Del Water Gap, Bristol 18 March O2 Academy

Fresh off a recent run supporting Niall Horan, Del Water Gap has returned to UK shores on his own terms, and this time the scale has shifted. Out on the road in support of Chasing The Chimera, there’s a clear sense that years of steady momentum are beginning to tip into something far bigger. Streams in their 100's of millions is certainly not something to be sniffed at, and on his latest LP, he shows no signs of slowing. 

In Bristol, that change is unmistakable. What once felt like a slow-burning cult following now fills the room with intent, a crowd fully immersed, hanging on every word and sending each lyric straight back to the stage.

There’s a quiet confidence to Del Water Gap - no grand entrance or immediate attempt to win over the room - just a steady pull as chest-rumbling synths and flashing lights faded into his arrival. Opening with Small Town Joan of Arc, the Bristol crowd were dropped straight into his world, one that felt expansive and cinematic from the off.

Touring in support of his third studio album, his newer material slotted seamlessly alongside fan favourites. Tracks like Better Than I Know Myself and New Personality carried that same expansive quality, swelling and stretching with a sense of widescreen grandeur, never feeling out of place amongst older cuts like High Tops or Sorry I Am.

For the first stretch, S. Holden Jaffe kept the crowd at arm’s length. There was little in the way of interaction. No introductions. No stories. Until Doll House, where he finally broke the silence, simply offering the song title before slipping straight back into the music. It was understated, almost disarming, but it worked. The focus remained firmly on his presence and mystery.

From there, things began to loosen. By the midsection the wall between stage and crowd started to crumble. A voice cut through the room with a clear “that was great,” prompting a running joke that carried through the night, with Jaffe repeatedly asking where his friend was after subsequent songs. It was a small moment, but one that shifted the atmosphere, suddenly the show felt warmer, more human with added humour.

There are flashes of offbeat showmanship too. During Damn, in a moment that felt both bizarre and completely on-brand, he pulled out a sewing machine for some impromptu embroidery mid-performance. A surreal visual that somehow fits perfectly within the world he’s built on stage.

By the time Glitter & Honey, Coping On Unemployment and All We Ever Do Is Talk rolled around, the crowd was fully locked in. Even Perfume, notably without the usual venture into the crowd, landed with the same intensity, before Ode to a Conversation Stuck in Your Throat brings things to a fitting close.

At 90 minutes, it’s a relentless, back-to-back run of songs delivered with precision and intent. No filler or wasted moments, just a showcase of an artist who understands pacing, atmosphere and the slow art of winning a room over - one completely absorbed, hanging on to every last moment.

Setlist
Small Town Joan of Arc 
Sorry I Am 
Better Than I Know Myself 
Please Follow 
Doll House 
New Personality 
Ghost in the Uniform 
NFU 
Marigolds 
Beach House 
High Tops 
Never Speak Again 
Glitter & Honey 
How to Live 
Coping On Unemployment 
All We Ever Do Is Talk 
Damn 
Perfume 
Ode to a Conversation Stuck in Your Throat

***** 

Photo: Sal Redpath

As Brighton four-piece Lime Garden head ever closer to their highly anticipated forthcoming second album Maybe Not Tonight, due April 10th via So Young Records, they have today shared the record's latest cut, Downtown Lover. Stripped of thrills or gimmicks, their three-chord power jam delivers a wealth of punchy melodies and blistering, full-throttle vocals. Vocalist and guitarist Chloe Howard explains:  “Downtown lover came from three chords and my need to investigate my regular avoidant behaviour within romantic relationships. I saw the phrase “downtown love” in an article online talking about some peoples constant need for something new or attention in general when dating, through recognising this in my myself and In an attempt to try and understand why I act the way I do, I threw this one out in a matter of minutes on my acoustic guitar.”Check it out below.

2026 EU Tour Dates   
15th September Cologne, Luxor  
16th September Berlin, Frannz  
19th September Amsterdam, Bitterzoet  
20th September Nijmegen, Doornroosje  
22nd September Brussels, Ancienne Belgique  
25th September Paris, La Maroquinerie 

2026 UK Tour Dates 
2nd October Bristol, Electric Bristol 
5th October Oxford, The Bullingdon 
6th October Cambridge, Junction 1 
9th October Birkenhead, Future Yard 
10th October Leeds, Stylus 
12th October Newcastle, The Grove 
13th October Edinburgh, Mash House 
14th October Glasgow, Mono 
16th October Manchester, Gorilla 
17th October Nottingham, Rescue Rooms 
18th October Norwich, Waterfront 
20th October Birmingham, Castle & Falcon 
21st October London, Electric Brixton

i: https://www.instagram.com/limegardenband

 

The Haunted Youth return today with murder me, the second single lifted from their forthcoming album Boys Cry Too, due May 8, 2026 via Play It Again Sam. Leaning into a heavier edge, the track surges forward on grungy guitar riffs and a wall of crashing percussion, pushing their sound into bolder territory. It’s a confident step up - one that hints at a band ready to carry their bedroom-born introspection onto much bigger stages. Speaking about the process when creating the record, frontman Joachim Liebens explains, “I was really in touch with the male side of my emotions. The first half of the record is basically how everyone sees a boy when he’s heartbroken: he puts his walls up, he’s paranoid, he’s angry, he’s aggressive. But then the second half is this whole other story – it’s vulnerable,” he continues. “I want to show the vulnerable part of men and boys and celebrate it instead of making it this whole stigma that’s been going on for so long.” Take a listen below. 

Headline Tour - Max Fry as support 
April 3: Colours Hoxton, London - SOLD OUT 
April 4: Trabendo, Paris 
April 6: Paradiso, Amsterdam - SOLD OUT 
April 7: Paradiso, Amsterdam - SOLD OUT 
April 9: Hole44, Berlin 
April 10: Molotow, Hamburg - SOLD OUT 
April 11: Luxor, Cologne - SOLD OUT 
April 24: Mon, Madrid (w/o Max Fry) 
April 29: Cirque Royal, Brussels - SOLD OUT 
April 30: Cirque Royal, Brussels - SOLD OUT 
May 1: Cirque Royal, Brussels - SOLD OUT 
May 3: Cirque Royal, Brussels - SOLD OUT

FESTIVALS 
March 28: Ik Zie U Graag, Breda (NL) 
April 16th: Le Printemps de Bourges (FR) 
May 13/16: The Great Escape (UK) 
June 20: Pinkpop (NL) 
July 4: Rock Werchter (BE) 
July 10: Les Nuits Secretes (FR) 
July 12: Cactusfestival (BE) 
July 24: Rock Olmen (BE)

i: https://www.instagram.com/thehauntedyouth_official

Photo Credit: Louise Mason

Preston-based duo White Flowers, comprised of Katie Drew and Joey Cobb, have today shared their ethereal new single Heaven. Lifted from the forthcoming album Dreams For Somebody Else, out May 1st via The state51 Conspiracy, the track drifts through dreamy soundscapes and haunting vocals, offering a captivating glimpse of what lies ahead. Speaking on the influences that shaped the new record, they share: “Whilst recording the songs for ‘Dreams For Somebody Else’, we really connected with the concept of Annie Ernaux’s book, ‘The Years’ - a ‘collective autobiography’ pieced together from mismatched fragments from her past, conjuring the effect that she’s merely an observer of her own life. This concept merges into the White Flowers world, where time, rather than being restrictive, is fluid and boundless, with our music existing as an endless conversation with versions of ourselves at different stages of our lives.”

Live Dates
30.09.26 The Croft, Bristol 
01.10.26 Alphabet, Brighton
02.10.26 The ICA, London
08.10.26 Stereo, Glasgow
09.10.26 The Trades Club, Hebden Bridge
10.10.26 Yes (Pink Room), Manchester  

i: https://www.instagram.com/whiteflowersssss

photo credit: Emma Nathan

Taken from the forthcoming EP Is This All There Is?, released this Friday 20th March, Anna Calvi has today shared the title track featuring The National’s Matt Berninger. Originally written for Joanna Hogg’s film The Souvenir Part II, but previously not released, Calvi asked Berninger to join her in transforming it into a completely new body of art. Circling the question at its core, their vocals weave together with striking intensity, rising and colliding against a backdrop of thunderous percussion. “This song is about the bravery it takes to hope,” Calvi says. “It’s the willingness to ask questions, even when knowing you’ll never get a definitive answer.” Speaking further about working with Berninger, Calvi adds: “The tone of Matt’s voice has such an epic, almost ancient quality to it, which felt perfect for a song asking such a big existential question. We’re both searching for answers- together and yet somehow always apart, which I find beautiful. He brings an intimacy to the song that I couldn’t have imagined.” Listen below. 

Upcoming live dates
Wed 18th March – Barbican, London – Marianne Faithfull tribute set
Sat 23rd May – Deleste Festival, Spain
Sat 18th July –The Piece Hall, Halifax w/ David Byrne
Sun 26th July – Cardiff Castle, Cardiff w/ David Byrne
Sun 23rd August – Green Man, Wales

i: https://www.instagram.com/annacalvi 

Photo credit / Billy Emery

Manchester's Truthpaste have returned with their multi-faceted new single Bus Song, released via Dirty Hit & Memorials Of Distinction (caroline, Grove, Naima Bock). Weaving together acoustic, folk and electronic textures, the multi-instrumental five-piece craft something entirely their own, their ever-shifting arrangement unfolding with a natural ease as we get another exciting taste of what lays ahead. On the new single, Esme shares "Bus song is our emo rock song. It’s another side to Truthpaste that its time people heard outside our live set. We don’t stick to one thing, if it sounds good we’ll do it." Euan continues, "This song was knocking around my head for a couple of weeks, it wasn't until we got together as a band and decided to make it a duet that it really started to feel like it has come to be". Take a listen/watch below.  

Tour Dates 
26th March - TGE Warm Up, Old Blue Last, London
10th April - Wanderfal Festival, Falmouth
11th April - Outer Town, Bristol
4th May - The Lexington - London
5th May - Hyde Park Book Club - Leeds
6th May - Soup Kitchen - Manchester
7th May - The Big Difference - Leicester
15th May - The Great Escape - Brighton
16th May - The Great Escape - Brighton

Truthpaste are Esmé Lark (Lead Vocals, Saxophone), Theo Murchie (Guitar, Vocals), Claire Sun (Violin, Vocals), Euan McNeill (Bass, Guitar, Vocals), and James Ballarò (Synth, Lapsteel, Guitar). 

i: https://www.instagram.com/truthpa5te
 

Photo Credit: Charlie & Charlie

This Autumn will see Man/Woman/Chainsaw continue their 2025 successes, where they signed to Fiction Records, home of The Cure, St. Vincent, The Horrors and Billie Marten, with a huge 15 date UK tour. Kickstarting in Belfast before culminating in London's Electric Ballroom, the extensive run of shows plans to take in all corners of the UK. Full details can be found below. 

2026 UK Live Dates
19th Sept - Belfast - Ulster Sports Club
20th Sept - Dublin - Whelan's
22nd Sept - Manchester - Gorilla
23rd Sept - Leeds - Brudenell Social Club
24th Sept - Newcastle - The Grove
25th Sept - Glasgow - King Tut's
26th Sept - Sheffield - Float Along Festival
29th Sept - Guildford - The Boileroom
30th Sept - Brighton - Concorde 2
1st Oct - Portsmouth - The Wedgewood Rooms
2nd Oct - Bristol - Thekla
3rd Oct - Cardiff - The Globe
5th Oct - Nottingham - Rescue Rooms
6th Oct - Birmingham - Hare & Hounds
7th Oct - London - Electric Ballroom

i: https://www.instagram.com/manwomanchainsaw

Photo credit: Rhianna Thomas

King No-One returned ahead of the weekend with their new single Scumbag, the latest lifted from their forthcoming upcoming debut LP ‘The Burden Of Empathy’, out 26th April. Talking about their latest track, the band shared - “'Scumbag' is about being an artist and musician in the modern day, and how family, friends and society looks at you and treats you. Money and income is often the bar of which we are judged, and people dedicate their lives chasing it, sacrificing their relationships, their freedom and experiences to get it. But at what cost? 'Scumbag' is about accepting our struggles and what we may lack in financial wealth, we make up for in love of those around us and our lived experience.” King No-One will celebrate the release of ‘The Burden Of Empathy’ with two hometown shows in Leeds on album release day. They’ll be playing Oporto, performing ‘The Burden Of Empathy’ in full with DJ support. Both shows sold-out within minutes.  The band also head to SXSW this year for the first time playing four shows whilst they’re in Austin.

 i: https://www.instagram.com/knomusicuk 

Credit: Chloé Le Drezen

Following on from recent single ‘Lucky Again’, Lykke Li has today shared the brilliant Knife In The Heart, taken from the forthcoming album The Afterparty, arriving May 8 via Neon Gold Records/Futures. Speaking on the song, Lykke Li shares: “This is my brutalist nursery rhyme anthem — the emo girl in me, fully unleashed. I had my son and his friend sing the choruses because the juxtaposition of their voices against the EBow just created such a powerful sonic landscape, somewhere I've never really been before. A world totally collapsing in front of us and all we really have left is our humanity. My dream is to hear a whole football stadium chanting: ‘This Life This Life is a Knife in the Heart.’ To me, a pretty accurate description of what it feels like to be alive right now.” Take a listen below. 

THE AFTERPARTY TRACKLIST Not Gon Cry Happy Now Lucky Again Famous Last Words Future Fear So Happy I Could Die Sick Of Love Knife In The Heart Euphoria LIVE DATES 10th April - Coachella Music Festival – Indio, CA 17th April - Coachella Music Festival – Indio, CA 22nd May - Vivo Rio - Rio de Janeiro 24th May - Parque Ibirapuera - São Paulo 19th June - Metronome Festival, Prague 5th July - Finsbury Park – London^ 10th July - Pohoda Festival - Slovakia (Headline) 19th September - Palacio de los Deportes – Mexico City, MX* * w/Robyn ^Wolf Alice THE AFTERPARTY - Track List

i:  https://www.instagram.com/lykkeli

credit Silken Weinberg

Ahead of her forthcoming album 'Cruel World', due out April 10th, Holly Humberstone has today shared the record's title track. Written about the push and pull of long-distance love through pain and euphoria, the track's soaring pop tones and lilted vocals give another exciting taste of what lays ahead. Sharing more detail Holly explains, ““Cruel World” comes from the euphoria and pain of long-distance. Your perception of the world around you can be completely distorted without that one person in it. There’s no fun in going out solo when the only place you want to be is wherever they are. Loving someone that much is always going to hurt a little. This is the dichotomy of pain and pleasure. Love is so painful at its core and this is the throughline of my record. This is my favourite song I’ve ever written!”. 

Take a watch of the video below, directed by Silken Weinberg (Ethel Cain), which takes place on a Victorian theatre set, following Holly as she quietly attempts to sabotage the unfolding production.

TOUR DATES 
20 March – Liverpool, Rough Trade SOLD OUT (IN-STORE)
21 March – Nottingham, The Level (OUTSTORE)
22 March – Oxford, O2 Academy 1 (OUTSTORE)
24 March – Birmingham, O2 Academy 2 (OUTSTORE)
25 March – Brighton, Chalk (OUTSTORE)
26 March – Kingston, Circuit SOLD OUT (OUTSTORE)
29 March – Glasgow, Old Fruitmarket SOLD OUT
30 March – Manchester, New Century Hall SOLD OUT
01April – Bristol, Electric SOLD OUT
02 April – London, O2 Shepherds Bush Empire SOLD OUT
12 April — Coachella, California
24 May — Radio 1’s Big Weekend, Sunderland
07 June — Governors Ball, New York City
10 July – Madrid, Mad Cool Festival
14 July – Athens, Ejekt Festival
23 Aug – Darmstadt, Golden Leaves Festival

i: https://www.instagram.com/hollyhumberstone