existential dread, finding solace and comfort in someone close, escaping the deafening noise of modern life.” Take a listen/watch below with the video directed by the band’s guitarist Justin Lockey.

Tour dates

UK & Ireland
28th Feb - Vicar St, Dublin
1st March - Ulster Hall, Belfast
2nd March - o2 Academy, Glasgow
4th March - o2 City Hall, Newcastle
5th March - o2 Apollo, Manchester
7th March - o2 Academy, Leeds
8th March - Rock City, Nottingham
9th March - Prospect Building, Bristol
11th March - o2 Academy Brixton, London
12th March - o2 Guildhall, Southampton

EU
26th Jan - Le 106, Rouen, France
27th Jan - Le Cigale, Paris, France
29th Jan - La Riviera, Madrid, Spain
30th Jan - Auditorio Roig Arena, Valencia, Spain
31st Jan - Razzmataz, Barcelona, Spain
2nd Feb - X-Tra, Zurich, Switzerland
3rd Feb - Alcatraz, Milan, Italy
4th Feb - Borcarski Dom, Zagreb, Croatia
6th Feb - Gasometer, Vienna, Austria
7th Feb - Zenith, Munich, Germany
8th Feb - Archa, Prague, Czech Republic
10th Feb - Stodola, Warsaw, Poland
11th Feb - Columbiahalle, Berlin, Germany
12th Feb - The Grey Hall, Copenhagen, Denmark
14th Feb - Palladium, Cologne, Germany
15th Feb - Rockhal, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
16th Feb - Felsenkeller, Leipzig, Germany
20th Feb - Inselpark Arena, Hamburg, Germany

i: https://www.instagram.com/editorsofficial

DMA'S announce self titled album out August 7th + share new single Heatin Park

2026-04-28T13:49:49.348+01:00

Photo credit: Roman Jody

Today sees DMA's return with the news of their fifth studio album, set for release August 7th via Wonderlick Entertainment/Sony Music Australia/RCA UK. Coinciding with the announcement the band have also shared their latest single Heatin Park. Speaking on their fifth album and the new single, out today, Matt Mason says “‘Heatin Park' started as an old forgotten demo banged into a new sound for us and that collision is what gives it its feral energy. The album is called DMA’S because that’s exactly what it is and we’re keen to bring it home and play for you all”. Take a listen below with the official video which was filmed across the UK and Melbourne.

DMA's Self Titled album is available for Preorder/Presave HERE.

AUSTRALIAN TOUR 2026
Brisbane, Fortitude Music Hall Friday 27 November
Melbourne, Live at the Gardens Saturday 28 November
Sydney, Opera House Forecourt Thursday 3 December

i: https://www.instagram.com/dmasmusic

Man/Woman/Chainsaw - Nosedive

2026-04-24T14:22:27.816+01:00

Man/Woman/Chainsaw made their very welcomed return this week with their sprawling new single Nosedive. Built on a swirling synth line, the track’s rousing string sections and summoning vocals offer another exciting teaser for what lies ahead on their debut album. Really nailing a sound like no other, their refreshing melodies and nostalgic tone feel as forward-thinking as they are rooted in a timeless sensibility, blending past and future into something uniquely their own. Take a listen below. The band's forthcoming album ‘CANNONBALL’ is released August 7th via Fiction Records.

2026 UK Live Dates
19th Sept - Belfast - Ulster Sports Club
20th Sept - Dublin - Whelan's
22nd Sept - Manchester - Gorilla
23rd Sept - Leeds - Brudenell Social Club
24th Sept - Newcastle - The Grove
25th Sept - Glasgow - King Tut's
26th Sept - Sheffield - Float Along Festival
29th Sept - Guildford - The Boileroom
30th Sept - Brighton - Concorde 2
1st Oct - Portsmouth - The Wedgewood Rooms
2nd Oct - Bristol - Thekla
3rd Oct - Cardiff - The Globe
5th Oct - Nottingham - Rescue Rooms
6th Oct - Birmingham - Hare & Hounds
7th Oct - London - Electric Ballroom

i: https://www.instagram.com/manwomanchainsaw

Gently Tender - Wild In The Uplands

2026-04-23T17:43:54.018+01:00

Photo credit Maisy Banks

South London six-piece Gently Tender have returned this week with their dazzling new single Wild In The Uplands, the second track from their recently announced EP This Was Once Fields, out 22nd May via TODO Records. The track finds the band seamlessly blending folk-infused melodies with soaring pop elements as they create a concoction filled with rich textures and emotional depth. Speaking about the track's conception the band share: “Wild in the Uplands is a song about escape from city to country. It’s about not having respect for fences and private land, roaming free and getting into mischief. Out of all the illegal activities a person can partake in, trespassing is one of the most exhilarating!” Take a listen for yourselves below with the official video that perfectly captures the track's freeing nature.

Gently Tender live
Friday 15th May – The Great Escape Festival, Brighton
Wednesday 27th May – Institute of Contemporary Arts, London
Saturday 1st August – All Together Now Festival, County Waterford

i: https://www.instagram.com/gentlytenderband

Blossoms - Joke About Divorce

2026-04-22T21:19:45.612+01:00

Following their landmark fourth UK Number 1 Album 'Gary' in 2024, Blossoms have returned with their first new music sharing Joke About Divorce. Out now via ODD SK Recordings / Distiller Music, the track sees Shawn Lee at the helm, as Blossoms embrace their knack for keen-eyed storytelling, heartfelt moments and dry, unmistakable wit that defines their style. Frontman Tom Ogden says: “During every argument, no matter how big or small, there’s always that moment where humour could completely disarm you both and diffuse the whole thing. On this occasion, I thought joking about divorce would do exactly that... I just got the timing completely wrong. Instead, it made things worse, and that moment ended up immortalised in a three-and-a- half-minute pop song.” Joke About Divorce signals the start of a new chapter for the band, with more new music to follow later this year. Take a watch of the official video below, both directed and edited by Tom Ogden.

i: https://www.instagram.com/blossomsband

Tooth announce debut EP 'Restless In Bloom'

2026-04-22T21:01:13.879+01:00

Photo credit: Alejandro Martinez-Campos

Following on from last month's single Medicine, London four-piece Tooth have today returned with news of their debut EP 'Restless In Bloom', due out June 12th via Soil To The Sun Recordings. Sharing the extended player’s title track, the band's towering energy continues, with infectious melodies underpinning their powerful, anthemic sound. “The name ‘Restless in Bloom’ came from a poetry zine put together by Ben’s girlfriend,” explains Pollock. “She explained the meaning behind the name, saying how our youth was growing into something else, blossoming into something beyond what we knew. We would fill our time fidgeting with the freedom around us, restless in apprehension of whatever’s coming once youth fades. The lyrics reflect this idea, using the backdrop of two people sleeping together, both quickly growing out of each other and realising their existence has more potential beyond the confines of adolescence.” Take a listen for yourselves below.

Live Dates
May 3rd | Leeds, UK - Gold Sounds Festival
May 14th-16th | Brighton, UK - The Great Escape Festival
May 23rd | Bristol, UK - Dot To Dot Festival
May 24th | Nottingham, UK - Dot To Dot Festival
Jun 12th | London, UK - EP Release Party (venue TBA)
Jun 13th | Cardiff, UK - Clwb Ifor Bach
Jun 16th | Edinburgh, UK - Sneaky Pete’s
Jun 17th | Glasgow, UK - The Garage Attic Bar
Jun 18th | Sheffield, UK - Hallamshire Hotel
Jun 19th | Manchester, UK - Yes (Basement)
Jun 22nd | Liverpool, UK - Tunnel
Jun 23rd | Birmingham, UK - Dead Wax
Jun 24th | Southampton, UK - Heartbreakers
Jul 9th | Cheltenham, UK - 2000 Trees Festival
Jul 12th | London, UK - O2 Forum Kentish Town*
Jul 14th | Manchester, UK - New Century Hall*
Jul 30th | Charlbury, UK - Wilderness Festival
Aug 27th-30th | Reading, UK - Reading Festival
Aug 27th-30th | Leeds, UK - Leeds Festival
Oct 17th | Manchester, UK - Neighbourhood Festival

* = w/ Sunny Day Real Estate

i: https://www.instagram.com/toothband

Bleech 9:3 - Underrated

2026-04-21T20:37:00.002+01:00

Photo credit / Frazer McGoldrick

Irish-based four-piece Bleech 9:3 today announce their hotly anticipated self-titled debut EP, which is set for release May 15th on Polydor Records. Coinciding with the news the band have shared the sprawling Underrated, a snarling guitar anthem that's packed with their grungy explosive edge. On the new single, Baz says - "I wrote it at the end of 2024, it was one of the first Bleech songs that we jammed back then. Bad worship is a theme that runs through the EP. I felt driven to write about how it twists love into something else. How the twisting becomes the thing that you end up wanting.". Take a listen below.

Tour Dates
20th April - MTC, Cologne, DE (supporting Keo)
21st April - EKKO, Utrecht, NL (supporting Keo)
22nd April – Supersonic, Paris, FR (supporting Keo)
23rd April – Trix, Antwerp, BE (supporting Keo)
29th April – Voodoo, Belfast, UK
1st May – Whelan’s, Dublin, IE
2nd May – Liverpool Sound City, Liverpool, UK
3rd May – Gold Sounds Festival, Brudenell Social Club, Leeds, UK
4th May – SWG3 Poetry Club, Glasgow, UK
6th May – Waterfront Studio, Norwich, UK
7th May – Hare & Hounds, Birmingham, UK
9th May – Projekts Skate Park, Manchester, UK (supporting Deadletter)
11th May – Camden Assembly, London, UK
12th May – Camden Assembly, London, UK
14th May – The Great Escape, Brighton, UK
15th May - The Great Escape, Brighton, UK
16th May – Scala, London, UK
18th May – Yellow Arch Studios, Sheffield, UK
19th May – YES, Manchester, UK
21st May – Heartbreakers, Southampton, UK
23rd May – Dot To Dot Festival, Bristol, UK
24th May – Dot To Dot Festival, Nottingham, UK
28th May – Big Next, Trefpunt, Ghent, BE
29th May - Dauwpop Festival, NL
30th May - Vestrock Festival, NL
6th June - This Is Not A Love Song Festival, FR
10th June - Malahide Castle, Dublin, IE (supporting Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds)
10th July - Les Nuits Secretes, Aulnoye Aimeries, FR
24th July - Latitude Festival, UK
25th July - Truck Festival, UK
26th July - Tramlines Festival, UK
30th July - Wilderness Festival, UK
2nd August - Kendal Calling, UK
6th August - Haldern Pop Festival, DE
7th August - AFF Festival, NL
13th August - Winterthurer Musikfestwochen, Steinberggasse, CH
14th August - Syd For Solen, DK
25th August - Custom House Square, Belfast, UK (supporting Wunderhorse)
26th August - City Hall, Cork, IE (supporting Wunderhorse)
28th, 29th August - Reading + Leeds, UK
29th August - Rock N Roll Circus, Sheffield, UK
4th September - Brighton Psych Fest, Brighton, UK
5th September - Manchester Psych Fest, Manchester, UK
6th September - Edinburgh Psych Fest, Edinburgh, UK
5th-7th September - Iceland Airwaves, Reyjkavik, IS
12th September - Misty Fields, NL

i: https://www.instagram.com/bleech_9.3

CQ Wrestling - Finish Line

2026-04-21T20:17:00.000+01:00

Photo credit: The Buffacow

Nearing the release of their second album Resistance, due out 22nd May, CQ Wrestling have returned this week with their expansive new single Finish Line. Ebbing in to life, the track wastes no time in picking up pace as its towering instrumentation rushes forth. The band comments on the new single: "'Finish Line' is a song about living fully and not being afraid. It draws on philosophy, loss, and resilience. There’s a steadiness in old ideas: live well, seek joy, and don’t fear what you can’t control. After losing Jake’s father, someone very close to this band, we’ve been working hard to stay true to why we do this. We hope this song is a celebration of life and those we’ve lost." Take a listen below.

CQ Wrestling · Finish Line

Live Dates
April 25 – Beautiful Ones Festival, Concorde 2, Brighton, UK
May 27 – The Crescent, York, UK
May 28 – Boileroom, Guildford, UK
May 29 – Waterfront Studio, Norwich, UK
May 30 – Cavern, Exeter, UK
June 2 – Rough Trade, Bristol, UK
June 5 – Sidney & Matilda, Sheffield, UK
June 6 – Cabaret Voltaire, Edinburgh, UK
June 10 – Cluny 2, Newcastle, UK
June 11 – Sunflower Lounge, Birmingham, UK
June 12 – Polar Bear, Hull, UK
June 13 – Rough Trade, Liverpool, UK
Oct 21 – The Dome, London, UK
Oct 22 – Brudenell Social Club, Leeds, UK
Oct 26 – G2, Glasgow, UK
Oct 27 – Yes (Pink Room), Manchester, UK
Oct 29 - Bodega, Nottingham, UK

i: https://www.instagram.com/cqwrestling

White Flowers - Heart Breaks

2026-04-21T18:23:00.002+01:00

Photo Credit: Louise Mason

Following on from last months new single, Heaven, Preston-based duo White Flowers have returned with their euphoric new effort, Heart Breaks. Arriving ahead of their new album Dreams For Somebody Else, out May 1st via The state51 Conspiracy, the track pairs buoyant melodies with infectious synth lines offering up another exhiliarating taste of what's to come. The album will be supported by an instore tour, with headline dates coming later in the year - full schedule beneath.

Live Dates
29.04 Rough Trade, Nottingham
01.05 Action Records, Preston
02.05 Rough Trade, Liverpool
04.05 Jumbo Records, Leeds
06.05 Banquet Records, Kingston
07.05 Rough Trade, Bristol

30.09 The Croft, Bristol
01.10 Alphabet, Brighton
02.10 The ICA, London
08.10 Stereo, Glasgow
09.10 The Trades Club, Hebden Bridge
10.10 Yes (Pink Room), Manchester

i: https://www.instagram.com/whiteflowersssss

Friko - Something Worth Waiting For (Official Live Video)

2026-04-21T17:55:00.000+01:00

Following on from last month's single Still Around, Chicago's Friko have today returned with their brilliant new effort Something Worth Waiting For, the title track from their new album out April 24th via ATO Records. Accompanied by a live performance video, the track’s restless energy is vividly conveyed through driving guitars and raucous vocals that race headlong into an explosive finale. Kapetan comments, “Referencing lyrics from our first record, ‘Something Worth Waiting For’ became the band's mission statement for our second LP. Later taking on the album name as well, this song pedals, drives, runs, bolts, and barrels forward without ever looking back over its shoulder. Ending with the only big distorted guitar build on the record, just like its title, it never quite reaches that climax. Leaning into the idea that the pace is everlasting, and the destination just seconds away, always.” Take a listen:

This week, fans are welcome to join Friko for the 32nd edition of the Album Runs series to celebrate the release of the new album. On April 23rd at 6PM at Gracie O’Malley’s in Chicago, fans can run, walk, or jog to an early preview of Something Worth Waiting For on the eve of its release and ahead of their nearly sold-out headline show at Chicago’s Metro on April 25th.

TOUR DATES
Sat. April 25 – Chicago, IL @ Metro [Release Show]
Tue. April 28 – Minneapolis, MN @ Electric Fetus [in-store]
Wed. April 29 – Madison, WI @ Strictly Discs [in-store]
Thu. April 30 – Milwaukee, WI @ Lilliput Records [in-store]
Thu. May 5 – Philadelphia, PA @ WXPN NON-COMMvention
Sun. July 26 – Tokyo, JP @ Fuji Rock Festival
Thu. Aug. 6 – Haldern-Rees, DE @ Haldern Pop Festival
Fri. Aug. 7 – Genk, BE @ AFF
Sat. Aug. 8 - Sicily, IT @ Ypsigrock Festival
Mon. Aug. 10 – San Sebastian, ES @ Dabadaba (w/ Horsegirl)
Thu. Aug. 13 – Parades De Coura, PT @ Parades De Coura Festival
Sat. Aug. 15 – St. Malo, FR @ La Route du Rock
Wed. Aug. 19 – London, UK @ Village Underground (w/ Nation of Language)
Sat. Aug. 22 – Trondheim, NO @ PSTEREO
Sun. Aug. 23 – Liverpool, UK @ Camp and Furnace (w/ Nation of Language)
Tue. Aug. 25 – Leeds, UK @ Irish Centre (w/ Nation of Language)
Wed. Aug. 26 – Bristol, UK @ Electric Bristol (w/ Nation of Language)
Sat. Aug. 29 – The Hague, NL @ Paard van Stal
Tue. Sep. 8 - St. Louis, MO @ Off Broadway
Thu. Sep. 10 - Houston, TX @ Womh - Upstairs
Sat. Sep. 12 - Dallas, TX @ Rubber Gloves Patio
Mon. Sep. 14 - Denver, CO @ Marquis
Wed. Sep. 16 - Salt Lake City, UT @ Kilby Court
Fri. Sep. 18 - Phoenix, AZ @ Valley Bar
Sat. Sep. 19 - San Diego, CA @ Casbah
Sun. Sep. 20 - Los Angeles, CA @ Sid The Cat Auditorium
Mon. Sep. 21 - San Francisco, CA @ Rickshaw Stop
Thu. Sep. 24 - Portland, OR @ Polaris Hall
Fri. Sep. 25 - Seattle, WA @ Baba Yaga
Sat. Sep. 26 - Vancouver, BC @ Fox Cabaret
Thu. Oct. 15 - Minneapolis, MN @ 7th St Entry
Fri. Oct. 16 - Milwaukee, WI @ Vivarium
Sat. Oct. 17 - Detroit, MI @ The Loving Touch
Mon. Oct. 19 - Toronto, ON @ The Great Hall
Tue. Oct. 20 - Montreal, QC @ Bar Le Ritz
Thu. Oct. 22 - Boston, MA @ The Sinclair
Fri. Oct. 23 - New York, NY @ Music Hall Of Williamsburg
Sat. Oct. 24 - Philadelphia, PA @ The Foundry
Mon. Oct. 26 - Washington, DC @ Atlantis
Tue. Oct. 27 - Durham, NC @ Motorco Music Hall
Wed. Oct. 28 - Atlanta, GA @ Terminal West
Fri. Oct. 30 - Nashville, TN @ The Blue Room
Sat. Oct. 31 - Columbus, OH @ A&R Music Bar

i: https://www.instagram.com/friko4u/

Modest Mouse - Picking Dragons' Pockets

2026-04-21T17:21:00.003+01:00

Modest Mouse have today announced An Eraser And A Maze, the band's first new album in five years, and after over two decades on Epic Records, their first album on Glacial Pace Recordings, the longtime imprint of lead singer Isaac Brock. Set to be released on Friday 5th June 2026, the band have also shared the record's latest single Picking Dragons' Pockets that's streaming below. Speaking about the album's process, Brock explained: “For this one, I turned off my filter and just let it all happen. Even though every goddamn musician says that when they put out a record. I mean, go ahead and listen to the three-minute mark of any interview between a musician and Terry Gross…. Thoughts, emotions, feelings, all that stuff … you're like the soup, and it’s not always easy to pick out the ingredients. I don't dwell on things much. I don't grieve much. I'm not sure I'm a person. I feel like I should have more feelings than I do. But then, you know, I'll sing stuff. And I'm like, Oh, there it is. Oh — it's in there.”

The track listing of An Eraser And A Maze is as follows:

1. Picking Dragon’s Pockets
2. Remember Yourself
3. Life’s A Dream
4. Third Side Of The Moon
5. Dogbed in Heaven/Give It A Skeleton
6. Interlude
7. I Can’t Talk Right Now
8. Speak ‘N Spell (Or Not)
9. Rotten Fruit (feat. Justin Raisin)
10. Knocked Down By Waves
11. Absolutely Necessary Never
12. Song About Nothing
13. Stoner Party
14. Look How Far
15. Impossible Somedays

i: https://www.instagram.com/modestmouse

Au/Ra - KILLSWITCH

2026-04-17T11:52:00.004+01:00

Photo Credit: Reece Owen

Rising alt-pop wunderkind, Au/Ra has announced the details of her debut album entitled heartcore, due out on June 26th via Polydor records. Talking about the record, Au/Ra says, “heartcore is a concept album where I open the dungeon of my mind for listeners to climb inside. I created a character to help me process the real-life trauma of my girlhood, and how I healed from putting all my self-worth into being an artist. I had no idea who I was without Au/Ra”. Coinciding with the news, the multifarious artist has unveiled her new single KILLSWITCH - a jolting burst of synth-pop, brimming with her signature energy. “KILLSWITCH is about a conscious decision I made at some point to make the pain and anger stop,” Au/Ra explains. Take a listen below.

Live Dates
9/5/26 Manchester — Club Academy
10/5/26 Birmingham — Hare & Hounds
12/5/26 Bristol — The Exchange
13/5/26 London — Electrowerkz
14/5/26 Brighton — Club Revenge (The Great Escape)
15/5/26 Brighton — The Beach, Streamliner Stage (The Great Escape)
19/5/26 Paris — Supersonic Records
21/5/26 Amsterdam — Bitterzoet
22/5/26 Copenhagen — Ideal Bar
25/5/26 Cologne — Yuca
26/5/26 Hamburg — Bahnhof Pauli
27/5/26 Berlin — Mikropol

i: https://www.instagram.com/heyitsau_ra

Pain Gain - Turning Point (Official Music Video)

2026-04-16T20:37:00.001+01:00

Photo Credit: James J. Robinson

Pain Gain, a new collaborative project featuring Chloe Kaul (Kllo), Hamish Lefevre (SWIM), and Samuel Cooke (CRUSH3d), have today shared their debut single ‘Turning Point’, released via Play It Again Sam. The icy offering brings a gentle introduction to the trio, with celestial synths accompanying shimmering vocals that drift over its spacious, open beat. The band explain: “‘Turning Point’ is about facing a moment where everything shifts. For us it was a discovery of a new way of working, a new sound and a new feeling. When we first made this song, the three of us listened to it for hours and hours on repeat. We always knew we wanted it to be our first offering to the world.” Take a listen below.

i: https://www.instagram.com/paingainband

Alex Amor - Meet On The Moon (Official Video)

2026-04-15T19:16:00.003+01:00

Photo

Scottish singer-songwriter ALEX AMOR signs to VERO Music and shares new single 'Meet On The Moon'. Arriving ahead of upcoming performances at Liverpool Sound City and The Great Escape, the track drifts between glistening guitar lines and blurred, dreamlike synth textures as it settles into a woozy alt-pop atmosphere. At its core, the song is a tribute to a close friend Amor lost, imagining her watching back from the moon, as she explains: "I wrote 'Meet On The Moon' a few years ago, at a time when I was aching to create something different, to step into a new sonic world entirely. I went back to Glasgow for a month, put fate in my own hands, and started producing myself. It felt like reclaiming something. Meet On The Moon was the second song I wrote there. The song is about a friend who completely embodied the mystical, magical woman archetype I sing about in the lyrics. A few months before I wrote it, she passed away. I found myself thinking about her magnetism - the magnitude of her spirit, the force of her nature - and how, in some strange way, Earth felt too small to contain her. For many reasons, this song had to come first in this body of work. It’s an homage to the divine feminine, which the moon - in her glowing, milky fullness - has always symbolised. Women are cyclically tied to the lunar rhythm, and that beautiful, elusive pull of the moon became the heartbeat of the song’s ephemeral sound.”

Take a listen below.

LIVE DATES
03 May - Liverpool Sound City, Liverpool
15 May - The Great Escape, Brighton

i: https://www.instagram.com/iamalexamor

Westislonely - Show Me A God (Official Visualiser)

2026-04-14T21:30:00.003+01:00

Two years on from her debut single Toothache, Manchester's Westislonely continues to push out some of the most forward-thinking pop of recent times. Here, her full force comes into view, as soaring melodies swell around a head-rushing chorus and a jolt of electrifying energy. On the release, West said: "Show Me a God’ is a drug-fuelled sex ballad, written from the perspective of the euphoria before the morning after - disgusting with a dash of pleasure." Take a listen for yourselves below.

i: https://www.instagram.com/westisl0nely

Teen Suicide - Suffering (Mike's Way) (Official Music Video)

2026-04-14T20:00:00.005+01:00

Photo credit: Maysa Askar

Ahead of their forthcoming album, Nude descending staircase headless, due April 17th via Run For Cover Records, Teen Suicide have unveiled the record's final taster sharing Suffering (Mike's Way). Guitarist and vocalist Sam Ray discussed the new song, saying: "‘Suffering (Mike’s Way)’ was one of the first songs we started writing for this new record. I started working on it in 2022, not long after we started performing live again. I wanted to write something with the same propulsive energy of The Feelies, The Thermals, Wire. Jonathan Richman. That was our jumping off point, and it just sort of evolved from there. The song earned its parenthetical because Mike (Sapone, our producer) was adamant we amend the vocal melody in the chorus by a single note, and though I fought him on it at first, we tried it both ways and he was undoubtedly correct. Lyrically, it’s harder to pinpoint – despite the name, I consider it one of our more optimistic songs. It’s a sort of love song. It’s a song about the world. About living life. About getting clean from opiates. How much better it is to feel everything than nothing. It’s really just a song about movement – forward momentum. All the times you think you can’t go on and then you just do, somehow, and suddenly you’re looking back at it all. And even then, you’re still moving." Taker a listen below.

i: https://www.instagram.com/teensuicideofficial

THEATRE - The Fall (Official Video)

2026-04-14T17:47:00.004+01:00

Photo Credit: William McCloughlin

Today sees Limerick outfit THEATRE unveil their debut single, The Fall. Signing to BMG / Echo, the band share their darkened, goth-tinged sensibilities, as towering choruses crash through the track’s anthemic core. Talking through the origins of their first release, THEATRE explained: “’The Fall’ tells the story of a broken friendship, a changeling like person, and the torment that comes with loving someone as toxic as that. Writing the song was the light at the end of the tunnel of a very dark time. Not only was it the first song that people took notice of and that propelled us into gigging full time, it also was the first song that had a fully fleshed theme and story, and it was the first time we realised that a song could metamorphose a negative experience into art.” Take a listen below.

THEATRE is Maeve O’Shea (vocals), Oscar Halpin (guitar), Dara Gooney (guitar), Gerry Sheil (bass), Sean Storan (drums).

Live Dates
16 APR -Third Man Records, London (sold-out) (UK)
5 MAY -Elephant’s Head, London (UK)
6 MAY -The Waterfront Studio, Norwich (UK)*
7 MAY -Hare & Hounds, Birmingham (UK)*
9 MAY -The Road To The Great Escape, Glasgow (UK)
11 MAY -Camden Assembly, London (UK)*
12 MAY -Camden Assembly, London (UK)*
14 MAY -The Great Escape, Brighton (UK)
15 MAY -Supersonic Block Party @ Supersonic, Paris (FRA)
16 MAY -Scala, London (UK)*
18 MAY -Yellow Arch, Sheffield (UK)*
19 MAY -YES (Pink Room), Manchester (UK)*
21 MAY -Whelan’s Upstairs, Dublin (IE)
22 MAY -Mike the Pies, Listowel (IE)
23 MAY -Kasbah, Limerick (IE)
25 JUL -Deer Shed Festival, Topcliffe (UK)
26 JUL -Truck Festival, Oxfordshire (UK)
29 AUG -Rock N Roll Circus, Sheffield (UK)

*supporting Bleech 9:3

i: https://www.instagram.com/theatre.band

Waterpistol - She flies

2026-04-13T18:07:00.005+01:00

South Wales outfit Waterpistol return to kick-start the week with their slick new single, She Flies. Brimming with timeless ’60s flair, the track pairs hypnotic melodies with irresistibly catchy choruses, offering an exciting glimpse of what’s to come from the band. Since playing their debut show in April 2023 - formed from the ashes of several now-defunct creative projects - they’ve steadily built a reputation on the live circuit, and this latest release goes some way to showcasing exactly what they’re capable of. Dive into their psychedelic offering below.

Waterpistol are: Harry Watton (Vocals and Percussion), Rhea Padua (Vocals), Aaron Tormey (Guitar and Vocals), Carwyn Whiteman (Guitar and Vocals), Emma Way (Bass), Efan Watkins (Drums)

Tour Dates
Somerset - All Roads Festival (Sat-02-May-26)
Wrexham - FOCUS Wales (Thu-07-May-26)
Cardiff - Orange Light Festival (Sat-23-May-26)

i: https://www.instagram.com/waterpistolband

Live Review: Art School Girlfriend - Clwb Ifor Bach Cardiff 10 April 2026

2026-04-12T11:57:00.002+01:00

Two years on from their last visit, London-based, Wrexham-raised Art School Girlfriend returned to the Welsh capital on Friday in support of her recent third studio album 'Lean In'.

The move upstairs to the venue’s larger room felt telling. What once suited an intimate, almost hushed atmosphere now stretched comfortably into something broader, more assured, without losing the emotional core that defines Polly Mackey’s project.

There was a certain symmetry to the evening. Downstairs, a metal show rattled the foundations, all distortion and volume, while upstairs the crowd gathered in anticipation of something more reflective. Mackey acknowledged the contrast with some dry humour, joking that L.Y.A.T.T. might give the band below a run for their money.

When it arrived later in the set, its pulsing, techno-leaning electronics briefly blurred that divide, a reminder that Art School Girlfriend has always been about texture and physicality on a grand scale.

Opening with The Peaks, the set established a tone that was both controlled and immersive. The sound was remarkably clear, each layer given space to breathe, allowing tracks like Diving and Down The Line to unfold seamlessly.

There was no rush. Instead, the music drifted and built, often feeling almost ethereal as synth lines hovered just above the surface before dissolving back into the mix.

Mid-set highlights came in the form of A Place to Lie and Waves, both of which leaned into the project’s more expansive tendencies. The latter especially benefited from the upgraded space, its slow swell filling the room in each and every corner. Save Something and Doing Laps continued that trajectory, balancing fragility with a subtle sense of propulsion.

By the time Heaven Hanging Low arrived, the set had settled into a hypnotic rhythm. It was a testament to the control Mackey now exerted over both sound and space. Elsewhere, during Is It Light Where You Are, a projected backdrop of fan-submitted photographs appeared, each taken at the same hour across different parts of the world, quietly reinforcing the track’s sense of distance and connection.

The closing stretch, Out There into Hope More, Hopeless, brought things back down without losing intensity. There was a sense of resolution, but not closure. Noting she didn’t do encores due to the awkwardness they brought, it reinforced the feeling that this was a set that didn’t need to prove anything, because it already had. Art School Girlfriend commanded the space with quiet authority, crafting a live experience that was immersive, textured, and increasingly hard to look away from.

*****

Georgian - Crackled Grounds (Official Video)

2026-04-09T21:18:00.007+01:00

Manchester based five-piece Georgian have returned today with their expansive new single Crackled Grounds. Filled with darkened pop nuances, the track's gothic feel serves up an exciting introduction to their year ahead. The track is taken from their forthcoming EP of the same name due out later this year. Take a listen below.

i: https://www.instagram.com/georgianbackstage

Brook Fox - Rome

2026-04-09T20:24:00.000+01:00

Photo Credits: Stay Focused Photography

Welsh singer-songwriter Brook Fox has returned this week with his euphoric new single Rome. Gathering support by BBC Radio Wales, achieving the Welsh A-List playlist twice, driven by anthemic energy and impassioned vocals, the track’s infectious melodies signal an exciting year ahead. Recorded with trusted producer/mixer Tim Hamill, it also marks the debut studio outing for Brook Fox’s live band, capturing a glimpse of the raw, exhilarating energy they bring on the road. Take a listen below.

Upcoming Live Dates 2026
May 22nd - CWRW, Carmarthen
May 23rd - In It Together Festival, Margam
May 30th - Afan Ales, Port Talbot
June 11th - Fuel, Cardiff
June 12th - Bunkhouse, Swansea

i: https://www.instagram.com/brookfoxmusic

COURTEENERS Announce 'God Bless The Band' Best Of Album & Huge November 2026 UK Arena Tour

2026-04-09T19:18:00.001+01:00

They say good things come in threes. Today sees Courteeners announce details of their forthcoming album God Bless The Band, the very best of Courteeners, announce a huge arena tour celebrating the band’s phenomenal 20-year career and unveil their brand-new single The Luckiest Man Alive. God Bless The Band celebrates an incredible two-decades of the band, featuring tracks from their seven studio albums - St. Jude (2008), Falcon (2010), Anna (2013), Concrete Love (2014), Mapping the Rendezvous (2016), More. Again. Forever. (2020) and Pink Cactus Cafe (2024) - along with two brand-new tracks ‘The Luckiest Man Alive’ and ‘Plus One Forever’ produced by Liam Fray and James Skelly. Speaking about the release, Liam Fray says “In October it's 20 years since our first gig, so with a couple of new songs fresh from the studio, the timing just seemed right for a Best Of. If we mean half as much to people as they have done to us over the years, then we've not done too bad. We look forward to seeing you down the front… God Bless The Fans x” Take a listen to the new single below along with a full rundown of dates including London, Alexandra Palace.

Newly Announced Arena Dates:
Fri 06 Nov Leeds, First Direct Arena
Sat 07 Nov Cardiff, Utilita Arena
Fri 13 Nov Liverpool, M&S Bank Arena
Sat 14 Nov London, Alexandra Palace
Fri 20 Nov Glasgow, OVO Hydro
Sat 21 Nov Birmingham, Utilita Arena

Pre-sale tickets go on sale Wednesday 15th April.
General sale from Friday 17th April from ticketmaster.co.uk and gigsandtours.com

Additional Summer Shows already announced:
Thu 23 Jul Stoke-On-Trent, Victoria Hall (SOLD OUT)
Sat 25 July Sheffield, Tramlines (festival headline, SOLD OUT)
Thu 27 Aug Leicester, O2 Academy (SOLD OUT)
Sat 29 Aug Manchester, Wythenshawe Park (SOLD OUT)

God Bless The Band album tracklist:
1. Are You In Love With A Notion?
2. Cavorting
3. Acrylic
4. You Overdid It Doll
5. Pink Cactus Café
6. Summer
7. Take Over The World
8. Bide Your Time
9. Small Bones
10. The 17th
11. Fallowfield Hillbilly
12. That Kiss
13. Lose Control
14. Modern Love
15. Sycophant
16. Hanging Off Your Cloud
17. The Luckiest Man Alive
18. What Took You So Long?
19. Not Nineteen Forever
20. Plus One Forever

Deluxe Album Formats:
21. Sweet Surrender
22. Chipping Away
23. Smiths Disco
24. Sunflower
25. Winter Wonderland
26. The Rest Of The World Has Gone Home
27. International (Acoustic)
28. Beautiful Head
29. More. Again. Forever.
30. 20th Century Boy/Cigarettes & Alcohol (BBC Radio 2 Session - Live At Glastonbury)
31. Here Come The Young Men

i: https://www.instagram.com/courteeners