Bedroom Tax

Image Credit: Shot By Hemps

Bedroom Tax are a five-piece outfit from East London. They consist of Sean Guy (bass/guitar/beats) Gideon Parirenyatwa (vocals), Josh Collins (vocals/guitar), Nathan Abbott (beats), and Paul Monham (guitar).

Sean met Gideon and Nathan while working in Shoreditch, which led to a year of gigging around London. In 2021, the band’s photographer Dolly Smith introduced Josh Collins (vocals), making it a five-piece.

Let’s see what they have been up to:

Hands on the Wheel

A blissed-out Audio Bullys with Nile Rodgers guitars lays the foundations for this vulnerable love story.

Head Above

When bands plot out their dreams, they’re this! No ego, all collectivism. Everyone has a part, each in perfect harmony with the other!

It’s easy to see why Radio X (XFM) guru John Kennedy is in love with them.

The Balla

Image courtesy of This Feeling

The Balla are a four-piece from Liverpool. Their line-up is Harry McKenny (vocals/rhythm guitar), Steven Turnock (drums), Taylor McCallum (lead guitar), Joe Verdin (bass).

This February, they have sold out (with Freight) This Feeling’s coveted Big in 2026 gig in Liverpool.

Let’s see why:

I’m Not A Number

McKenny’s gruff, soulful vocal power, which screams icon in the making, is heightened by McCallum’s ability to channel the brilliance of Liam ‘Skin’ Tyson from Cast.

It’s Richard Ashcroft at his best, chiming timeless orchestration with William Blake poetry.

Paris

Polished, but loitering throughout is a frailty, and an unhinged beast yearning to be set free.

Just two songs in, The Balla are showing signs of the kind of career that will be wild, untameable, and crucially, great!

The Rackets

The Rackets are a four-piece band from Wimbledon. They consist of Tom Farina (Guitar) , Paddy Hodgins (Guitar and lead vocals ) , Darragh Murray (bass & backing vocals), & Liam Roberts (drums), who all met at school.

Let’s see what they have been up to:

Silent Eyes

Ecstatic guitars racing to be free. Hodgins' vocals combine the rough edges of rock ‘n’ roll with enough mainstream flair to elevate the scintillating guitars to the next level.

Thursday Bags

Classic jagged indie licks and character-driven lyrics reignite images of Blur circa ‘Modern Life Is Rubbish’ and the endless possibilities that lay ahead of them.

Another Day

Image courtesy of the band

Another Day are a five-piece band from London. Their lineup consists of Louis Hillier (vocals/guitar), Jonte Hillier (bass), Mitch Fuller (drums), Jake Hardwick (guitar), and Astile Doherty (spoken word/percussion).

To date they have supported Babyshambles, Pete Doherty, and Sports Team.

Let’s see why:

Doghouse Roses

The wayward infectiousness of Tribes and Palama Violets runs through their glorious, shambolic rock n roll. Elevating proceedings is frontman Hillier’s vocal as he strays from the ashened melody of Grant Nicholas (Feeder) to a unique, rampaging potency that no one can match.

An instant classic!

Guilty

The poetic charm of Pete Doherty oozes through this record. Pure, earnest, but crucially, confidence. A knowingness that they’re great and will take you with them percolates throughout.

Click the image below for free tickets to their upcoming Camden gig:

The Martells

Image Credit: Daniel Blake

The Martells are three-piece band from Glasgow who met through open mic nights in the city. They’re made up of Fergus Currie (drums),Mark McKay (lead guitar), and Maxim Lavergne (vocals /guitar).

Let’s check them out:

Cecilla

Distorting the 00s joy of the Bromheads Jackets and Harrisons to a more dystopian groove, The Martells announce themselves with great drama on the indie dancefloor.

McKay’s solo taps into the lo-fi garage of The Strokes but has Britain’s penchant for ecstasy and escapism to take your mind, body and soul to pastures new!

Everything’s Gonna Be Alright

Indie euphoria. Many try, most fail. Not The Martells!

The Memos

Image courtesy of the band.

The Memos are Aaron Spencer’s creative machinations. Hailing from Liverpool, Spencer works with local session players on the live circuit to deliver his vision.

Let’s check his songs out:

Futures Ours to Find

Vocally, frontman Spencer taps into the indie warmth of Little Man Tate’s Jon Windall and the timeless songwriting of Cherry Ghost.

She’s On Her Own

Jarvis Cocker’s social comment rubs shoulders with Rick Witter’s sense of adventure on this epic indie number.

Unflirt

Unflirt is the moniker of Christine, a West London singer-songwriter of Filipino heritage.

Let’s see what she has been up to:

Crush

Lowlight shoegaze and dreampop hailing from the covid19 lockdowns, Senorin captures the human condition of the time with great grace. Alone, lost, but never without hope.

Sea Song

The sound of an artist coming of age. The little psyche nuggets of guitar are almost buried in this track, like a wry or shy smile no one is allowed to see.

Her vocal cadence is at its most free here, evoking the beauty of The Sundays’ Harriet Wheeler.

Hungry

Image courtesy of the band

Hungry are a four-piece band from Cambridge who now reside in Manchester. They’re made up of Jacob Peck (vocals/guitar), Kit Thomas (guitar), Jas Malig (bass), and Stan Rankin (drums).

Having all met at school, and with fervent belief in the band, they all went to university in Manchester to chase the dream.

Let’s see what they have been up to:

Sick of It

Hungry are more than just another angry post-punk band that’s dominated the scene in recent times. Peck’s rapid-fire vocals in the closing stages, coupled with his, Thomas, and Malig’s guitars and basslines rising and falling, show a musicality that will carry their angst far.

Morning Coffee

Boisterous riffs and sardonic lyrics unite on this joyously wry racket.

Death Of The High Street

Image Credit: Oolay Photography

Death Of The High Street are a five-piece band hailing from Derby and Nottingham in the Midlands. Their line-up consists of Scott Baxter (vocals), Ash Simpson (bass), Joe Hodges (drums), Andy Purves (guitar/vocals), and Rhys Davies (guitar/vocals).

After forming in 2015, they released their debut album last year. Let’s check a couple of songs out from it:

Don’t Look into the Sun

Channelling The Specials, they inject the ska scene with the sound of the underclass railing against wealth inequality.

Simpson’s deadly bassline, coupled with Baxter’s aggressive vocal, lends a brutality that will surely breed legions of die-hard fans.

Monster

A record to make films like Tyrannosaur look fluffy. A brutal reckoning of a violent past descending into a similar present. Purves and Davies’ guitars are blessed with the Cobain’s ‘Heart Shaped Box’ violent calmness in the early proceedings before roaring with the power of Spear of Destiny and Theatre of Hate.

Arienas

Image Credit: Jos Rodriguez

Arienas are a four-piece band from Fife in Scotland. The band are made up of Sam Robb (lead vocals/guitar), Colm Souter (lead guitar), Owen McCann (bass guitar), and Pandy (drums) 

2026 is looking very promising already, having sold out their headline show at Sneaky Pete’s in Edinburgh.

Let’s see why:

Take The Money

An ambitious record from a fledgling band. A band signalling their intentions on outrunning their humble beginnings as fast as possible!

Holy Grail

Merging the 00s Sheffield scene (Arctic Monkeys, Little Man Tate, Reverend & The Makers, Milburn) with the free-flowing rumble of The Rifles, their guitars erupt with joy!

Aurelia

The sound of youth looking to make its mark on a generation.

The Ransoms

Image Credit: Wilf Gill

The Ransoms are a five-piece band from Darlington. The band consists of Elliot Horn (lead singer), Jack Atkinson (lead guitarist), Ollie Coulter (rhythm guitarist), Olly McAvoy (bassist) and Dylan Forster (drums).

Let’s check them out:

Devil’s Temptation

Warped psyche-guitars and rock music’s rebellion join forces, creating a potent tonic that all should sup from.

Frontman Horn’s vocal drifts from light to dark with a rage that demands immediate attention.

Late Nights

Horn’s breathy vocal gives this record vitality. A desperate urgency loiters with debauched intent, one that beckons you to the dark side!  

Max Avoidance

Image courtesy of Max Avoidance

Max Avoidance is the electronic adventures of London via Wales’ Hari Limaye.

Let’s see what he has been up to:

Lightyear

The latest single, produced by Nick Brine (Oasis, Ash, The Darkness, Stereophonics, Stone Roses) at his studio in Wales, has a beautiful weightlessness.

Dreamy, atmospheric, and charting a course to nowhere, Limaye’s imagination will set you free.

Alone

As Limaye’s vocal taps into Chris Keating’s (Yeasayer) high-pitch tones, which lend his brand of electronica and indie-cum-pop prowess.

The Streetlights

The Streetlights are a four-piece band based in Manchester. Their lineup consists of Ryan Wynne (vox & rhythm guitar), Owen Marsh (bass), Matty Garmston (lead guitar), and Max Holmes (drums).

Let’s check out their debut single:

Something More

Tinged with the pure souls of the 90s indie scene, Something More twists and turns with great cinematic presence. Dark twists and turns are met with blasts of hope amid a decaying landscape!

Vocally, Wynne’s beds in between frail power of Andrew Montgomery (Geneva) and the poignant soul of Gary Briggs (Haven), whilst guitarist Garmston harnesses his inner Richard Oakes (Suede).

Together, they could just be the next great songwriting partnership.  

The High Flats

Image courtesy of the band

The High Flats are a five-piece band from the south side of Glasgow. They’re made up of Scott McKigen (vocals), Jai Madden (bass), Thomas Molony (rhythm guitar), Humza Ishaq (drums), and Kerr Ayton (lead guitar).

Having formed five years ago, they played their first gig in 2024 and have since gone on to play the iconic King Tuts Wah Wah Hut.

Let’s check them out:

Revolution

It’s Thin Lizzy’s streetwise freedom, the Beatles’ penchant for melody and Oasis threatening to kick the doors in. A soundtrack for long nights in the pub where the jukebox is still sacred.

Crashing Down

Huge riffs and lo-fi vocals recall QOSTA but, put through the ecstatic prism of British rock ‘n’ roll.

Death-defying guitars and defiant vocals announce The High Flats as serious contenders!

Silverline

Image Credit: zakkplwhite

Silverline are four-piece band from Southampton. They’re made up of Alex (guitar/vocals), Euan (guitar/bass), Charlie (bass/guitar/vocals), and Julie (drums).

The band began with Alex penning a few songs and turned to his friends for help. The rest, as they say, is history.

With a fine debut album under their belts in already, could this be the year the world catches up to their brilliance? It should be.

Let’s check them out:

Sparkly

Frontman Alex’s distinct vocals will see Silverline surge to the front of a crowded guitar scene. The snap of early Alex Turner combines with the wayward joy of Dominic Masters (The Others) and the unifying power of Jason Bavanandan (Battle).

Alex and Charlie’s guitars take the 00s guitar scene to a more ethereal place, and thus, make it a more ethereal place to reside. This culminates in a sublime, warped solo that moves beyond songwriting altogether, becoming less a sound and more a life-or-death reckoning.

A Choice of Two

Delightfully lo-fi, evoking images of bands scraping pennies to record in dingy studios in the wee hours.

As pure an indie single as you’ll hear!