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
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
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
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
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