Shining a light on great new music.
Hungry
This New Band Spotlight features Manchester based band 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
This New Band Spotlight features Midlands band 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
This New Band Spotlight features Fife band 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
This New Band Spotlight features Darlington band 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!
Lame
This New Band Spotlight features London based band Lame.
Image Credit: Bobbi Studio
Lame are a five-piece band from Northampton now residing in London. They’re made up of Elliot (Vocals, Guitar), Tom (Guitar), Ben (Saxophone, Keys), Harrison (Bass), and Will (Drums).
Elliot and Will are lifelong friends who left their previous bands at similar times. Feeling creatively lost, they shared musical voice notes for a laugh but soon realised there was a spark worth developing. After a spell as a three-piece, they have since progressed into today’s five-piece.
Let’s see what they have been up to:
This Song Is About the Internet
Hypnotic and infectious, they merge the grooves of Serge’s SLP and the mesmerising, estranged indie of Clap Your Hands And Say Year or Los Campesinos!
The clash of the mainstream and the underground is, was, and always will be where great art resides!
Instant Coffee
The raucous howl of early 10’s triumphs Tribes and Palma Violets are given fresh impetus with Lame’s sublime ability to impart wit and charm lyrically.
Max Avoidance
This New Band Spotlight features London based artist 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
This New Band Spotlight features Manchester band 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
This New Band Spotlight features Scottish band 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!
Superdays
This New Band Spotlight features South-East London band Superdays
Image courtesy of This Feeling
Superdays are a six-piece from South-East London. They consist of Joe Hannen (guitars), Harry Wood (drums), Merlon Blake (bass), Lou Stocks (synths), and Cal Green (vocals).
In the last two years, they have headlined 93 Feet East (London), the Hope & Ruin (Brighton), and next month will support The Lilacs at the Garage.
Let’s see what they have been up to:
Endless Romance
Beset with the iconic affection of Cherry Ghost, this lazy melodic drawl is joyously romantic!
Perfect Moment
Tinged with The Cure and lo-fi guitars, they take you on a bittersweet journey of introspection driven by nostalgia.
Melancholic but always hopeful, the band distil shades of light and dark with an ease that belies their years.
Silverline
This New Band Spotlight features Southampton band 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!
The Rafters
This New Band Spotlight features Blackburn band The Rafters.
Image Credit: Ramsay Lohan
The Rafters are a four-piece band from Blackburn. Having formed in 2019, they are made up of Nathan Griffiths (vocals / guitar), Joe Roscow (lead guitar), Ryan McDermott (bass), and George Whittingham (drums).
The band are now regulars on matchday playlists at Ewood Park (Blackburn Rovers) and have performed with mod-actor icon Phil Daniels for a special Quadrophenia event.
Let’s check them out:
Gimmick
The Arctic Monkeys’ ‘Briantstorm’ is given a sexed-up makeover, incorporating the flamboyance of Bowie and the youthful exuberance of The Enemy’s classic ‘Technodanceaphobic’.
The results are the brash dancefloor-filling basslines and licks the guitar scene desperately needs to fill indie dancefloors with wild-eyed dreams once again.
The End
This is the sound of a last-chance saloon plan being hatched after the 40th B&H has burnt out and the rum has all gone.
Rock ‘n’ roll should always sound this desperate, and with this much cowbell!
Sweet Unrest
This New Band Spotlight features London based band Sweet Unrest.
Image Credit: Farris Simmons
Sweet Unrest are a five-piece band based in London with roots in California, Pakistan, Winchester, Greece and West Sussex. Their line-up includes Marlo (guitars), Tom (guitars), Jack (vocals), Leon (bass), and Dan (drums).
Let’s check them out:
Waste of Time
Tranquil beginnings descend into angst-ridden howls on this nihilist anthem!
As the male and female vocals collide with the Sonic Youth guitars, Sweet Unrest emerge as contenders to soundtrack this generation's disgust at the world.
How Are You Feeling?
Basslines that tear into your soul are met with vocals that stray from Graham Coxon to Craig Nicholls (The Vines) on this chaotic gem.
Speakface
This New Band Spotlight features Welsh band Speakface.
Image Credit: Dylan Jones
Speakface are a four-piece from Wales. Led by former Pretty Vicious bassist Jarvis Morgan (vocals), he is joined by Hayden Lewis (guitar), James Addison (bass), and Dozzer Griffiths (drums).
This January, they play This Feeling’s coveted Big in 2026 gig in Cardiff. Let’s see why:
Over Again
A devil sent monster of a record!
Destructive drums, behemoth guitars, and, through Morgan, a vocalist who can carry it all into siege and emerge bloodied, battered, and triumphant.
Smash My Head into the Wall
Leaning into the poetry of Jack Jones, Morgan delivers a hauntingly beautiful opening minute and a half before roaring into life. The tinges of grunge and post-punk on guitar and bass, coupled with Morgan’s ability to produce life-affirming vocals, will be unstoppable in 2026.
Click the image below for tickets to their upcoming This Feeling gig:
Pistol Daisys
This New Band Spotlight features Glasgow band Pistol Daisys.
Image Credit: Matthew Pearson
The Pistol Daisys are a three-piece band from Glasgow. They’re made up of Belly (vocals), Lorna Lynn (vocals), and Lewis Kelly (drums).
Next month, they play This Feeling’s coveted Big in 2026 gig in Glasgow.
Crying n Marseille
Slick af basslines which strut into the CBGBs and own the room!
Late 70s NYC links arms with the likes of CSS and New Young Pony Club to conjure the kind of band that reeks of cool!
Bury Me
The mesmerising aloofness of Ladyron lights up this indie-electro gem!
Click the image below for tickets to their upcoming gig:
Office Party
This New Band Spotlight features London band Office Party.
Office Party are a four-piece rock band based in London. They’re made up of Chloe Smedley (lead vocals), Mert Benning (guitar/Backing vocals), and Matt (T) Townsend (drums/Backing vocals).
This January, they play This Feeling’s coveted Big in 2026 gig in London. Let’s see why:
Nicotine
Expansive and searching, tinged with grunge and shoegaze, this huge-sounding rock anthem is informed by.
The devilish warped guitar solos chime with Chloe’s rock classicist vocal to provide a juxtaposition to die for.
Tongue Tied
Their debut single takes Wolf Alice for a walk with pop music. Warped guitars and big choruses unite to deliver a fine single.
Click the image below for tickets to their upcoming This Feeling gig: