Scientists of Sound

Wednesday, 9 September 2026

Sports Team - Billy

Photo Credit: Lauren Maccabee

Sports Team have made their very welcomed return this week with the immediate and loose-limbed new single Billy. "It’s a love letter to getting desperately, insanely drunk at a carpeted pub on a Tuesday night," says songwriter Rob Knaggs. "We recorded it live at RAK studios over the first weeks of summer with Seth Evans and Adele Phillips. It felt like a return to how we made the first album. Fast, and loose and loud." To celebrate their return, Sports Team will head out on a special run of intimate UK dates at the end of September, in collaboration with DIY Magazine. Full dates can be found below. ‘Billy’ is available on all major streaming platforms, alongside a limited run of physical flexi discs.

Live Dates
22 Sep – Southampton, The Brook
23 Sep – Oxford, The Bullingdon
24 Sep – Bristol, The Fleece
25 Sep – Liverpool, Arts Club
26 Sep – Blackpool, Bootleg Special
27 Sep – Edinburgh, La Belle Angele
29 Sep - Newcastle - Digital
30 Sep – Nottingham, Metronome
3 Oct – London, EartH

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

BODEGA - Literary World (Official Music Video)

Photo Credit: Pooneh Ghana

New York City quintet BODEGA return today with their fourth single, “Literary World”. Taken from the band's upcoming album All Inside Aquarium, set to arrive October 9th via Chrysalis, their latest outing takes a philosophical turn, driven by infectious melodies and soaring choruses. Speaking about the single, guitarist and vocalist Ben Hozie offered, "Regardless of neoliberal propaganda, I believe in the dignity of the artist. I also believe it is the duty of an artist to emerge new ways of thinking and being, which extends far beyond ideological didacticism. This isn’t an argument for apolitical art —> The modern artist should work alongside the rising global political consciousness (brought about by new tech and the revelation of extreme injustice) not only through practical action (such as sharing information or raising money with their audience) but through empathetic honest works that imagine alternative modalities." Take a listen below.

Live Dates
09/09 – Barcelona, ES @ Upload
09/10 – Zaragoza, ES @ La Lata de Bombillas
09/11 – Donostia, ES @ Boga Boga Festival
09/13 – Asten-Heusden, NL @ Misty Fields Festival
09/15 – London, UK @ Sister Ray Records [special signing event]
09/15 – London, UK @ 100 Club [SOLD OUT]
09/16 – Paris, FR @ Pop Up! [SOLD OUT]
10/02-09 - Brooklyn, NY @ Millennium Film Workshop
10/15 – New York, NY @ Rough Trade [in store performance, 6pm]
11/19 – Glasgow, UK @ Mono
11/20 – North Shields, UK @ King Street Social Club
11/21 – Manchester, UK @ The Abbey [SOLD OUT]
11/22 – Manchester, UK @ The Abbey [SOLD OUT]
11/24 – Bristol, UK @ Electric Bristol
11/25 – London, UK @ The Garage
11/26 – Leeds, UK @ Irish Centre
11/27 – Birkenhead, UK @ Future Yard

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

total tommy - Tailgate

Photo credit / Suzanna Gaunt

Today sees total tommy today share new single 'Tailgate', taken from the upcoming album Trapezoid which will be released October 23rd on Play It Again Sam. Here, scuzzy guitars and rattling basslines propel another empowered pop hit, giving us a further glimpse of what’s to come from the LP. On the new single, Tailgate, total tommy shares - "A couple of years ago, I jumped in an Uber on the way to a wedding, and the driver told me she was a psychic. She then proceeded to 'read' me, glaring at me in the back seat from the rearview, telling me all of these crazy things that would happen to my family. Complete unsolicited advice. I left feeling so spun out and violated. All of the things she said sometimes still come into my mind to this day, but this song makes me feel like I’ve taken some of that power back from her" Take a listen below.

Trapezoid is available for pre-order here - https://totaltommy.lnk.to/trapezoidalbum

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

Tuesday, 8 September 2026

Friko - Dirty Diamond

Photo credit: Adam Powell

Following a relentless touring schedule around the UK and Europe, Chicago's Friko have today shared their brand-new single ‘Dirty Diamond’, ahead of this Friday’s release of Something Worth Waiting For (Expanded Edition), via ATO Records. The track catches the band at their most raucous, firing off jagged guitar riffs, raw energy and an exuberant delivery as it hurtles through shifting dynamics. "One of our most sinister sounding songs to date,” Kapetan says of ‘Dirty Diamond’, “this one started out as more of a six minute epic but we ended up shortening it in the studio when we recorded it. It feels more concise and impactful as a burst of dark, ripping energy." Take a listen for yourselves below.

i: https://www.instagram.com/friko4u/

The Big Moon - Three Things

Photo credit: Melanie Lehmann

As The Big Moon approach the release of their fourth studio album Forever, due out Friday 30th October via Fiction Records, the band have shared the record's latest single Three Things. Leading with its infectious synth line, the track's joyful melodies and soaring vocal choruses keep us hooked to the final note. Songwriter Juliette Jackson shares, "Being young, driving in my first car, life was so imminent and possible and simple. Life was a crush, the future felt endless, we felt immortal. This song is about me now, looking back, fantasising about living in a song, longing for some of that poetry in my life now, longing to be bouncing along the words like the ball on karaoke lines" Take a listen for yourselves below.

The Big Moon live 2026
Weds 18th November – O2 Institute 2, Birmingham
Thurs 19th November – La Belle Angele, Edinburgh
Fri 20th November – St Luke’s, Glasgow
Sun 22nd November – Trinity Centre, Bristol
Mon 23rd November – Concorde 2, Brighton
Weds 25th November – O2 Ritz, Manchester
Thurs 26th November – Project House, Leeds
Fri 27th November – O2 Academy Brixton, London

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

Wednesday, 2 September 2026

Sŵn Festival Announces second wave of artists for 2026 edition

Whilst summer festivals come to a close, there's still some big game players to come - Cardiff's Sŵn Festival being one of the forerunners. Following up June's bumper announcement, the festival, taking place across the city over Thursday October 15th to Saturday October 17, has today revealed the second wave of artists set to play the capital, in what looks to be one of its strongest line-ups to date as it approaches its 19th edition. Joining the likes of already announced Dove Ellis, Little Grandad, Mould and Working Men’s Club to name but a few will be Manchester’s Westside Cowboy, London trio bar italia who make their Sŵn debut, songsmith Murkage Dave and six-piece Gently Tender, born from the ashes of Palma Violets. Full details and new additions can be found below with the full rundown of new acts to sink your teeth in to.

This year’s Sŵn Connect conference is also now announced for Friday October 16th at Cornerstone in Cardiff - watch this space for speakers to be unveiled soon but expect a mixture of seasoned industry voices and fresh perspectives for those looking to break into, or just understand more of, the music industry. Full venues this year include: Tramshed, Clwb Ifor Bach, St. John’s Church, Jacobs Basement, Fuel, The Canopi, Tiny Rebel, Little O’Neill’s and Porter’s.

Adam Williams, Head of Music for Sŵn, offers the following on this year’s festival: “In a world that surrounds us with negativity, it's been extremely uplifting to work on Sŵn’s 19th edition. 2026's lineup is filled with incredible new music. Today, we welcome a whole host of new names to this year’s festival, with particular highlights ranging from Bar Italia to Uche Hara to ugly ozo, Gently Tender to Westside Cowboy to Murkage Dave and beyond. There’s really something for everyone and we can’t wait to welcome you all to Cardiff in October.”

FULL LIST OF ARTISTS ANNOUNCED SO FAR

New additions in bold

Head here for ticketing options include day tickets and more info: https://swnfest.seetickets.com

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

Tuesday, 1 September 2026

HOLLY HUMBERSTONE announces 2027 Cruel World tour

credit Silken Weinberg

Following her critically acclaimed album Cruel World released in April earlier this year, Holly Humberstone has this week announced details of her new tour, with support from Chloe Qisha. Artist pre-sale opens Wednesday 2nd September at 10am, with general sale from Friday 4th September at 10am via hollyhumberstone.com/tour. Full dates can be found below for the UK leg.

i: instagram.com/hollyhumberstone

Thursday, 27 August 2026

Radio Free Alice - Crying With You

photo credit: Imogene Barron

Australian new wave/post-punk outfit Radio Free Alice have relesed details of their long-awaited debut album What’s In Between, available 30th October via Atlantic Records. Coinciding with the news the band have shared the record's latest single Crying With You. “It’s a huge relief to finally announce the album,” vocalist Noah Learmonth says of the announcement. “We’ve lived with these songs for such a long time and they’ve become such a big part of our lives, so knowing there’s now a date when they’ll finally exist outside of us feels incredibly cathartic.” “We wrote ‘Crying With You’ whilst on a writing retreat in Joshua Tree in California,” he continues. “We were staying at this beautiful property owned by producer Nicolas Vernhes, surrounded by desert and Joshua trees for about a week and recorded a handful of demos and jams. The verse and chorus were originally different songs, but we stitched them together, which is something we like to do quite a lot” Take a listen below.

RADIO FREE ALICE LIVE 2026

AUGUST
27 – Oost-Vlieland, NL – Into The Great Wide Open Festival
29 – Reading, UK – Reading Festival

SEPTEMBER
18 — Chicago, IL — Riot Fest

OCTOBER
9 — Austin, TX — Austin City Limits

NOVEMBER
4 —Copenhagen, DK — Ideal Bar at Vega
6 — Berlin, DE — Frannz Club
7 — Hamburg, DE — Turmzimmer
8 — Cologne, DE — Helios37
10 — Amsterdam, NL — Tolhuistuin
11 — Brussels, BE — Botanique Rotonde
12 — Paris, FR — Point Ephémère
14 — Bristol, UK — Thekla
15 — Birmingham, UK — O2 Institute2
17 — London, UK — Electric Ballroom
18 — Leeds, UK — Brudenell Social Club
20 — Manchester, UK — Academy 2
21 — Glasgow, UK — Art School
22 — Belfast, UK — Ulster Sports Club
24 — Dublin, IE — Button Factory

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

Wednesday, 26 August 2026

Los Blancos - Olew'r Olewydd

Photo: Sam Stevens @Sam.ffoto

Returning with the first taste of their forthcoming third album, Carmarthenshire five-piece Los Blancos have this week revealed the electrifying Olew'r Olewydd. Translating to Olive Oil, the track sees gnarled guitars and freewheeling melodies collide in a thrilling crescendo, signalling the band’s renewed appetite for songwriting. Take a listen below.

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

Neighbour Club - Only Fractions

Neighbour Club (c) Anthony Bean

London up-risers Neighbour Club have today shared their brilliant new effort, Only Fractions. Taken from the band's forthcoming debut EP ‘Snail Mail’, set for release September 25th, the track’s chugging basslines and gritty guitar melodies offer an exhilarating glimpse of what’s to come. Speaking about their newest EP teaser, the four-piece explained: “'Only Fractions' is the second single from our upcoming EP ‘Snail Mail’ - we’ve taken it down a notch with a hangover drenched look at relationships passed. We intended it to be a track to hum in your head whilst you scramble round the house looking for Sunday's second Ibuprofen hit.” Take a listen below.

Live Dates
05 SEP - The Windmill, Brixton, London (UK)
19 SEP - The Richard Steele, Haverstock Hill, London (UK)

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

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