Photo credit: Will Creswick

Ahead of the weekend, and following a career defining moment supporting Sam Fender in his hometown at St James’ Park, Newcastle-based musician ERNIE signs to Sound Recordings and shares EP lead single ‘Summer Sun’. The first taster of what's to come sees the part-time chef, full-time singer-songwriter serve up a catchy pop anthem that's bursting with feel-good melodies and indie/folksy nuances. Speaking ahead of its release, ERNIE explained: “‘Summer Sun’ is about me tackling my addiction and trauma head on, ditching apathy and anxiety in exchange for a life of fun and happiness. It’s a song about growth; overcoming the hurdles of adult life and coming out the other end in a better place. This song was the first song I penned a few days after I decided to quit alcohol for good…it just sort of flowed out of me very quickly. One year on, I’ve got a whole fresh perspective on the world around me and a new lease of life. That’s what ‘Summer Sun’ is all about and it feels like the perfect song to kickstart this new chapter for ERNIE.” Take a listen for yourselves below. 

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

Photo by Julie Konstantinovich

Ahead of the weekend, Copenhagen-based newcomer Sophie-Lou revealed her stunning debut single, I Will Love You Till I Die. A heartfelt exploration of loss and grief, the track captivates with its soaring pop sensibilities and emotional depth as its delicate, tender intro blossoms into an exhilarating, euphoric anthem. “I had just lost one of the most important people in my life when I suddenly fell in love,” sophie-lou shares. “Joy and a deep-rooted fear of loss became a state of being. Writing this song was both simple and necessary –a fearless declarationof loveto my new partner, my friends, and my family. Words we should all say more often –before it’s too late.” Drawing influence from her roots in Jazz and 14 years performing with the renowned Danish National Girls’ Choir (DR Pigekoret), the track serves as a wonderful introduction in to what lays ahead. The single is produced by sophie-lou, mixed by Nanna Schannong (Lowly), and mastered by Alma Hede (De Må Være Belgiere). Take a listen for yourselves below. 

 

 
Hyped Manchester-based newcomers Moss Side Sauna Club have today unveiled their brilliant new single My Weird Appetite. In a swathe of experimental electronics and pulsating samples comes a unique introduction to their dazzling sound. “MSSC is a three-piece band and we’ve known each other for years,” say MSSC in an introductory explainer. “We came together to make an album during the worst times of our lives instead of going to therapy. The project came as a heatstroke-induced fever dream as Sam desperately tried to feel good again in his local Leisure Centre. It’s been downhill ever since.” Take a listen to their latest number for yourselves below. 

i: https://www.instagram.com/moss.side.sauna.club/

Willie J. Healey by AJ Stark

Following an impressive 18 months with the release of his acclaimed third studio album Bunny and recent single “The Apple”,  Willie J. Healey has excitedly unveiled a 5-date run across the UK. Taking in his biggest UK headline shows thus far, Willie J Healey returns this November ready to debut new material across iconic venues, including London’s Electric Ballroom. Tickets will go on general release a week from today on Friday 20th of June at 10:00AM from the link HERE. Fans can access a special pre-sale beginning 10AM on Wednesday, 18th June, by signing up to the mailing list HERE. Speaking on the upcoming tour, Willie J. Healey said: "I'm really excited to be visiting these cities in November and playing the biggest shows that I’ve played to date. I’ve got lots of new music and my aim is to be playing it for you all then. It’s a very exciting thought in my mind and I will be counting down the days." 

UK headline dates
Mon 10th Nov - Concorde 2, Brighton
Weds 12th Nov - Electric Ballroom, London
Thur 13th Nov - Project House, Leeds
Fri 14th Nov - New Century, Manchester
Sat 15th Nov - St Luke’s, Glasgow

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

Last night, Snow Patrol made an emotional return to Cardiff, delivering a spellbinding performance under a golden summer sky - and proving they had far more than just the hits up their sleeve. As the earlier rain clouds miraculously dissipated (because really, what’s a gig in Wales without the looming threat of a downpour?), the fading sun lit up the ancient stonework and the thousands of eager faces waiting within the castle walls.

Framed by medieval towers and surrounded by a sea of devoted fans, the iconic venue offered the perfect backdrop for a night that was equal parts nostalgic and celebratory. From the moment the band walked on stage, the adoration was palpable.

The reception was immediate with a thunderous swell of cheers that greeted a band who’ve long mastered the art of turning melancholy into something epic. From the first chorus, it was clear this would be a night of shared memories and collective catharsis.

The setlist moved fluidly between widescreen anthems and quieter, more introspective moments. Take Back the City surged with early-evening energy, while Chocolate brought a hush over the crowd, its lyrics landing with fresh emotional weight. Run transformed into a communal act of remembrance, every voice in the audience rising to match the band, chorus after chorus.

Between songs, Gary Lightbody was at his most disarmingly charming: self-deprecating, heartfelt, and completely at ease. "Yes, we’ll get to that one, don’t worry....it’s coming," he joked, responding to a fan already in tears at the thought of Chasing Cars."Would anyone like to hear a story?" he asked. After a smattering of cheers, he smiled. "Okay, I’ll tell it to the seven people who answered," before launching into the infamous tale of accidentally calling Hull Cardiff at a previous gig."They didn’t cheer that night," he added, to a roar of laughter from the real Cardiff crowd.

Thankfully, there were no such mishaps here.

Snow Patrol have always been a band that understands the value of quiet. In a musical era often defined by spectacle and noise, their strength remains in subtlety; the held breath, the patient crescendo, the lyric that lingers. And live, their sad, soaring indie ballads take on an entirely new dimension.

From the emotionally strung guitar lines of Heal Me to the euphoric final push of Just Say Yes, the band curated a set that spanned the full sweep of their career, not just greatest hits, but deep cuts and moments of emotional truth, delivered with total conviction.

Snow Patrol’s music has always been about moments from first dances, last goodbyes, long drives and quiet nights in. At Cardiff Castle, they delivered all of that and more, with poise, heart, and absolute clarity. Under the battlement shadows and golden skies, they offered a masterclass in emotional precision, reminding us that sometimes the most powerful thing a band can do is stand still and let the songs do the talking.

***** 

 

Photo credit: Martin

Having returned last month to announce No One Was Driving the Car, their first new album in six years, La Dispute have this week shared Environmental Catastrophe Film', an eight-minute composition that twists, turns and convulses its way towards its climatic finale. The new track follows Act One of the album, a three-song suite made up of 'I Shaved My Head', 'Man with Hands and Ankles Bound' and 'Autofiction Detail' — each a tense, poetic vignette, steeped in the band’s signature blend of spoken-word intimacy and post-hardcore catharsis. Speaking about 'Environmental Catastrophe Film', vocalist Jordan Dreyer offers:"the second act—more or less the thematic centre of the record—is a single song split into three parts. it begins with a boy beside a creek-bed in a wooded area near home, holding a snapping turtle above the flowing water, before tracing its winding path to the river around which the city was first built, and through a brief history of the city itself—its settlement, the creation of the christian reformed church, and the furniture industry that dominated its early economic growth" Take a listen for yourselves below. 

Tour dates: 
July 10th | Leeds, UK – Brudenell Social Club [sold out]
July 11th | Cheltenham, UK – 2000 Trees Festival
July 12th | Cheltenham, UK – 2000 Trees Festival
July 14th | Hannover, DE – MusikZentrum [sold out]
July 15th | Nürnberg, DE – Hirsch
July 16th | Karlsruhe, DE – Substage
July 18th | Cologne, DE – Open Stage Suedbruecke (w/ Enter Shikari) [sold out]
July 19th | Herk-de-Stad, BE – Rock Herk Festival
July 20th | Cuxhaven, DE – Deichbrand Festival
Sept 5th | Detroit, MI – St. Andrew's Hall
Sept 6th | Toronto, ON – Phoenix Concert Theatre
Sept 7th | Cleveland, OH – Grog Shop
Sept 8th | Pittsburgh, PA – Spirit Hall
Sept 10th | Boston, MA – Paradise Rock Club
Sept 11th | Brooklyn, NY – Warsaw
Sept 12th | Philadelphia, PA – Union Transfer
Sept 13th | Washington, DC – Howard Theater
Sept 14th | Charlotte, NC – Neighborhood Theatre
Sept 16th | Orlando, FL – The Beacham
Sept 17th | Atlanta, GA – Masquerade
Sept 18th | Nashville, TN – Basement East
Sept 19th | Columbus, OH – King of Clubs
Sept 20th | Indianapolis, IN – Deluxe at Old National Centre

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

Photo: Allan James Rogers

British/Greek singer, songwriter and producer Eleni Drake has recently returned with her brilliant new single Dolores. Through soft intricate guitar melodies and her soft, dream-like vocals, the track serves as another beautiful taste of what's to come through its stripped back construction. Speaking on the single, Eleni explains “Dolores actually means sorrow/pain - I wanted to name the song after the character from Westworld; Dolores begins as an innocent creation, but awakens to the harrowing truth of her existence. In her transformation, she becomes both the question and the answer, a symbol of the struggle for autonomy and the fragility of reality itself. It’s really about questioning if someone is how they present themselves, and realising they are not, and it is also about taking accountability in the demise of a relationship. I too make mistakes, often find myself at a crossroad, and trying to find the ‘right way’, but get it wrong.” Take a listen for yourselves below. 

Eleni Drake 2025 Tour Dates:
Nov 19 - Neon194 - London
Nov 20 - Yes - Manchester
Nov 21 - Hug & Pint - Glasgow
Dec 12 - The Curtin Hotel - Melbourne
Dec 13 - The Trocadero Room - Sydney

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

 

Photo: Emma Jones

Isle of Wight newcomer ugly ozo has this week shared the excitable new single Onto A Winner, a 2 minute 10 second cathartic expulsion of pure indulgence. Speaking ahead of its release, ugly ozo explained: "I wrote ‘onto a winner’ from the perspective of someone set on changing themselves to fit into someone else’s ideal. It’s about being in a constant pursuit of perfection, and the everlasting desire to alter and ‘better’ yourself as a woman. It was written at a time when my self esteem was super low, and I could feel how badly everything I was being fed online was affecting that. The glamorisation of 90’s thinness and TikTok proclaimed ‘heroin chic’, with new insecurities being created every day for women on social media, was really starting to play into how I felt about myself and my relationships with others day to day. I think it touches on themes that so many girls can relate to; it’s so dystopian and dark but done in a sarcastic lighthearted way that I think people remember it". Teaming with REX RECS, the new indie label founded by producer Macks Faulkronof REX Studio, a well known creative music hub for the underground scene in North London(Caroline Polachek, Confidence Man, Daniel Avery, Picture Parlour), ‘onto a winner’ marks the first reveal from their thrilling new partnership. Take a listen for yourselves below. 

Live Dates
13th June - REX RECS Label Launch -‘Secret Location’, London E2
14th Oct - Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth (w/ Wine Lips)

i: https://www.instagram.com/uglyozo 

Credit: Tom Pallant

Following on from last month's announcement of his 'up close and personal' tour this July to play songs off the album stripped, back giving fans an exciting opportunity to hear stories about how the songs were made, Yungblud has revealed dates for a UK arena tour in April 2026, featuring his biggest ever UK headline shows outside of Bludfest.  Fans who pre-ordered the album ‘Idols’ before 10am BST on Tuesday 10th June were able to register for pre-sale tickets, with general sale beginning on Friday 13th June at 10am BST.

The Idols UK & Ireland Tour will see the artist play a series of mammoth arena shows, starting off at Dublin’s 3Arena and culminating at Manchester's AO Arena. The tour, marking Yungblud’s first UK appearance following this summer’s Bludfest, will also include a stop at The O2 in London, and will include his biggest ever UK headline shows outside of Bludfest. Taking to social media to reveal details of the tour, Yungblud posted, I’m so excited to announce our biggest shows yet.

Support for the Idols UK & Ireland Tour comes from Mexico via Monterrey's The Warning.

The Idols UK &+ Ireland Tour dates are as follows:
15.04.26 Dublin, 3Arena
17.04.26 Leeds, First Direct Arena
18.04.26 Cardiff, Utilita Arena
20.04.26 Glasgow, OVO Hydro
23.04.26 Birmingham, Utilita Arena
24.04.26 London, The O2
25.04.26 Manchester, AO Arena 

On ‘Idols’, Yungblud explores the theme of hero-worship; how we look to others for validation, often putting others’ lives on a pedestal at the expense of the richness of our own experiences. Yungblud says, “We turn to others for an identity before turning to ourselves. Self-belief, self-reclamation, self-evolution and change. As we grow up, we lose our belief in magic and mystery. We begin to rationalise everything; our cage walls build up.” He added, “We compare ourselves to 15 different people before we’ve even had our breakfast”. Yungblud describes the album as, “A love letter to self-reclamation… to rock music… [and] to life; in all it’s f*cking madness.” 

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

credit Ren Faulkner

With their forthcoming self-titled LP due out July 18th via Brace Yourself Records, Panic Shack have returned with their brilliant new single Thelma & Louise. Written as an ode to friendships and the strong bond formed between others which has defined Panic Shack, the track's high energy and catchy choruses serve as another mighty fine taster of what's to come. Speaking about the track they go on to say: "'Thelma & Louise' is the first love song we’ve ever written (and will probably be the last). It's an ode to female friendships and how they're often more fulfilling than romantic relationships. We were inspired to write this song after watching the feminist masterpiece that is Thelma & Louise. It resonated with us so much because we're quite frankly obsessed with each other. There are a million songs about love interests and broken hearts and we thought it was about time we championed being in love with your best friends. Roll down the windows, crank up the volume and scream at the top of your lungs." Take a listen for yourselves below. 

Pre-order the album here: https://lnk.to/PanicShack-LP

Panic Shack - Panic Shack // 18/07/25 - Brace Yourself Records

1. Girl Band Starter Pack 2. Gok Wan 3. Lazy 4. Tit School 5. We Need To Talk About Dennis 6. Do Something 7. Personal Best 8. Pockets 9. Unhinged 10. SMELLARAT 11. Thelma & Louise

Tour dates: (newly announced dates in bold)

July 9th | Cheltenham, UK - 2000 Trees Festival
July 18th | Cardiff, UK - Sustainable Studios
July 19th | Bristol, UK - Rough Trade [matinee]
July 19th | Portishead, UK - Homestead Festival
July 20th | Nottingham, UK - Rough Trade
July 21st | Liverpool, UK - Jacaranda
July 22nd | Southampton, UK - Vinilo
July 23rd | London, UK - Rough Trade East
July 24th | Brighton, UK - Resident Records
Aug 1st | Derbyshire, UK - Y Not Festival
Aug 2nd | Somerset, UK - Outcider Festival
Aug 14th | Charleville-Mézières, FR - Cabaret Vert Festival
Aug 16th | Devon, UK - Beautiful Days Festival
Oct 9th | Margate, UK - Where Else
Oct 10th | Brighton, UK - Chalk
Oct 11th | Cambridge, UK - New Shiny Festival
Oct 12th | Bristol, UK - SWX
Oct 15th | Sheffield, UK - Foundry
Oct 16th | Manchester, UK - Academy 2
Oct 17th | Glasgow, UK - Garage
Oct 18th | Nottingham, UK - Rescue Rooms
Nov 6th | Reykjavik, IS - Iceland Airwaves Festival
Nov 15th | Leeds, UK - Live at Leeds in the City
Nov 19th | Antwerp, BE - Trix Bar
Nov 20th | Amsterdam, NL - Melkweg
Nov 21st | Hamburg, DE - Molotow
Nov 22nd | Cologne, DE - Yuca
Nov 24th | Berlin, DE - Lark
Nov 25th | Munich, DE - Orange House
Nov 28th | Paris, FR - Festival Les Femmes S'en Mêlent
Nov 30th | Madrid, ES - Wurlitzer
Dec 1st | Barcelona, ES - Upload
Dec 4th | London, UK - Electric Brixton
Dec 5th | Cardiff, UK - Tramshed

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