The Best of Jan & Feb 2026
The Best of Jan & Feb 2026 Staff picks of the best music released so far in 2026. People’s Playlist by Caitlin Taylor Add Your Heading Text Here You Might Also Like Recent Posts
The UK artists playing Pitchfork 2025
The Best UK Artists at Pitchfork 2025 TNAM Picks across the Pitchfork takeover [Tickets Here] By Isla Mcrobbie 24 October 2025 Pitchfork Music Festival London returns for its fifth edition from 4–8 November 2025. This year includes a Young Label Showcase with Two Shell and Mechatok at HERE at Outernet, plus the new Pitchfork London Selects — a four-day takeover at 93 Feet East spotlighting artists you’ll find across Pitchfork’s weekly new music playlist. A mainstay in London’s cultural calendar, Pitchfork London continues to light up the city with diverse and original programming. The week builds from specially curated weekday events to a full Saturday takeover at the Roundhouse and the renowned Dalston Takeover, spread across five of East London’s most-loved venues. Check out our playlist of all UK residents booked for this year’s events as well as our hot 7 ones to watch below. holybones holybones snuck up on us, sudden, incognito, and supreme. Single-tone narration, babied in the arms birthed by The Streets then revolutionised in the AI-voiced side project of electro artist Vegyn’s Headache (2023), has been crossed out and rewritten once again: less existentialism, more human touch, glossed in palpable synth-funk, but keep the ecstasy to the gram. Cinematic and textural in soundscape, holybones shine through instrumentals so blended they’re deceptively simple. It’s our Human Traffic — the one where Danny Dyer has a beer belly and we fear climate collapse: “Ah, forget it.” Anonymous for now, the London-based group may one day unwrap the mask as the culture cults follow. For now, we remain ravelled in the mystery. For fans of: Headache, Real LiesFriday 7 November – Roundhouse (Studio Theatre) – with Nick León & Loukeman – tickets to this event has now sold out, sign up to join waiting list Lauren Duffus Meteor and NTS Artist Development Programme graduate Lauren Duffus is still smoking from impact since her self-produced EP Can’s Gone Warm (June 2025). The six-track project floats borderless — dark synth and trip-dancehall stitched together with Duffus’ alien, or maybe angel, breath. So silky it’s razor sharp. Adored off the back of this release, the North London talent caught the eye of Miu Miu, performing at Milan Design Week 2025, while also landing coverage from Pitchfork, Crack, and Metal Magazine. For fans of: Malibu, System OlympiaSaturday 8 November – Roundhouse (Studio Theatre) – with Beatrice Dillon & Elaine Howley Deathcrash Deathcrash bleeds through the feeling of “You Went Away”, room-corner, isolated slowcore. Having toured with Codeine, The Jesus and Mary Chain, and fellow South-Londoners Black Country, New Road, the four-piece stand firmly in the alt/post-rock continuum.Playing with a dazzle of melancholy numbness, surprising cloud-cracks of hope-core shine through amid the bleak drones — 2022’s What To Do, for example. “I was terrified to tour again but it’s going great. The band I have are fantastic, and the drummer is my best friend for like 20 years or more. Um, all the shows have been selling out and… it’s fantastic.” Encapsulated in live performance, the band’s most recent manifestation came in the form of their 2023 extended album Less+, which garnered a respectable 7.1 from Pitchfork. With a slot on the 2025 lineup, the horizons of deathcrash, at least from the commentator’s view, are blue. For fans of: DusterWednesday 5 November – KOKO – with Divide and Dissolve Jadasea Lofi, sub-dust crackles spin through 2024’s folder 3, the third instalment from Peckham dashboard rapper Jadasea. He’s earned recognition for his paper-mâché sampling style — snippets and textures reminiscent of East Coast mid-’90s production. Humble within an extensive peer collective, Jadasea has credited Earl Sweatshirt (the pair currently on tour), Wiki, and MIKE as inspirations and collaborators, alongside a colourful history as a founding member of the Sub Luna City collective with Jesse James Solomon and Edgar the Beatmaker — better known as King Krule. This is “roll down the windows to let the smoke out” music. Jadasea isn’t in a rush; he’s said he enjoys creating more in the crib than the studio — a truth that seeps into his lyrical ease and intimacy. For fans of: Earl Sweatshirt, Wiki, MIKEThursday 6 November – Colour Factory – 10K Global x Pitchfork London with duendita, Niontay, Anysia Kym & more Sydney Minsky Sargeant You may recognise Sydney Minsky Sargeant (‘Syd’) as the frontman of electronic post-punk success Working Men’s Club, however winds seemingly shifted as the Yorkshire singer-songwriter, composer and producer traded city streets for green grass in his long-anticipated woollen album Lunga (Sep 2025). It’s a soft hamper approach of sincerity left on the doorstep — unimposing yet powerfully thoughtful — a tale of adolescence to adulthood with tracks that had ink to paper when he was just 14 years old. At just 23, this feels like a homecoming for the artist — breathing space with birdsong, but still the abuse of intrusive insecurity that comes with the realisation of parallel versions of oneself and past lives lost in early adulthood. The body of work takes natural progression before calling the curtains on New Day, a final entry of faith placed in a greater plan — and I can certainly agree on a bright future ahead. For fans of: Bill Callahan, Mazzy StarFriday 7 November – 93 Feet East – Pitchfork London Selects Just For Fun Just For Fun is a twinkling, experimental electronica fuck-you club-escapade from Charlotte Boyle (Elphi) and Neave Applebaum. Having debuted their first live show in March 2025, the duo has already triumphed, appearing on posters for The Great Escape Festival, All Points East (alongside George Clanton), and, of course, Pitchfork Festival, with self-hosted 2000s-alt-Brit-culture basement parties wedged in between. Zest-hot, la seda production JFF lets bubbles burst from the champagne bottle as Boyle takes any flat surface for a dancefloor. Euphoria meets crying in the bathroom; chaos becomes the story across their current singles “Boys” and “Catch Me If You Can.” For fans of: The Dare, Charli XCXSaturday 8 November – Multiple Venues, Dalston – Pitchfork London
Best New Music from June & July 2025
Best New Music from June & July 2025 The tracks you need to know from the last couple of months By Caitlin Taylor 01 – SORRY with ‘Jive’ Instagram As always Sorry’s new track is a playful, grungy track about not being in love. Perfect if you’re not feeling all that summer romance everyone always goes on about. As always, I hope for more soon. 02 – BIG LONG SUN with ‘A Casual Dance Between Friends’ Instagram The 8 piece band recently broke out of the confines of Brighton, dropping an entire album ‘whatever (whatever)’ but back in June they gave us a taste with this very fun and funky ‘Casual Dance’. Let go, love grows. 03 – DEARY with ‘No Ordinary Love’ Instagram A song you’d want to play as you stroll down the street if you were in a European coming of age film. Forlorn and melancholic with some really nice drumwork. 04 – DELILAH HOLIDAY & THEY HATE CHANGE with ‘Eyes on You’ Instagram My favourite of this double song release, a fun electronic track with some smooth vocals and a catchy hook. 05 – JUST MUSTARD with ‘Pollyanna’ Instagram There’s some great goth rock elements in this new release from Just Mustard, one of the best bands emerging from Ireland at the moment. Maybe the most exciting of the list? 06 – JACKLYN with ‘Right Back’ Instagram Jacklyn’s definitely a storyteller, with this single detailing that all too familiar need to return to your ex. It has a nostalgic sound, like if you combined all your favourite noughties pop with current RnB. 07 – FLORENCE ROAD with ‘Figure It Out’ Instagram Irish band Florence Road have taken the world by storm this summer after a string of festival appearances and supporting slots. Their EP ‘Goodnight’ blessed us with 5 brilliant tracks, our favourite being number 4 ‘Figure It Out’. 08 – BAR ITALIA with ‘Cowbella’ Instagram You likely know their names but this release seems to have slipped under the radar for some. It beautifully showcases their voices backed up by some lovely guitar work. A solid entry into the Bar Italia music hall of fame. 09 – THE NEW EVES with ‘Cow Song’ Instagram Our second song of the list with cow in the title, this offering from The New Eve’s upcoming album is something that can equally be enjoyed through your airpods while on the tube and blasting out into the open air while you’re herding sheep or churning butter or burning at the pyre after being accused of witchcraft. One for any occasion. 10 – CASUAL SMART with ‘Cranes’ Instagram If you like Fontaines D.C.s more gentle offerings, Liverpool based Casual Smart’s new track might be one for you. “I’d take you over X-Box”, they croon – a real Gen Z love song. It’s very genuine sounding, very earnest. 11 – TROUT with ‘Bone’ Instagram It’s hard to get me to shut up about Trout honestly. Coloupicker was one of my favorites of 2023 by far so new releases are very welcome. ‘Bone’ hits the nail on the head, it’s grungy and earnest. Big fan. 12 – KITTY with ‘Someone’s Child’ Kitty just has such a beautiful voice and it’s on full display with this gorgeous introspective track reflecting on life, wondering about being old. 13 – FAT DOG with ‘Pray to That’ Instagram “It’s fucking Fat Dog baby”. As someone who also recently turned 25, this is a track that resonated highly with me. Some gnarly sounds and gritty vocals. 14 – HONEYGLAZE & E L U C I D with “Don’t (E L U C I D Rework)” Instagram Instagram Is this cheating? I don’t care. This rework is brilliant, unsettling, creeping under your skin. It’s equally powerful as the original, I’ve got it on repeat. 15 – DIVORCE with ‘O Calamity’ Instagram “Don’t compare me to Charles Manson” is a killer opening line, and it only gets better from there. Really, really beautiful and definitely one to add to your everyday playlist. 16 – RUBY FRANCIS with ‘Dose (Intro)’ Instagram Ruby Francis just put out an entire new album ‘Pages of Philosophy’, but it’s the intro track that honestly hits hardest. It’s tight at just over a minute but still plays around with so many different yet cohesive sounds. Still though, give the whole album a listen – it’s good. 17 – TALL CHILD with ‘All or Nothing’ Instagram Sometimes we maybe love people a bit too much in a way that maybe could possibly be a bit unhealthy, as explored here by the tall child who lends their lovely voice to what could have been the anthem of my early twenties. 18 – CHILD OF PRAGUE with ‘Burning’ Instagram Short, simple, very good. Haunting in both its vocals and instrumentation, ‘Burning’ lights the way for the very exciting future of this Dublin based band. 19 – SILVER GORE with ‘Dogs in Heaven’ Instagram We caught Silver Gore a very long time ago back in April of last year and it’s mad to see their progression. It’s a brilliant debut single, very experimental with perhaps a Kate Bush influence? Either way, inspiring stuff. You might also like ˗ˏˋ ★ ˎˊ˗ Recent Posts ⋆⭒˚.⋆
A Belated The Great Escape 2025 Write Up
Yeah, yeah, we know it was a couple of months ago but we did just want to note how special TGE 2025 was to us at TNAM. For the first time ever we got not one but two festival stages where we were allowed to display some of our favourite artists on the Loud LDN lineup (who we couldn’t have done it without!) as well as open the stage for anyone else out there who wanted to play but didn’t get selected through the official routes with our open mic.
Caldera Songwriting Retreat: a haven for songwriters tucked away in the Aegean Sea
Photo by By Nat Kossyvaki Caldera Songwriting Retreat: a haven for songwriters tucked away in the Aegean Sea In a world where time seems to fly, it’s easy to lose touch with the present moment. Caldera Songwriting Retreat brings in a new approach to reconnecting with creativity and helps artists slow down by nourishing the mind, body and soul, working towards reconnecting with their inner selves, and enhancing their creative outlet through an immersive and holistic songwriting experience. Words By Nat Kossyvaki https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BpTTtdKdq24 Based in the beautiful island of Santorini, away from the burdens of everydaylife, the Caldera team provide you with the time and space to explore yourcreativity and songwriting passion, so you can finally make yourself yourpriority! I met up with one of the founders of Caldera, Io – a session bass player and music professional from Greece based in Brighton – to discuss the vision behind Caldera and the benefits it can offer to songwriters. Io is also the owner of the promotions company “Beluga Promotions” which runs acclaimed open mic nights in Brighton, helping local artists showcase their music. What is Caldera and what inspired this vision? Caldera is a songwriting retreat which was mainly inspired by the open mics that we run in Brighton. Through these open mics, we get a lot of people who come in and they all have a story to tell. You don’t really know the people who come to these open mics until they get on stage to perform, so you can actually learn a lot about those people through the songs they play. The open mics have become sort of like a community and for a lot of artists, performing there provides a sense of ‘therapy’. Both myself and Erini (the co-founder of Caldera) believe that writing songs is truly a form of therapy; there are things that you can’t really express with just words and for some people, songwriting is something much deeper that they can express and share with the world in a much more creative way. Also looking at my own lifestyle, how busy it is and how pressuring the music industry can be, we wanted to create a space where songwriters can come and be free. They can be in an environment where there are no external pressures or life responsibilities, and they can just explore their creativity and be completely free. So Caldera is basically a space for artists to experience that therapeutic moment and make themselves a priority. What does the name Caldera mean? Caldera is actually the most common word you will find in Santorini! It is what remains of the volcano after the explosion and has made Santorini famous for that. In 1600 B.C. there was a huge explosion of the volcano that destroyed half the island and the civilisation on it, but it has made Santorini very unique and now one of the most popular destinations in the world. For our retreat, caldera stands as a metaphor; because Santorini has this history of destruction and rebirth, we thought that doing the retreat here could resonate with the creative songwriting process of many artists. Musicians and songwriters have all these things they want to express but it sometimes can be too difficult and can’t find the words for it. At Caldera retreat, they can take something difficult or ‘painful’ and make something beautiful through music. What makes Caldera unique and stand out from other songwriting retreats? Definitely the location! It’s hard to describe it without seeing it; for me, it’s one of my favourite places on earth. Also, the way we run the retreat doesn’t only focus on the songwriting but on the well-being of the artist too. So we have a lot of things incorporated within the schedule of the retreat which promote well-being, both physical and mental, and also promote the ancient Greek saying “a healthy mind is a healthy body”. So Caldera aims to inspire people to write their songs and also to nourish their spirit; to make themselves a priority. That is why, you don’t have to come to the retreat and leave with a finished song. Even if you come and get inspired and you get a million ideas, but you don’t finish a song that’s fine, because the goal is to get inspired and relax and come up with something that you can then use to inspire yourself in your creative journey. Songwriting retreat 2024 – Group dinner and song-sharing session What does a day in the retreat look like? We would start with mindfulness. So, the first thing in the morning would be going down to the beach, which is literally at our doorstep(!) and do a bit of meditation and mindful movement like stretching or a light version of yoga to connect your mind and body, and really focus for the day. After that, we can have a small break for everyone to have breakfast or a shower if they want, and then we start with the songwriting workshops which will be run by a professional songwriter. We will be running a lot of classes and workshops that people can attend, as well as a lot of inspirational activities where we’ll be talking about lyrics and melodies. Then we have a lunchbreak prepared by our private chef, so everything will be prepared for you and you won’t have to worry about food. All recipes will be plant-based and inspired by the Mediterranean cuisine, to experience a complete detox for your mind and body. During the day, people will also have a lot of downtime to relax and spend some alone time if they need it, to write songs and collaborate with other artists. And eventually, in the evening, we’ll have jam nights, gatherings at the beach and group dinners! On some days we’re also planning on doing some inspirational activities, one of which is both mine and Erini’s favourite! We’ll take the guests to the Symposion Cultural Centre, which is the music
Beyond The Music 2024 Ones To Watch
Beyond The Music 2024 Ones To Watch When: Wed 9th – Fri 11th October Tickets! Words by Jessica Blissitt View this post on Instagram A post shared by Beyond The Music (@gobeyondmcr) Growing the Grassroots: How cross-industry investment can save the music ecosystem – with Andy Burnham, Atlanta Cobb, Kara Mukerjee, Sam Duckworth, Jon Collins and Jo Twist. Where: Aviva Studios, Manchester When: Thursday 10th October @ 11.45 – 13.00 The Grassroots summit, moderated by Manchester’s mayor Andy Burham, promises to explore the deeper issues into why the music education and talent pipeline has begun to break down. Burham will be joined by industry moguls Atlanta Cobb, Kara Mukerjee, Sam Duckworth, Jon Collins and Jo Twist. Beyond the Music’s website says; “Artists reveal the reality of living and creating in the grass roots and come together with executives from across the industry to formulate a plan to futureproof the industry.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Beyond The Music (@gobeyondmcr) Misogyny In Music: The Truth Where: Aviva Studios, Manchester When: Thursday 10th October @ 15.15 – 16.30 Following the previous government’s Misogyny in Music report from the Women & Equalities committee, Beyond the Music is providing a platform for experts to discuss and reshape the gender boundaries of the music industry, whilst also providing a space for those who want to share the experience. This summit is in collaboration with the Musician’s Union and Shesaid.so, an independent community for women and gender nonconforming people in the music industry. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Human Interest (@humaninterestband) Human Interest Where: Band on the Wall, Northern Quarter (Manchester, UK) When: Thursday @ 23:00 Led by guitarist and songwriter Cat Harrison with bassist Tyler Damara Kelly, the london-based band are known for their mix of upbeat and blended vocals that seem to hold inspiration from bands like the Kinks, with the acoustic lightness that ‘Girl in Red’ fans would appreciate. After their debut ‘Desire Paths’ landed in 2022, they released a follow up EP in 2023 which has received praise from The Sunday Times. Signed to the same label as mercury award-winner English Teacher, Human Interest have been described as a thrilling new band to watch out for. Lala Hayden Where: Soup, Northern Quarter (Manchester, UK) When: Thursday @ 20:00 After an incredibly vibrant festival season, Lala Hayden will perform in Manchester again! Laura “Lala” Hayden is a talented British-Spanish singer who began her solo career with the release of her debut EP, “Girl Becomes, after spending seven years as the frontwoman of Anteros. In a delightful blend of electric and pop accents, LaLa Hayden’s emotive lyrics combined with an incredible stage presence will make this one performance you do not want to miss this weekend. Meduulla Where: Soup, Northern Quarter (Manchester, UK) When: Thursday @ 22:00 Raised in North Manchester in a Zimbabwean household, Meduulla’s rap and witty lyricism reflects her experience growing up with two contrasting cultures as a first generation immigrant to the UK. Inspired by iconic Zimbabwean musicians combined with an interest in political conflict, Meduulla’s sound takes inspiration from artists like Kendrick Lamar and Noname. Since her appearance on BBC’s The Rap Game in 2021, Medulla released her debut EP Oblongata in 2023, and has been praised on songs like ‘Limbo’ and ‘Life like a Box of Chocolates’ for her use of rhythm and word play. View this post on Instagram A post shared by congratulations (@congratulationstheband) Congratulations Where: Night & Day When: Friday @ 19:30 Congratulations combined a powerful concoction of gender-blending vocals, eccentric guitars and thunderous bass. Known for their experimentalist attitude to the craft, they will be surely loved by fans of Jockstrap and Sleigh Bells. In a frenzy of frenetic madness, you will find them at the Night and Day on Friday and their high-energy performances are bound to have you glued to the mosh pit until they finish their set. View this post on Instagram A post shared by 𝔔𝖚𝖊𝖊𝖓 𝕮𝖚𝖑𝖙 (@queencultband) Queen Cult Where: 33 Oldham St, Manchester When: Saturday 12th October @ 14:00 Based in Macclesfield, Queen Cult are THE queer rock band, with lead vocalist Maisie Johnson,Brodie Carson on drums, Piers Jarvis on Bass and Ruby Augar on lead guitar. Known for singles ike ‘Show & tell’, ‘A Song About Consent’ and ‘Calm’, Queen Cult’s music is often political charged and their emotive lyricism, alongside their powerful pop punk accents, have landed them some incredible collaborations with the likes of ARXX, Loose Articles and The Menstrual Cramps to name a few. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Lavender Rodriguez (@ohitslavender) Lavender Rodriguez Where: Off the Square When: Saturday 12th October @ 14:00 Known for their creative mix of classical, pop and electronica experimental music, Lavender is known for their ability utilise each and every instrument – although the violin is a firm favourite for them! Since they performed in Salford earlier this year at Sounds From the Other City with a live band, Lavender released their latest single ‘Sweat’ earlier this year, and will be releasing an EP later this year. Lavender’s sound bends each and every boundary that often creates a crackling atmosphere and a wild frenzy behind in its wake. View this post on Instagram A post shared by charlieeeee (@charlieeeeesworld) Charlieeeee Where: Soup, Manchester When: Saturday 12th October @ 21:00 Having worked with the likes of Raye, FRED and James Bay, Charlieeeee is THE producer, writer and artist that’s been bouncing between festivals all summer . After releasing their debut EP ‘Dog Bowl’ earlier this year, they have been commended by critics for their playful rhythm and delicate mix of hyper-pop and jungle beats that often explodes into colourful sound in their performances. Not one to miss.
We Out Here 2024 Review
We Out Here: Gilles Peterson’s St Giles festival is a magical fairyland of a festival we couldn’t help but be enchanted by This was the fifth year of We Out Here and it seems to be truly finding its place as a festival that masterfully mixes what could be opposing vibes. If Leeds is a teen paradise and Boomtown is a theatrical wonder, We Out Here is a fairy garden. It’s arguably the ideal getaway with smoothies and yoga by the river in the morning and raves at night. The age range also skewed a little older than say Reading or Truck, with groups of people in their late teens seeming very rare and more young families with babies. But that didn’t mean it didn’t get wild once the sun set, with DJ sets until 4am on the Friday and Saturday full of electronic, house, and DNB hits. Words by Caitlin Taylor Mount Kimbie were truly a showstopper on the first night. The crowd were already hanging on their every word but after they announced King Krule as a surprise guest, they went wild. I feel bad for everyone who decided to come down on Friday because despite the quick downpour, it was an amazing way to start the long weekend. As the music began again midday Friday, we came to a halt after hearing the power coming from the main stage as Cassie Kinoshi’s Seed played their set. They were incredibly loud but remained smooth and we sat captivated as Kinoshi explained the meaning behind certain songs from mental health to British colonialism. Everything felt so intimate despite the very large crowd they managed to attract. Bel Cobain was on a few hours later and she was clearly popular; I even got stopped on the way there by a group of young girls who were double-checking they were going the right way. During her set she radiated warm positivity, smiling in between songs as her adoring audience. All weekend there was a really great array of female and non-binary talent given full focus on the main stage from spoken word artists Kae Tempest to R&B sweetheart Corinne Bailey Rae to the aforementioned Cassie Kinoshi. It’s great seeing so much natural diversity at a festival that can attract such big names as Andre 3000 (PS – guys give the flute a chance, it’s really great). Ego Ella May had two slots and we managed to catch her later one at the Brawnswood stage which throughout the day doubled as a restaurant. I’m sure the intention was for the artists performing to entertain the dinner crowd, but May attracted such a large standing audience there’s no way that those sitting would have been able to catch a glimpse. Her performance was gorgeous and she had her audience spellbound. Amaliah played a set on the incredibly large Rhythm Corner Stage while it was still daylight, a difficult feat for any high energy, dance-focused DJ when most attendees were more in the mood for live music. She had a super London sound with good beats and great mixing. Honestly, she deserved a later slot or to be put on a more intimate stage as her audience remained incredibly engaged despite its small size. I’m keen to catch her next London set and have been listening to her Boiler Rooms since I’ve been back. My favourite stage by far was the Grove, a giant forest bowl where the crowd stood gazing down on whichever artist was performing. It felt so immersive and community focused, especially if you were there at the end of the night, smiling at strangers and making friends. I also loved the Tomorrow’s Warriors Big Tent, an entire decently sized covered stage with a carefully chosen selection of up and coming artists. Too often are smaller artists shoved in a corner and easy to miss, but this was the closest stage to general camping and had its own bar. It was the perfect place to hang out in between the larger artists and discover some genuine talent – a couple highlights were Victoria Jane and Maddy Coombs. My one main criticism was wifi and phone signal. As much as I think for some this would be the perfect excuse to log off, turn off, and focus on community, music, and nature for a few days, as someone who was trying to show off the best parts on our TNAM instagram stories, having to run back to the press area (or trying the cheeky ‘throw your phone so high in the air it maybe gets signal’ tactic) every time just to post one story was exhausting. It also made meeting up with friends horrendously difficult but that did lend to the creation of many “artistic” totems that are present in most of the photos you’ll see of the crowds. If you’re going next year, make sure you have some gaffa tape, a big stick, and an easily noticeable item (we used Dublin socks and a can of WD40 – see final note). Overall, WOH 2024 was one of the best, most community focused and impressive festivals I’ve ever had the pleasure to attend. Giles Peterson deserves a hand for being the most personable festival founder I’ve ever seen. You could catch him walking around, chatting to people and joining in on other artists’ sets. He also actively invests in new talent with his Future Bubblers program for exciting musical projects, something we’re all for here at TNAM. We can’t wait to see what next year brings and no doubt we’ll be there. Final Note – special shout out to Coex who drove us down and somehow managed to play a great set despite having to fix a synth live on stage with just a screwdriver and a bottle of WD40. View this post on Instagram
Manchester Psych Fest 2024: A day of raw, hypnotic, guitar-led energy
Heartworms by Kyle Roczniak MANCHESTER PSYCH FEST 2024: A DAY OF RAW, HYPNOTIC, GUITAR-LED ENERGY As the Autumnal clouds firmly make their mark and restore Manchester’s infamous dull tones, Manchester Psych Fest saw a glimmer of sunshine as TNAM.UK bid farewell to the whirlwind of Summer festivals once more. Words by Kyle Roczniak Kicking things off in a stylish fasion, the beautiful ballroom of the O2 Ritz saw Parisian collective Juniore make their much-anticipated return to Manchester soil, carrying with them a wide array of surf-rock inspired melodies and sunsoaked grooves, encapsulating a certain ‘60s French noir. Their big hits such as ‘Ah bah d’accord’ are welcomed with rapturous energy from the packed-out room, as vocalist Anna Jean’s elegant tones set the city up for a day of weird and wonderful music. TTSSFU Kyle Roczniak It’s not long until we’re back in the smallest, sweatiest rooms though, as a mad dash across the road following Juniore’s hour-long epic means I can catch Duvet’s guitarist Tasmin Stephens open the 500 capacity Gorilla, under her solo project name TTSSFU. Wielding her signature heart-shaped guitar and flanked by her consummate band, her soaring indie-pop tunes translate perfectly to a live setting, received by a refreshingly respectful crowd of all demographics. Psych Fest sees Tasmin take on two must-see sets, delivering driving post-punk goodness with Duvet a mere 3 hours later. A highlight of MPF is always the eclectic atmosphere provided by the utilisation of different event spaces. Between catching Goat Girl at the historical Albert Hall, and dashing back to the Ritz for NewDad, the afternoon is filled with a rare sense of urgency as I dash between Manchester’s staple ‘sweaty venue’ YES, and the makeshift outdoor stage at Projekts, an urban skatepark nestled comfortably under Manchester’s inner ring road, the Mancunian Way. My trip there was an excitement-filled one, finally catching Heartworms live, the London-based solo project of guitar and theremin witch Jojo Ormes. Her ability to create such a wide soundscape is something to be noted, as she effortlessly belts atop a mix of heavy guitars and boomy, driving drums, creating an electronic sound with a post-punk-esque lineup. Closing on ‘Retributions Of An Awful Life’, Heartworms must surely feel a sense of belonging in front of the rapturous festivalgoers, as they dance and sing the afternoon away, and do their best at catching the T-shirts thrown into the crowd by the band. Heartworms by Kyle Roczniak Heartworms by Kyle Roczniak Heartworms by Kyle Roczniak The rest of the day sees me waiting around for my real heroes HotWax – the MUST-SEE grunge rock trio from Hastings, with the loudest and most prominent set that undeniably leaves the biggest mark and is aching to be showcased on bigger and better stages around the world. Aside from some technical difficulties that involved bassist and vocalist Lola having to forcibly hammer against the switches on her instrument, and press down on guitarist and lead vocalist Tallulah’s pedal board like her life depended on it, the set was the perfect late-evening farewell to the group, with their raucous antics pleasing a mix of devoted fans and converts. With the rapid drum rhythms (courtesy of Alfie Sayers) and angular guitar lines of ‘Phone Machine’ to the unforgettable earworm bass in tracks such as ‘Rip It Out’ and ‘High Tea’, we can be sure that the band’s onstage teaser of an upcoming debut album means that any future Manchester shows will only progress to be bigger and more exciting for everyone. Hotwax by Kyle Roczniak Hotwax by Kyle Roczniak Hotwax by Kyle Roczniak
RALLY Festival Review
RALLY 2024 Festival Review RALLY is the festival for Goldsmiths and UAL students/graduates, or those who wish they were. It’s exactly what you’d imagine they’d dream up if asked to organise one. This is a crowd that frequents the Nags Head in Peckham and who knew about Ormside Projects and Venue MOT before they were cool. It’s GALA’s edgy younger sibling, and undeniably it looked great, especially as it grew darker. Words by Caitlin Taylor The Agnes stage was the glowing centre point of the festival with its silver scaffolding and multicoloured plastic panels coming together to resemble something from the original Blade Runner (it’s actually inspired by the painter Agnes Martin and beautifully designed by CAKE Architecture). Most of the festival’s drawing names were here, or at the more traditional main stage. The bad weather was on and off throughout the day unfortunately, as it was the year before. But unlike other festivals, RALLY benefits from being a small, one day affair meaning the mud never became too treacherous – and luckily rain jackets and hoods are staples of the gorp-core fashion most of the crowd adopted: here you were more likely to see Arc’teryx and neutral tones than glitter eyeshadow and crochet bralettes. Debby Friday completely packed out the Millhouse tent, a smaller stage towards the back curated by RALLY’s sister festival GALA. Friday gave a high energy, electric performance dancing around her adoring crowd, even twirling some enthusiastic fans. She managed to keep her vocals strong despite her moves and there was a constant smile on her face. She proved herself as a brilliant performer and I feel lucky that we could see her in such an intimate setting rather than on the large stage she will likely soon be on. The day before, we’d actually seen Fabiana Palladino as part of Jai Paul’s band at All Points East but today she was given her own solo time on the main stage. I wish there’d been more of a focus on visuals for her set; RALLY had organised films to play in-between sets on the main stage but as they were tending to run late, sometimes the films ran into the artists sets which, in my opinion, worked a lot better than just having their name behind them. The focus on local artists was brilliant – maybe next year that could be extended into getting local artists to do visuals? Palladino’s smooth eighties pop inspired style would benefit from some related visuals, something that would attract the crowd her voice deserves. Bar Italia were late on due to technical difficulties which you could tell frustrated the band. The crowd swarmed the Agnes stage, we were packed in like sardines near the front as everyone waited pretty patiently for them to start. Nevertheless, they gave a pretty flawless performance, covering all their most popular songs. Part way through the set we felt ourselves being shoved aggressively further forwards and turned around to see a mosh pit had formed behind us. The energy here was different to how some of the bands previous London shows had been (their Village Underground show last year was much more relaxed), and so were they. They’ve recently made it clear they aren’t fond of the “mysterious” label they’ve been given and they definitely had personality in this performance. Nina’s voice is truly captivating and as they went on they become more and more playful – Nina and Jezmi in particular starting dancing and spinning around, grinning at each other. (Note – we actually sat next to the band in the smoking area at the Avalon Cafe afterparty and gave them some tobacco. It’s crazy how without Nina present and despite being potentially the stars of the festival, they sat quietly on the curb going almost completely undetected.) View this post on Instagram A post shared by RALLY (@rally.rally.rally) We missed the end of their set as we had to run across to see Sorry on the main stage which was a puzzling choice by the organisers as there’s a large amount of crossover in those fanbases. Luckily due to the festival’s smaller size, it was just a quick couple minute walk so definitely not a large issue. It’s a known fact that Sorry like to improvise with their pre-existing material when playing live, adding intros, samples, and distortions to all of their fan favourites. You probably wouldn’t expect to hear Megan Thee Stallion’s voice calling out “real hot girl shit” during their indie rock/pop/alternative (what genre even are they?) set but if you’ve been following them for a while you’ll know they wear their hop-hop influence on their sleeve. They gave an energetic performance of ‘Screaming in the Rain’ although ironically they marked the turn in weather for this previously soggy day. They’re undeniably one of the best bands going at the moment, constantly managing to feel fresh and interesting. Nilüfer Yanya took to the main stage as darkness set out over the park. It fit her set beautifully, allowing all attention to both her and her band. She’s incredibly expressive when she sings, her face fully a part of her storytelling. With the release of her new album soon approaching it seems inevitable that she’s about to truly blow up. Overall, RALLY is a festival that is truly finding its feet – in a good way. Great art takes time and by looking at GALA, it’s clear to see hypothetically where RALLY could be in a few years. I personally hope it gets there, its focus on supporting local artists, musicians, and venues is something that other festivals should definitely take note of. If anything, next year I hope they experiment even more, have even more unknown local artists playing and you can guarantee we’ll be there to support it.
MANCHESTER PSYCH FEST
MANCHESTER PSYCH FEST: The city’s most diverse metropolitan day festival returns this weekend! With a stellar lineup featuring the coolest mix of established legends and recent eyecatchers, Manchester Psych Fest returns this Saturday August 31st. With over 70 live acts, DJs, workshops, talks, and delightful food and drink options across various venues around town, here’s a mini guide of the top female & non-binary inclusive acts to catch at the festival. (P.S. – Brighton & Edinburgh Psych Fests take place this weekend too, featuring much of the MSP lineup) Words by Kyle Roczniak Juniore (O2 Ritz, 1pm) Think 1960s French pop and psychadelia blended with elements of synthpop, grounded by a surf-rock sensibility, and then you’ll have an idea of the soundscape created by Parisian outfit Juniore. Officially opening Manchester Psych Fest with their sun-soaked melodies, Juniore are set to grace the stage just under a fortnight before upcoming album ‘Trois, Deux, Un’. For fans of: Grand Blanc, Camp Claude, Pomplamoose NewDad (O2 Ritz, 8pm) Facing newfound love for their debut album ‘MADRA’, Galway’s NewDad are set to bring their unique Irish alt-rock to Manchester in an unmissable sub-headline slot. With lead singer Julie Dawson’s sweet and soaring vocal melodies, and the band’s earworm guitar hooks, their heavy-hitting tracks translate perfectly to a live setting, promising tons of unapologetic Irish rawness and a high-octane show to never forget. For fans of: English Teacher, SPRINTS, Pillow Queens Heartworms (Projekts Skate Park, 3:45pm) Jojo Orme’s wacky synth-led project Heartworms, despite first debuting only 2 years ago, carries a special feeling of excitement only craftable through the use of angular melodies, punchy drums, and unusual instrumentation choices. Latest single ‘Jacked’ combines post-punk sensibilities with the jagged sonics Heartworms is known for, and following support slots with The Last Dinner Party and a well-received session for KEXP, Heartworms is only set to grow and grow. For fans of: Fat Dog, Man/Woman/Chainsaw, PVA HotWax (YES Pink Room, 9:45pm) It’s been their biggest year so far, and following a jam-packed Summer of back to back festival appearances, our favourite South Coast trio HotWax are expected to bring nothing but an hour of sweaty, post-punky grunge to Manchester’s iconic bar and music venue YES. For such a small group of musicians, the level of sound that they can create is astonishing, with Tallulah and Lola’s vocals storming out across a sea of technical drum grooves, boisterous bass, and angular guitar writing to please everyone. For fans of: Lambrini Girls, Panic Shack, Shelf Lives, Looss Articles TTSSFU (Gorilla, 2:15pm) With the success of her post-punk band Duvet, it’s hard to understand why Manchester’s Tasmin Stephens would focus on anything else. However, her solo project TTSSFU is worlds away from the Riot Grrrl-esque roots that Duvet is cemented in, and instead transports us to a world of ethereal, soaring vocal lines laid upon grooving basslines (‘I Hope You Die’) and otherworldy, sorrowful indie-pop enveloped in a blanket of driving reverb (‘Studio 54’). For fans of: cruush, Bedroom Vacation, atmos bloom