Little Juke

The West Midlands outfit consists of Alex Ohm (vocals and guitars), Hannah Maiden (bass), Stephen Ashford (guitars), and Tom Crowson (drums). Little Juke recently released its debut single.

Let’s check out their debut single:

Down the Rabbit Hole

Debut singles are often a tirade of influences that leave a chaotic mess of enthusiasm and teenage exuberance. Not for Little Juke. ‘Down The Rabbit Hole’ is as complete a record and sonic vision as a debut single can be.

The haunting keys and Ohm’s delicate vocals lead you via Radiohead and Thirteen Senses, but no sooner as you nestle comfortably into a world of indie does their love of the experimental come to the fore.

The distilled beats of UNKLE and haunting visions of Sebastien Tellier unite around the indie noodling on the guitars to create an exploratory masterclass in alternative music. The world may be going rick-n-roll crazy at this moment in time, but Little Juke has carved out as purer a space in the pantheon of guitar bands as possible in 2024.

Breeze

Hull’s Breeze was formed in October 2021. They’re a literal band of brothers consisting of Albert (lead vox & guitar), Alfred (drums), and Harry Anderson (bass). Having played the Isle of Wight and YNot Festival this year, they were recently handpicked by BBC Introducing presenter Jericho Keys to open this year's By The Sea festival.

Images courtesy of the band.

Let’s see what they have been up to:

Stay Young With You

The magnitude of Snow Patrol’s ‘Run’ and Coldplay’s ‘Yellow’ and all the great sweeping melodies of Feeder stand shoulder to shoulder with Albert’s euphoric, occasionally resounding guitars.

Vocally, the harmonies Nigel  Clark (Dodgy) and the aching melody of Chris Helme form the bedrock of Albert’s ability to to remain defiant and composed as the heartache ensues.

Eyes Wide Open

Teenage Fanclub’s rock ‘n’ roll rumble and Pavement’s slacker vibes unite on this blissful throwback. The wayward melodies of The Longpigs surge through this record's veins, allowing joyous debauchery to cement itself once again in music lovers' hearts.

Sonnet

Sonnet are a four-piece from North East Scotland. Its members are Nathan Evans, Archie Hart, Louis Alexander, and Thurston Livesey. They recently made their This Feeling debut at Glasgow’s Broadcast alongside Ecko and The Slates.

This August, the band are set to play at the iconic Tunnels venue in Aberdeen. Let’s see why:

Another Life

Artwork and image courtesy of the band.

Experience the manifestation of a band's creative vision: a myriad of ideas splattered on the canvas in a Jackson Pollock-esque manner. The grandeur of The Cult and the gothic whimsy of The Cure converge with the captivating spirit of indie rock ‘n’ roll.

The guitars, so muscular in the early part, breed an anticipation of volatility akin to their Scottish brethren Ecko. It’s on the solo where they deviate and become their own animal. Tinges of Vida’s and Oasis’ ‘Alive’ link arms, stoned, they blissfully meander to the close. The ragged vocal and crunching bass lines all the while leaving a level of menace loitering.

Click the image below for tickets to their upcoming in Aberdeen:

The Clouds

Margate band The Clouds are made up of a core three Tom McLeod (lead singer), Elliott Marks McLeod (piano) and Jake Gutrige (Guitar). Regular session musicians Connor Pearce (drums) and Ethan Ashington (bass). complete the lineup

Mark your calendars for June, when The Clouds will be supporting The Kairos in Margate for This Feeling and Teenage Cancer Trust. This gig is not to be missed, as it promises to be a breakout performance for the band.

Mr Moonman

The melodic drama of OCS’ ‘Get Blown Away’ links arms with the Stones and Stanley Road and Heavy Soul era Weller on this fine rock revival single.

Frontman McLeod adds a steely, smoky, and bluesy vocal that’s steeped in anguish and hope alike. Aiding and abetting Mcleod are backing vocals packed with such emotive power that they’re worthy of the cult hero Luciano Vargas.

You Don’t Know Me

Moonlit indie licks and eloquently powerful keys reminiscent of The Rifles combine with Steve Craddock’s penchant for showmanship. McLeod counters the creative flourishes with an aching sense of regret. His vocal cuts through the influences and conjures a path for The Clouds to walk tall along.

Click the image below for tickets to their upcoming show with The Kairos.

Apostles

Apostles are a five-piece hailing from Wigan. They consist of George Lyons (vocals), James Brown (drums), Ian Morris (bass), Rob Davies (rhythm guitar), and Joe Smith (lead guitar).

Let’s see what they have been up to:

The Mystic

The sound of youthful exuberance desperate to make its mark. Sonically they combine the infectious melodies of The Lathums and the sun-kissed escapism of Shambolics to create a record of genuine potency.

Take It All

The guitars wobbling on the edge of sanity might take it all as professed, but their fragility is where the beauty lay. Chest-out but vulnerable, their rock ‘n’ roll brand is beset with risk and infinitely more lovable for it. 

Idyllic

Idyllic are a five-piece band from Liverpool (where they’re now based) and Manchester. They’re Joe Keech (drums), Josh Peters (bass), Megan Lee (lead guitar), Ben Rogers (rhythm guitar), and Niall Doolan (vocals).

Images courtesy of Trust A Fox Photography.

After catching the eye at last year’s Shiiine On Festival, we follow up by looking at two former singles:

405-Line

The immediacy of The Stairs’ guitars is spliced with hints of The Stands and The Zutons to conjure a sonic as urgent as it is defiant. Dr Feelgood's debauched punky blues give the lyrical clarion call the muscularity the guitar scene needs.

Sick and Tired

Toying with the tempo at will, they serve up a twisting and turning homage to La’s and via their criminally underrated Scouse brothers, The Bandits. Lee’s

Doolan’s vocal taps into the infectious indie-soul of Dave McCabe and the psyche melody of James Skelly. Alongside the purity of Lee and Rogers’ guitars, Idyllic has announced itself as the real deal!

The Underground

What began as busking has evolved into The Underground, who are now making a name for themselves in their home city of Southend.

Lead guitarist James and frontman Brad are the bedrock of the band. They once had James’s brother on drums and Brad’s dad on bass, but the family affair has made way for Aidian (drums) and Mia (bass) in recent months.

*banner image credit: Finn Sexton

Let’s see what they have been up to:

Keep It Undercover

Fizzing indie guitars are met with Brad’s David Byrne-esque (Talking Heads) vocal to capture imaginations instantly. Their lo-fi sound imparts a drunken sway, imparting images of Fred McPherson and Billy Leeson dreaming up the poetic chaos of Les Incompetents.

Burnout

Brad’s vocal pulls from the cute gruffness of David Gedge (Wedding Present) and the angelic defiance of James Hackett (The Orchids). This emotive meandering is worthy of Edwyn Collins at his peak!

Gas Kunst

Formed back in October 2022 as a three-piece and a drum machine, Gas Kunst has evolved to a heavy-hitting four-piece when ex-C33s drummer joined the fold. The Chesire gang are made up of Buzz Vanker (bass), Dick Cable (guitar/vox), Judy Jones (drums/vox) & Justin Case (guitar/vox).

*Photo credit: John Maddock

Let’s see what they have been up to:

Rare Vitamins

The Thermals’ classic ‘No Culture Icons’ returns to chaotic life. Garage-psyche that flits between destruction and righteousness, life and decay, light and dark. A truly astonishing riot!

Cinematic Ocean View

Effortlessly cool Ty Segall licks and Oh Sees freak-beat psyche is boiled down into a two-min banger.

101 2.0

Not since The Hives burst onto the scene has a band condensed so much drama and impact into so little. One minute and fifteen seconds of B-52s and The Cramps magic!

University

Hailing from Crewe, University are made up of Zak Bowker (guitar/vocals), Ewan Barton (bass/synth), Joel Smith (drums), and EDY (XBOX composer).

Let’s see what they have been up to:

Can't Breathe

‘Can’t Breathe’ erupts into life with life-affirming post-punk of early 00s bands My Vitriol and Seafood before plunging into their unique sense of desolation.

Notre Dame Made Out of Flesh

A Glitching ball of angst-ridden dystopia! They take the coolness of The Strokes debut and smash it through Nine Inch Nails’ sense of mutated euphoria.

Bowker wrenches “I don’t wanna be my Dad, or anyone else from the past” from his soul to deliver this generation's “Phony Beatle-mania has bitten the dust”. Pop-punk and emo have never sounded this groundbreaking.

Motel Thieves

Motel Thieves are a psychedelic five-piece hailing from Swansea. They’re made up of Callum Lipscombe (vocals), Jake Roberts (guitar), Sam Ellis (guitar), Zak Halimi (bass), and Matt Davies (drums).

To date, the band has recorded at the legendary Rockfield Studios, toured with Stone, and recorded with Ride’s Mark Gardener.

*image courtesy of Florintine

Purple

BRMC and Brian Jonestown Massacres’ indomitable grooves spiral with rebellion and tinges of The Pretty Things’ psychedelic freedom. It’s anchored by Lipscombe's spellbinding vocal, which sits between Tom and Serge, allowing shades of light and dark to roam free.

Left At Stake

Kasabian’s early psyche-laden mysticism Ride’s sense of exploration is taken for a blissed-out spin in 60s psychedelia.  

Eurekas

Eurekas formed in Newport in October 2021 when Jack Perrett and Dan Burridge joined forces. Their dual lead-singer presence has since garnered interest from BBC Introducing Wales and Steve Lamacq on 6Music.

*banner image credit: Tom Damsell

Let’s see what they have been up to:

Made You Look

The rock n roll stomp of Twisted Wheel and the glam of Buzzard Buzzard Buzzard provide Perrett and Burridge the perfect backdrop to announce themselves to the world. Sardonic lyrics (“I'm an online deity. Please worship at your screens”) and boisterous indie-punk guitars unite on this funny but powerful anthem. The kind not seen since The Rakes and early Jamie T.

Ivy

Modern Lovers meets Pavement guitars on this slacker rock masterclass. Vocally, they lean into Rivers Cuomo with tinges of Coxon and Albarn circa Blur’s self-titled album.

The Ansells

The Ansells are a three-piece indie outfit from Birmingham. They consist of Lloyd Ballard (guitars and vocals), Paddy Garrigan (bass), and Ollie Gallagher (drums).

*image credit: Visuals by Benjamin

Their debut single caught many an eye as Gigslutz’s This Feeling Track of the Day earlier this year. Let’s examine why:

Have You Got Time

Powered by a great bassline, this debut single charts a course for romantic utopia but stumbles and falls gloriously into despair at several stages.

Our protagonist, yearning for something more, is continually plunged into regret. The sense he is scratching around in the dirt, desperate to make things work when, in truth, love departed a long time ago will crush your soul.

Despite the narrative, Ballard‘s vocal weaves a path through Jamie Boyle's soul (The K’s) and Ollie Anglesa's indie-pop euphoria (The Lilacs) to conjure a powerful melodic hook you cannot free yourself from.

no drinks on the dancefloor

no drinks on the dancefloor formed at school in their hometown of Southend. They’re made up of Jack Griffiths (bass), Jack Solder (lead guitar & vocals), Dan Gilbert (drums), and Sam Ikin (keys).

Images courtesy of the band.

Having bonded over a shared love of Arctic Monkeys, The 1975, and Nothing But Thieves, they set their sights on playing their local iconic venue, Chinnerys, which they duly did, headlining earlier this year to a packed crowd.

Let’s check out their debut single:

Devil Eyes

Solder’s vocals lean into the smoky aloofness of BRMC’s Peter Hayes which cuts through the filthy guitars.  A sense of outsiderdom floods the senses as it did when BRMC emerged leather-clad, cool as fuck declaring, “Whatever happened to our rock ‘n’ roll?”

Unlike most of BRMC's catalogue, Solder’s guitars are devilishly debauched and frenetic in pace! They bring into play the boozy blues of the 22-20s and the effortless dirge of The Von Bondies.  

The Gardeners

The Gardeners are a five-piece hailing from Southend-on-Sea. They all met at school, where they bonded over bands with jangly guitars like The Cleaners, Venus, and Hers.

The band are made up of Nathan Bailey (guitar/vocals), Jed Schlaepfer (guitar/vocals), Henry Williams (Bass guitar), Bruce Haynes (drums), and Ewan Bolton (bass)

*image courtesy of James Devine Photography.

Let’s check out what they have been up to:

Sleeping Alone (without you)

Bailey and Schlaepfer’s guitars lean into Real Estate’s jangle but, often, with a more melancholic purpose, allowing Bailey’s vocal to take the anguished glory of Jamie Boyle (The K’s) towards the rabid introspection of Morrissey.

Together, they summon indie’s penchant for loneliness for a new generation of teenagers to clutch as their own.

Interstate 10

The climatic solo is divine. The Cure’s gothic isolation combines with Blossoms’ psychedelic debut as they struggle from dark to light in a warped moment of magic.

Trip Hazard

Images courtesy of Gabriel Buckley

Trip Hazard is a four-piece from Southend-on-Sea. The band met at school and consists of Lottey (frontwoman and rhythm guitar), Sky (drums and vocals), Abi (bass and vocals), and Sam (lead Guitar).

Nasty Party

Crushing riffs and snarling vocals reignite the chaotic dreams of the riot grrrl scene. There’s an aloofness to Lottey’s vocals, which is utterly intoxicating. Her aloofness breeds a spellbinding power that’s impossible to shake.

Coulrophobic

Although stripped back and more melodic, Lottey's attitude remains. Its ability to impart anguish and pain amid the pop-cum-grunge guitars cuts through, allowing its fine pop sensibilities to shine.