Big Reference

Big Reference are a three-piece from Bexhill. Alt-folk royalty Hannah Lou (lead vocals & electric guitar) and Trevor Moss (bass) are joined by Elliot Lampitt on drums as they step away from their archetypal sound.

Image & artwork courtesy of the band.

Let’s see what their new direction has brought so far:

All The Way

We’re so accustomed to hearing Lou and Moss harmonising to autumnal acoustic guitars that the throbbing grunge bass causes a double take. It evokes the slacker indie-rock of the cult movie classic ‘1234’ as the channel Aberdeen (Sarah’s Records) Aberdeen and Pavement.

Lou’s vocals are blessed with a wryness that allows this tale of relationship bitterness to shine.

Another Piece of My Heart

Following a similar lyrical path, they explore long-term heartbreak to the sound of Sebadoh’s punk-jangle.

Moss and Lou’s dual vocals have a sense of youthful abandon, bringing the early Belle & Sebastien record into play. It allows the protagonist’s regret (“stranger to love and all the way back again”) to put on a brave face despite everything.

The Avenues

The Avenues are a five-piece from Hull consisting of Tom Foston (vocals/rhythm guitar), Ollie Brown (lead guitar/backing vocals), Joe Galloway (bass/backing vocals), and Kurt Jackson (drums/percussion/backing vocals).

In 2018, Tom and Joe met through a singer asking local musicians to start a band. After discovering he was stealing their money, the boys kicked the singer out of the band and recruited school friends Ollie and Kurt to complete the lineup.

*image courtesy of Steve Lloyd Thresh

Let’s check what they have been up to:

Part of the Problem

Thunderous drumming and garage backing vocals set fire to this Interpol meets The Walkmen anthem. Tackling the discourse apathy via Ollie Brown’s scorched earth guitar solo will take this band places!

Another Movie

If Interpol made a Bruce Springsteen record, this would surely be it. Jagged licks and dreams of escape unite in this tale of self-doubt and hope.

Brown’s chiming licks are the perfect backdrop to Foston’s Jon Windle (Little Man Tate) via Paul Banks (Interpol) snarl. Together, they chart a tumultuous coming-of-age story which climaxes in Brown’s gunshot firing solo!

Airflo

Airflo are a four-piece from Bristol and Newport made up of Cam Artigan (vocals), James Wilson (guitars), Aled Owen (bass), and Tom Wilson (drums).

Artwork courtesy of the band.

James and Aled were previously of the anthemic band The Rotanas. Emerging from their ashes, they seek to surpass their dizzying new heights.

*banner image courtesy of Patrick Thomas.

Let’s look at their debut single ‘Drift Away’.

Drift Away

Richard Jackson recorded Drift Away at Junkyard Studios in Newport (Pretty Vicious / SFA / The Automatic).

In many ways, its the purest of indie anthems. If there was a blueprint for bands in garages and bedrooms in the UK, then this amassing of melody, love, loss, and dreams would be the foundations of it.

Artigan’s vocal leans into the emotion of Jamie Boyle ( The K’s) or Andrew Cushin but he is possessed by something greater. Hope. His breathy indie vocal emits an everyman appeal but, in truth, is closer to the indie gods. His “la la la’s” are doused in romanticism to alleviate the daily grind.

The merest tinge of forlornness to James’ guitar solo gives it a balance of 90% escapism and 10% melancholy. This reverie should never be disturbed!

A concoction of hope and bliss that will attract the masses. It’s inevitable.

Porcelain

Porcelain are a three-piece hailing from Newcastle-upon-Tyne consisting of Curtis Longstaff (vocals/rhythm guitar), Dan wright (lead guitar), and Adam Tibke (drums).

Chief songwriters Longstaff and Wrighjt met at university, with the band fully forming in late 2022 with drummer Tibke enlisting.

*banner image courtesy of James Grant.

Artwork courtesy of the band.

We take a look at their two singles to date:

Hearsay

With Coldplay’s classic ‘Hearsay’ coursing through its guitars, Hearsay reignites the early 00s when indie searched for something purer.

Vocally, Longstaff taps into the innocence and power of Haven’s Gary Briggs and Thirteen Senses’ Will South. Combined, it gives Longstaff an instant presence on the indie scene as a real force to be reckoned with.  

False Alarm

The emotion coursing through this single is astonishing. The emotive rhetoric of The National links arms with the hope of Longview and Embrace to conjure sheer genius.

Wright’s guitars howl with such pain alongside the atmospheric beauty of the Doves debut album to showcase what a truly special band Porcelain already are!

Feral Family

The Sheffield outfit recently ventured to the Magic Garden Studios in Wolverhampton with Producer Liam Radburn to record their debut EP ‘Playtest’. Image courtesy of Sonic PR.

We take a look at a couple of songs from the EP:

Spice King

A mass of post-punk desolation akin to The Murder Capital’s power swells alongside the snarling fire of Hell Is For Heroes. ‘Smother’’s bassline marauds with the unhinged mania of The Chameleons and Spear of Destiny whilst vocally the brashness of early Kasabian chimes alongside the gothic guitar prowess of The Cure.

Smother

Great shades of light and dark resound out with aplomb. Encapsulated best by their moody basslines and shimmering gothic guitars.

Brooding throughout are basslines that build images of hope being buried by a ruthless dictatorship. In the closing stages, a volatile animal shakes its leash to fight its oppressors. Devastatingly brilliant!

Click the image below for tomorrows gig:

Soaked

Southend three-piece Soaked formed 2022. They’re made up of lead singer-songwriter and lead guitarist Brandon Frisby, bassist Ronnie Cochrane, and drummer Alex Newman. Image courtesy of Astile Doherty & This Feeling.

Let’s see what they have been up to:

Windmill Hill

An ode to all things great about the Essex scene right now. Their playful punk of compatriots Bilk 00s indie revivalists Lock-In hook up to great effect.

Toying with early Arctic Monkeys basslines and the working-class joy of Jamie T, Soaked have reimagined the 00s idols via their generation’s rabid rage.

Takeaway

At Graham Coxon’ solo career peak, his guitars fired out like The Fall and Pavement on a drunk night out. Loitering with the same intent are Frisby’s licks in this tale of teenage boredom.

Two songs in and Soaked are building a cannon of working-class anthems that could see them rival Blur, Jamie T, and The Streets.

Click the image below for tickets to see Soaked at Rochford Festival:

Carsick

Carsick are a four-piece made up of Joe Richardson (frontman, on both vocals and guitar), his brother Jack Richardson (on guitar), Jack Hardiman (on bass), and Tom Armstrong (on drums). With the exception of Jack (who is from Reading), they hail from Wiltshire and were formed over a series of pints in Salisbury back in 2021.  

Images courtesy of @DevPlacePhotos.

Earlier this year they released their debut EP ‘Drunk Hymns’ vial the legendary Alcopop Records. We check out a couple of tracks:

Anaconda Frank

Thrill-seeking violence! Independent venues are going to need to take out higher insurance bonds once this single is unleashed live.

The visceral venom of Soft Play (Slaves) guitars via the poignancy of Jamie T reignites the notion of running with believers!

Runner

Runner shows a more melodic side to the band. Jamie T’s and Mike Skinner’s direct poetic delivery permeates throughout but is never parody.

The protagonist, hopeless, idealistic, and foolishly courageous, a fine insight into the young male psyche! Teenage souls searching for meaning and adventure have a new voice!

Jace Campbell

Jace Campbell is a 19-year-old singer-songwriter from the iconic musical city of Salford. Image courtesy of Lucy Wag and Terrace Cult.

Let’s see what he has been up to:

What Will It Take

The latest single from Campbell is beset with great romantic woe. The kind that can only emanate from wayward teenage souls trying to discover who they are.

Campbell’s solid jingle-jangle flow grinds to a poetic halt in the closing stages only to relaunch with a fiercer dramatic climax. It showcases songwriting bravery many profess, but few possess.

Stone Cold

Booming riffs from the ‘Rock ‘n’ Roll Star’ and ‘Queen Is Dead’ playbook chime with Campbell’s Liam Gallagher-esque via Tommy O’Dell vocals to glorious effect.

Campbell again brings an intensity that carries this in-your-face number to the devilish planes!

Word Of Mouth

As beautiful homage to Northside as possible. The wobble-funky guitar of Dermo trip away as Campbell delivers his most venomous vocal to date.

Click the image below for tickets to his upcoming show:

The Q-Days

Hailing from Southend and now residing in Brighton, The Q-Days have gathered steam this past few years supporting the likes of The Rifles, Bilk, and Youth Killed It. Image courtesy of Colossal Artists. They’re made up of Zac Mahoney (lead vocals), Ryan Benson-Smith  (drums/ vocals), Zack Christie-King  (bass guitar/ vocals), and Ash Deakin (lead guitar/ vocals).

They recently released their debut single ‘underboard’ and we’re here to check it out:

Underboard

What The Dream Machine beautifully re-ignited on their debut album The Q-Days have taken to another level. Unlike their Merseyside peers, The Q-Days sound lays far more in the present day than fine 60s pastiche.

The psychedelic meanderings of the Beta Band and The Earlies traipse their Suffolk downs flirting with Cream, The Coral, Oasis, and Ride along the way. Frontman Mahoney resides somewhere between Steve Mason, Andy Bell, and Mark Gardener but with a more robust euphoric sonic, their frontman is an icon in the making.

In years to come, ‘Underboard’ will high up best debut single lists. It’s inevitable. The seeds of hope are being sewn with the most potent of fertilisers. It goes beyond just hope, The Q-Days are powerfully mesmeric. The care and precision of the acoustic guitars chiming in mid-point or grooving bassline should be the masterful work of a band triumphantly delivering their third album as they conquer the world.

The Q-Days are the real day.

Click the image below for tickets to their upcoming show:

The White Roses

“Close your eyes and dream of world you want to see”

The White Roses are a four-piece based in Leeds. They are made up of Ellie Robinson (lead singer & rhythm guitar), Jack Maw (lead guitar & backing vox), Charlie Edwards (bass), and Tom Lepard (drums). Banner image courtesy of Richard Maw.

Let’s see what they have been up to:

This Town

Life-affirming guitars are set against the backdrop of desperate characters attempting to escape their hometown. The kind that smashes down the front doors of best friends and drag them on adventures that Marr had in mind that fated evening in Manchester.

 Yearning for a life beyond the confines of her hometown, Robinson’s masterful vocal walks a tightrope of melancholy and hope. The White Roses deliver an aching feeling of never knowing where an opportunity might come from but always ready for it. When it comes, their talent will see them grasp it. It’s inevitable.

Do It All Again

If there is a secret to life, it’s being present. Living in the moment is where true beauty can be distilled. Despite their youth, the White Roses know it and have bottled it on this piece of indie-rock magic.

Maw’s divine Fleetwood Mac meets The Killers solo is the only thing more beautiful than Robinson's vocal. A piece of mainstream magic to unite all corners of the indie realm and beyond.

Click the image below to their upcoming York gig:

Arkayla

Arkayla are a four-piece from Manchester made up of Cal Blakebrough (vocals/guitar), Finely Rubens (guitar), Theo Savage (bass), and Patrick Hanbury (drums). Banner image courtesy of the band and Debbie Ellis.

Artwork courtesy of the band.

Having formed back in 2020, they’ve already garnered attention from Guy Garvey (Elbow) on 6musicfor their debut single ‘Calling Time’. Let’s examine why:

Calling Time

The guitars are hit that sweet merry spot in a local where friends stagger arm in arm. Arkayla’s have the warmth of The K’s and the danger of The Reytons to conjure visions of a glorious Friday night out.

Frontman Blakebrough injects everything with adrenaline through his Miles Kane circa The Rascals era spiky but always melodic power. Visceral but, always welcoming, Arkayla look set to snarl their way to the hearts and minds of the guitar-loving masses of the UK.

Abbey Moon

Abbey Moon are four-piece made up of Niall Rowan (formerly Sisteray), Jack (Calvacade), Mick, and Marco. At the end of 2022, they entered the studio with Michael Smith (Elvis Costello / Wolf Alice) to record a few tracks. We take a look at ‘Friends of Mine’ the first release from those sessions.

*image courtesy of Moon Man PR / Credit Albert Jagger

Sisteray’s run from 2016 to 2019 was one garnered a lot of well-earned credibility. Punk angst and lyrical polemic took them to the heart of the underground scene. In this day and age, luck seems to play such big part in whether a band breaks through. ‘Alogrithm Prison’, ‘A Wise Man’, and ‘Wannabes’ were just a few of their fine catalogue that still stacks up to the power of The Blinders and the furious glee of The Reytons.

Alas, it was not meant to be.

In 2023, Sisteray frontman Niall Rowan became disenchanted with the post-punk political grandstanding. A seemingly wise decision as it consumes itself by overloading the scene with spoken word dross.

Rowan has gone back to his roots of melodic indie to find a new source of inspiration on Abbey Moon’s new single ‘Friends of Mine’. Rowan, once the punk Philosopher now dances with Alex Turner’s early social observations lighting up the streets of his youth.

There’s a poetical slant on his social comment which enhances the band’s sonic tenfold. Lyrics and music don’t have to match in meaning but, when Rowan decrees “when your young you can do anything” the guitars skip along sun-kissed horizons whilst the drums saunter through the clouds. Burden? What burden!

Rowan has freed his soul with his new outfit. His time is surely now!

Keyside

Rising Liverpool four-piece Keyside are made up of Dan Parker (vocals, acoustic guitar), Ben Cassidy (lead guitar), Oisin McAvoy (drums), and Max Gibson (bass, vocals).

Championed by The Farm, they have already sold out two hometown shows and recently supported The Lilacs at their sold-out Manchester gig.

Let’s see what they have been up to.

Paris to Marseille

Their latest single has the pop instincts of The Lathums and the jangling edge of The La’s on this ode to the Mersey (“across the water / moonlit reservoir”). Forntman Pakrer lights up the record with the infectiousness of former Vida singer Jamie Pollock, the defiance of Darren Forbes (Shambolics), and the mysticism of Tom Dempsey (The Kairos).

Lights Out

If the Shambolics and The View were to jam Peter Green’s sumptuous blues this would surely be the result. An angelic stoner melody that climaxes with Cassidy’s sumptuous solo. Blessed with great brevity a la The Stands, they allow the anxiety of the lyrics to pass by effortlessly but, eventually, their power will catch you up.

Lighthouse

Lighthouse are four-piece hailing from North East London. They recently released their new single ‘Another Minute’ and have supported Rosellas at Grace (London) and headlined a This Feeling show at The Water Rats (London).

Having supported The Rifles already, we catch up with what they have been up to:

*Image courtesy of Emmanuel Robert

Another Minute

Lighthouse tap into the exhilarating guitars of The Rifles’ first two albums on ‘Another Minute’. The guitars fizz with an emotive power that’s always threatening to spill over on this tale of grabbing life by the horns.

The closing moments are destined to witness friends drunkenly flail across UK venues in moments of sheer joy. The spirit of ‘Live Forever’ will never die!

What Do You Want To Be?

With the vocal prowess of Preston from the early days of The Ordinary Boys and the melancholic power of The Cribs (ft. Johnny Marr) classic ‘We Share The Sane Skies’, Lighthouse prove they have great album tracks to back up the hook-laden gems like ‘Another Minute’.

The guitars at the breakdown and the solo take them to another level. They bolster the humble 00s punk of Milburn and The Paddingtons with the expressiveness of Billy Duff (The Cult) to conjure pure gold.

Anna Wolf

Anna Wolf is a singer-songwriter from Pretoria (South Africa) who is now based in London. She has caught the eye of impeccable punk rock kingmakers ZineUK and RocklandsTV in recent years with a mesmeric stage presence.

We take a look at what she has been up to:

*image courtesy of Paul Harries

Dreaming Again

Cinematic brilliance! Her most traditional songwriting display to date. She takes her vocal towards the emotive roar of Dolores O’Riordan as the production fizzes and soars to the dazzling heights of Sigor Ros.

Hello, World!

Believer

In a track that displays several vocal styles, this is surprisingly cohesive despite its oddities. Oddities that serve as a glorious propulsion a scene treading water into a new realm. At times here, Wolf is on Parr with Bush and makes modern greats like Wolf Alice look like a thing of the past with hopeful desolation beats and production.

GONG

Wolf displays a more angelic vocal here, it allows a sense of innocence to grow as the resounding military drums build towards the thundering production and stop-start punky riffs grow a sense of impending danger.

 In three minutes, Wolf has put herself in the league of Bjork, very few can truly say this!

Mystery Team

Mystery Team are a 4 piece rap/punk group from Southend-on-Sea consisting of Kristie (vocals), Lynton (vocals), Ben (vocals/producer/beat maker), and Nathan (drums). They formed in 2017 but were struck by creative tragedy in 2019 when a corrupt hard drive forced them back to square one.

Lockdown was spent recreating their past but, not wishing to rest on their laurels they introduced Nathan on the drums to complete the live setup.

Let’s see what they have been up to:

Felony

Explosive Hip-Hop meets punk rock to make Transplants and Jamie T fans glow with pride. The snarling vocals and vicious basslines of Slaves (now Soft Play) tap into the violent immediacy of Hadouken also.

Their visceral intensity is going to send independent venues into utter chaos sooner rather than later. Their adversity in the studio has bred an untamed sonic. The tempo set to unruly, they are going to blow away small venues sooner rather than later.

Boy Lost

Pulling from Grime and the aggressive lo-fi of the Audio Bullys, ‘Boy Lost’ is dragging cultures together with a sneering disdain for society. The carefully considered production and guitars are striking and bring Audio Bullys and Propellerheads musicality into play but, there are hints of Teebone’s flair and Plan B’s savage affability coursing through the vocal to keep everything vital.

Judge and The Kid

Judge and The Kid is a multi-instrumentalist from Chelmsford in Essex. He has been recording music for over a decade but, during the pandemic, the desire to put it out began to burn bright.

We check out some of the tracks recorded from his apartment.

Hold On To Me

The post-punk brilliance of New York’s Interpol is brought to life via The Vaccines. From verse to the chorus, there is a great sense of drama building, as though life is unfurling out of control in the most glorious of coming-of-age stories.

The drumming fizzes a la Matt Tong’s (Bloc Party) at breakneck speed lifting the sense of teenage dreams being played out to another level!  

Up In Arms

Dirty riffs meet the rapid-fire desperation vocals of Brian Fallon (The Gaslight Anthem). A sense of isolation and despair lurks behind the brash rock ‘n’ roll euphoria which hooks you deep.

AlienBlaze

Signed to Sumnerian Records, Alienblaze is a singer, songwriter, and guitar player with a big future. Tonight she plays a stacked bill at This Feeling’s #BigIn2023 show at London’s Water Rats.

Let’s see what she has been up to:

Romantically Dead

A desolate opening of distraught beats and a deadened heart foster a realm of despair for wayward souls to revel in. The discourse remains cold throughout but, AlienBlaze’s vocals melt away the harsh corners with the emotive power of Ellie Roswell.

There are times when it transcends music and feels more like a plea for help, a desperate hostage begging to exist but, there are hints of emo and grunge, Wolf Alice too and yet it feels so utterly vital, new, and fresh.

Not Yours Never Was

The Cure’s shimmering sonic is taken to the destruction of Marilyn Manson as AlienBlaze crossover to the other side in Stranger Things.

She has the beguiling nature of Billie Eilish and the menace of Ellie Roswell, but it’s the vastness of the production and the reimagining of what goth can be that steal the show.

The Lotts

The Lotts are a four-piece from Warrington consisting of Henry Buchanan (vocals & guitar), Adam Bridge (guitar), Joel Norton (drums), and Jamie Evans (bass).

Signed to the impeccable Whispering Pines, they have recorded twice at the legendary Rockfield Studios and tonight they play This Feeling’s #BigIn2023 in Manchester.

(image courtesy of https://www.whisperingpines.co.uk/)

Let’s check them out:

I’ll Get Round To It

Jagged bluesy punk riffs set fire to this anthem. Mersey beat influences are injected with punk via frontman Bucanan’s snarling vocal. Coupled with the garage, mod, and psyche of the guitars The Rifles and The Strypes are going to have to move out of the way of the juggernaut that is The Lotts.

We Are The Lotts

The Hives fever pitch playing meets the punk-psyche of The Wytches on this vicious piece of garage rock. Stinging the senses with Joei Silvester and Wilko Johnson guitars they create a realm The Lotts become a life-or-death obsession. Hair and clothes will change overnight! Attitudes will sharpen as a generation draws a line in the sand and says no more to the dross of the charts!

Click image for tickets:

The Cavs

The Cavs are a Manchester outfit consisting of Elliot (vocals & occasional guitars), Mikey (bass), Arthur (drums), Chris (lead guitar), and James (rhythm guitar)

They’ve already supported Dirty Laces and been championed by Clint Boon. Tonight they play This Feeling’s #BigIn2023 in Manchester. Let’s see why:

Music Is My Madness

Full of ambition, The Cavs have created a sense of anticipation on this record via the visceral roar of Royal Blood and the indie-rock ‘n’ roll howls of Apollo Junction and Twisted Wheel.

Bullet-like guns build the tension before they explode into blood, sweat, and tears crescendo. It may not have that killer hook pay off but Christ, it’s close to something special.

 Chasing The World

There’s a melodic rumble throughout this anthem that brings the best moments of Eddie & The Hot Rods flooding back. Chris’ guitars have the enriching warmth of Steve Craddock and the guttural of Kelly Jones’ playing post-2003.

As they scorch the earth, frontman Elliot Craven has an everyman appeal akin to Jones or Tom Clarke. Clearly a vocal talent but with rough edges to entice the indie kids and punks alike.

There are melodic uplifts that could grace a Noel Gallagher songwriting session and in the closing stages the free-flowing psyche-punk of Oasis’ live shows at Maine Road and Earls Court ooze from this record’s soul.

Click image for tickets: