Man/Woman/Chainsaw - The Globe Cardiff

An unseasonably hot start to October had The Globe feeling more like the middle of June than autumn, and by the time the evening's support Uncle Junior took to the stage, the sweat had already built. Making their first appearance in Wales, the band delivered a short but snappy set built around the contrast between intense, all-out thrashing guitars and softer, more palatable vocals. With only a recently released debut single under their belt, the experimental, grunge-leaning outfit already showed plenty of promise, weaving heavy riffs and unpredictable melodies into a sound that felt ready to grow. Hopefully, this wouldn’t be their last trip across the border.

As the crowd now began to pack into the sold-out venue, it was clear that Man/Woman/Chainsaw's capacity show at last year’s Sŵn Festival had been more than just an indication of things to come. With a critically acclaimed debut album in tow, they returned to the Welsh capital for an even bigger and more ambitious headline performance.

As 50 Cent’s ‘In Da Club’ pumped through the speakers, the band weaved their way through the crowd and onto the stage before launching straight into Only Girl. From there, there was little let-up. Conversation between songs was kept to a minimum and there was barely time to catch a breath as they rattled through material from their recently released album, ‘Cannonball’, with a fierce, restless energy.

The Thing and Canyons came next in quick succession, keeping the momentum high with restless arrangements that came with a constant sense of movement. Yet for all the band’s heavier moments, there was an impressive delicacy to their songwriting too, as they shifted from subdued to full-throttle in a flick of the wrist (pun not intended).

That balance came through again on Still Angry, where its raw, cutting lyrics added a more exposed edge to the band’s otherwise frenetic sound. Something Else to Give followed later with another shift in tone, further highlighting the breadth of Cannonball without ever disrupting the set’s rhythm. By this point, I was making full use of every occasional gush of air from the handheld fan being waved by the person in front, with the heat inside The Globe doing little to dampen the intensity on stage. 

As the set neared its end, there were still some big hitters up their sleeve. Ode To Clio came first, its jagged guitars and jittery melodies giving way to violin strings that elevated the track to a whole new level. Nosedive then brought everything crashing together for a suitably chaotic finale, as the band urged the crowd forward to jump in unison. There was even a chainsaw bubble gun and added cowbell for extra measure. 

Playing their debut album in its entirety alongside a handful of extras, Man/Woman/Chainsaw brought a welcome unpredictability to their live show. Their unconventional approach and restless energy made for a set that felt refreshingly different, with every shift in pace and texture delivering new twists and turns to an already expansive sound. By the time they left the stage, it was clear that 'Cannonball' is just the gateway to their unequivocally unique world.

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

With 15 songs packed into barely an hour, Man/Woman/Chainsaw leave little room for anything unnecessary. They let the songs carry the weight, building an hour that feels both tightly controlled and completely unrestrained by the time 

With 15 songs packed into barely an hour, Man/Woman/Chainsaw leave little room for anything unnecessary. They let the songs carry the weight, building an hour that feels both tightly controlled and completely unrestrained by the time 

With 15 songs packed into barely an hour, Man/Woman/Chainsaw leave little room for anything unnecessary. They let the songs carry the weight, building an hour that feels both tightly controlled and completely unrestrained by the time 

With 15 songs packed into barely an hour, Man/Woman/Chainsaw leave little room for anything unnecessary. They let the songs carry the weight, building an hour that feels both tightly controlled and completely unrestrained by the time 

Manchester alt-pop five-piece Marie Franc have shared their lofty new single ‘Wildfires’. Built around chiming guitar melodies and a towering vocal delivery, the track’s ethereal sound offers another tantalising glimpse of what’s to come. Speaking about the track in more detail singer Rachel Maria Francesca, says, “’Wildfires’ arrived at a time when the world felt like it was on fire this summer, and that feeling somehow found its way into the song. It is about desire, but also the beauty of impermanence, and the fact that love, like life, is transient. There’s something strangely beautiful about knowing that the people and moments we love  won’t last forever. To feel tenderness is to make yourself vulnerable to its loss, but perhaps we’re all lucky to know that pain at all.” Take a listen below. 

The band will be performing at Beyond The Music festival in October, with a set as part of Chris Hawkins’ Awesome Friends stage on Thursday 8 th October. 

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

Photo Credit: Gary Walker

The Bracknall have today released their brand-new EP Waiting For The Lights To Change, completed by their latest single Got What We Came Here For. Built on layers of soaring guitars and an undeniable melodic pull, the track finds its sweet spot between expansive indie rock and effortless songwriting. “I often say that there are singing bands and there are dancing bands,” says Jack. “We’re a singing band and this song reflects that, building the mood with soaring atmospherics. Lyrically it covers the hard road we’ve travelled, juggling day jobs and 2am finishes in the rehearsal room, now to be rewarded with these gigs and amazing fans. We couldn’t have imagined this two or three years ago.” Take a listen below, the full EP is available now.  

Live Dates
Mon 9 November 2026: Aberdeen, Music Hall w/Embrace
Tue 10 November 2026: Glasgow, Barrowland w/Embrace
Thu 19 November 2026: Bristol, Exchange
Fri 20 November 2026: Leeds, Brudenell Social Club
Sat 21 November 2026: Gorilla, Manchester
Sun 22 November 2026: Cambridge, Corn Exchange, w/Embrace
Tue 24 November 2026: Margate, Dreamland w/Embrace
Wed 25 November 2026: Nottingham, Metronome,
Thu 26 November 2026: Newcastle, The Cluny
Fri 27 November 2026: Liverpool, Arts Club
Sat 28 November 2026: Sheffield, Foundry
Fri 4 December 2026: London, KOKO

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

Photo credit / Taisei Sunakwa

Irish-based four-piece Bleech 9:3 today announce their biggest headline tour to date, including a stop at London's O2 Kentish Town Forum. The news comes alongside the band sharing the title of their forthcoming, and highly anticipated debut album, Bleed, with their latest single Tourniquet heading up the announcement. Already a live favourite, the track's propulsive energy and towering wall of sound give us an exciting taste of what's to come. Tourniquet is produced by Dan Carey (Fontaines D.C., Wet Leg) & mixed by Rich Costey (Bruce Springsteen, Arctic Monkeys). Take a listen below along with a full list of tour dates. A limited edition version of the album is available until Tuesday 6th October via the band's store https://bleech93.lnk.to/store 

Tour Dates

November 2026
7th – Iceland Airwaves, Reykjavik, IS
27th – Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff (SOLD OUT)
28th – Joiners, Southampton (SOLD OUT)
30th – Rescue Rooms, Nottingham (SOLD OUT)

December 2026
1st – Electric Ballroom, London (SOLD OUT)
3rd – Thekla, Bristol (SOLD OUT)
4th – Academy 2, Manchester (SOLD OUT)
5th – Arts Club Theatre, Liverpool (SOLD OUT)
6th – Foundry, Sheffield (SOLD OUT)
8th – Cluny, Newcastle (SOLD OUT)
9th – The Garage, Glasgow (SOLD OUT)
10th – Brudenell Social Club, Leeds (SOLD OUT)
11th – O2 Institute 2, Birmingham (SOLD OUT)
15th – Limelight 2, Belfast (SOLD OUT)
16th – Academy, Dublin (SOLD OUT)
17th – Cyprus Ave, Cork (SOLD OUT)

NEWLY ANNOUNCED

January 2027
14th - Eurosonic, NL
15th - Trix, Antwerp, Bel
21st – Mercury Lounge, New York, NY, USA

February 2027
3rd – The Echo, Los Angeles, CA, USA
12th - Laneway, Sydney, Aus
13th - Laneway, Gold Coast, Aus
19th - Laneway, Melbourne, Aus
21st - Laneway, Auckland, Aus

April 2027
21st – Chalk, Brighton, UK
22nd – Tramshed, Cardiff, UK
23rd – Academy, Liverpool, UK
25th – Olympia, Dublin, Ireland
26th – Limelight, Belfast, UK
28th – SWG3, Glasgow, UK
29th – Queens Hall, Edinburgh, UK
30th – Boiler Shop, Newcastle, UK

May 2027
2nd – O₂ Ritz, Manchester, UK
4th – Stylus, Leeds, UK
5th – O₂ Academy, Bristol, UK
6th – O₂ Academy, Oxford, UK
8th – O₂ Institute, Birmingham, UK
9th – 1865, Southampton, UK
11th – Junction, Cambridge, UK
12th – O₂ Kentish Town Forum, London, UK
18th – Trabendo, Paris, France
20th – Paradiso, Amsterdam, Netherlands
22nd – Lido, Berlin, Germany

i: https://www.instagram.com/bleech_9.3

Photo credit: Alex Saylin

Glaswegian singer, songwriter and producer Joesef has returned this week revealing his new single Separate. Produced by Barney Lister (Joy Crookes, Olivia Dean, Obongjayar) and Joesef, the track leaves behind guitars, in return for pulsating synths and smoky dance floor ready basslines, giving us an exciting taste of this latest era. Sharing more about the track he goes on to say, "Separate is about a specific experience where I knew it was probably the last time I'd ever see someone. It’s a strange feeling trying to imagine your life without somebody, who at one point, you couldn't imagine living without. The first verse reflects the initial grief of the loss, while the second is the imminent feeling of anger and rejection." Take a listen below. 

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

Blossoms have always understood the value of a good hook. Across five albums, the Stockport band have built a world where shimmering guitars, synths and Tom Ogden’s unmistakable vocals can turn even the most ordinary moments into something worth singing about. On Songs From The Wedding Cake, they take that idea further, finding romance in the mundane and humour in the realities of growing older. It’s a lively, disco-centric record that finds the band loosening the ties of their familiar indie sound, without losing sight of what makes them so irresistible.

Their sixth album arrives ten years after their self-titled debut, but there's little sense of a band looking backwards. Instead, it feels like a continuation of the playful songwriting that emerged more prominently on 2024’s Gary, only now viewed through a more domestic lens. The album’s title comes from Stockport Town Hall, where Ogden got married, and its songs are filled with the small details that come with relationships, marriage and everyday life.

Setting the tone, opener Joke About Divorce grows from an infectious bassline, sharp guitar and a chorus that's almost impossible not to join in with. Quintessential Blossoms pop if you will. Rick Astley’s appearance, repeating the song’s central warning, only adds to the sense that the band are having fun with their own premise.

Husband and Meet Me In Love follow with a softer touch, while The Kardashians brings another dose of pop-perfected songwriting. Elsewhere, Additional Driver, featuring Declan McKenna, provides the album’s biggest change of pace, opening with police sirens before settling into a loose, bass-heavy groove.

Guts and Uma Thurman then bring about one of the album’s most enjoyable moments. The former opens with a simple acoustic guitar melody and repeated vocal ‘oohs’ before dropping into a soaring, infectious chorus. The arrangement is deliberately uncomplicated, allowing the chorus to do the heavy lifting when it arrives. It is one of those Blossoms songs that feels immediate from the first listen, built around the kind of refrain that could easily become a live favourite.

Uma Thurman heads in the opposite direction. With its disco-inspired groove, sharp 80's synth stabs and Ogden’s pin-point vocal delivery, it is one of the album’s more polished moments. The band have flirted with danceable sounds throughout their career, but here the influence feels particularly natural, with the rhythm section and synths giving the song a propulsive energy while Ogden remains precise at its centre. An almost natural progression from Gary's 'Nightclub'. 

Where Have You Been My Whole Life? then brings the focus back towards the album’s central theme of finding and holding onto love, before The Deep End closes the record with a reflective six-minute finale. Its metaphor of falling into the unknown of love is more straightforward than some of the album’s earlier observations. Its extended instrumental section gives the guitars room to breathe, providing a slow-burn conclusion to an album that spends much of its running time chasing big hooks.

For all the humour, there is a genuine sense of affection running through Songs From The Wedding Cake. Blossoms aren’t trying to turn marriage into something grand or overly sentimental. Instead, they find their material in the small details around it, whether that’s the anxiety behind Joke About Divorce, the simplicity of Husband or the straightforward devotion of Meet Me In Love.

A decade on from their debut, Blossoms still know exactly how to write a chorus. What has changed is the freedom around them. Songs From The Wedding Cake feels less concerned with fitting neatly into the indie-pop world the band helped establish for themselves, and more interested in seeing how far they can push it.

***** 

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

credit: Cole Flynn Quirke @deconstructing_paradise

London-via-Paris newcomers Spanish Horses have revealed details of their debut EP, Small Notions, out 27th November via So Young Records. The news coincides with the band’s second single ‘Some People’ offering another glimpse into their kaleidoscopic world where dazzling guitars, fuzzy synths and an infectious knack for songwriting collide. “Small Notions was written to manifest change in our lives, as a means to jump forward and break out,” frontman Tom Onezime says. “The songs were written shortly before the studio sessions, creating an urgency to the sound and a fragility that we really value. Small Notions is a product of ambition, sincerity and simplicity that we hope will reach the entire world.” Take a listen to their new single below. 

 

Catch Spanish Horses live
09.10 MOTH Club, London *
10.10 Tenement Trail, Glasgow
17.10 SWN Festival, Cardiff
19.10 surprise show, London 
20.10 Botanique, Brussels ^
21.10 Les Etoiles, Paris ^
22.10 Sebright Arms, Londo23.10 Left of the Dial Festival, Rotterdam
24.10 Left of the Dial Festival, Rotterdam
25.10 Artheater, Cologne ^
27.10 Badehaus, Berlin ^
28.10 Turmzimmer, Hamburg
29.10 Ekko, Utrecht ^
05.11 O2 Institute, Birmingham ^
12.11 Shacklewell Arms, London [The Great Escape First Fifty]
27.11 O2 Academy, Oxford ^

*w/ Black Market Karma
^w/ The Guest List 

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

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Photo credit: Emma Toma

Ahead of the release of their second album Cancel Me (I’m Tired), out this Friday October 2nd, Fat Dog enlist the help of a Kim Jong Un impersonator in their latest video as they unveil their final taster, Heart of Darkness. Directed by Ralph Fuller, the clip sees a drunken karaoke session turn cut-throat, as the track’s pulsating melodies and swirling synth notes draw us further into its mesmerising charm. Tomorrow night, Fat Dog will host an album release eve party at London’s Dash the Henge before they dive into an onslaught of instore shows including Kingston’s Circuit on Friday, Rough Trade Bristol on Saturday and London’s Rough Trade East on Sunday. Additionally, the band have confirmed a 2027 UK including dates in Edinburgh, Newcastle, Oxford and Southampton. Take a listen to Heart of Darkness below, along with a full tour list. 

Instore/outstore tour
Thurs 1st Oct – Dash The Henge, London (no live performance)
Fri 2nd October – Kingston @ Circuit (via Banquet) – sold out
Sat 3rd October – Bristol @ Rough Trade Bristol – matinee - sold out
Sat 3rd October – Bristol @ Rough Trade Bristol – sold out
Sun 4th October – London @ Rough Trade East – matinee - sold out
Sun 4th October – London @ Rough Trade East – sold out
Mon 5th October – Sheffield @ Foundry (via Bear Tree)
Tues 6th October – Nottingham @ Rough Trade Nottingham – matinee
Tues 6th October – Nottingham @ Rough Trade Nottingham – sold out
Wed 7th October – Liverpool @ Rough Trade Liverpool - matinee
Wed 7th October – Liverpool @ Rough Trade Liverpool – sold out
Thurs 8th October – Edinburgh @ Cab Voltaire (via Assai) – sold out
Fri 9th October – Newcastle @ HMV Newcastle
Fri 13th November – The Welly, Hull (via Crash)
Sun 15th November - O2 Academy2, Leicester (via Truck)
Mon 16th November - MK11, Milton Keynes (via Truck)
Tues 17th November - Olby’s, Margate (via Vinyl Store Jr)
Sun 22nd November - The Depot, Plymouth (via Rough Trade)
Fri 27th November – Jumbo, Leeds – stripped back matinee
Sat 28th November – Assai, Glasgow – stripped back matinee 

Upcoming live dates
Thurs 15th October - Galileo Galilei, Madrid, ES – sold out
Sat 17th October - Varias Salas, Barcelona ES
Fri 23rd October – Mutations Festival, Brighton, UK
Sat 24th October – O2 Academy Brixton, London, UK
Wed 28th October - Doornroosje, Nijmegen, NL
Thu 29th October – De Roma, Antwerp, BE
Fri 30th October – Tivoli, Utrecht, NL – sold out
Sat 31st October – Elysee Montmarte, Paris, FR

Mon 1st November – Stereolux, Nantes FR – sold out
Tue 3rd November – Le Grand Mix, Tourcoing, FR
Wed 4th November – Die Kantine, Cologne, DE
Fri 6th November – Festsaal Kreuzberg, Berlin, DE
Sat 7th November – Loppen, Copenhagen, DK – sold out
Sat 14th November – Victoria Warehouse, Manchester, UK
Wed 18th November – Whelans, Dublin, IE – sold out
Thu 19th November – Whelans, Dublin, IE – sold out
Fri 20th November - Limelight, Belfast, UK
Tue 24th November – Depot, Cardiff, UK
Wed 25th November – O2 Academy, Bristol, UK
Thu 26th November – O2 Institute, Birmingham, UK
Fri 27th November – O2 Academy, Leeds, UK
Sat 28th November – Old Fruitmarket, Glasgow, UK

Thu 3rd December – Rock City, Nottingham, UK
Thurs 10th December – Crowbar, Brisbane, AU
Fri 11th December – Meredith Music Festival, Meredith, AU
Sat 12th December – 170 Russell, Melbourne, AU
Sun 13th December – Metro Theatre, Sydney, AU
Tues 15th December – The Rechabite, Perth, AU

Wed 27th January – Lemon Grove, Exeter, UK
Thurs 28th January – The Nick Rayns LCR, Norwich, UK
Sat 30th January – O2 Academy, Oxford, UK
Sun 31st January – Cambridge Junction, Cambridge, UK
Tues 2nd February – The Trades Club, Hebden Bridge, UK – sold out
Wed 3rd February – Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh, UK
Thurs 4th February – NX, Newcastle, UK
Fri 5th February – Electric Studios, Sheffield, UK
Sat 6th February – Engine Rooms, Southampton, UK

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

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credit: Jacob Crow

London 4-piece Saint Clair have this week returned with their first new music since July’s debut EP, Something To Be Said, unveiling their elevated new effort, ‘Dreams’. A prominent fixture in their live sets, the track’s towering choruses and rousing instrumentation deliver another exhilarating showcase of the band’s expansive sound. “‘Dreams’ somehow feels more relevant to Saint Clair now than ever,” Toby says of the single. “It is a reflection on that period of time and the person who I was; a song that takes me back to the bedroom I grew up in. Music became my outlet, and ‘Dreams’ is our homage to that.” Take a listen below.  

This October will see Saint Clair embark on a sold out headline tour in support of Something To Be Said; featuring stops in Bristol, Southampton, Birmingham, Leeds, Glasgow, Liverpool and London’s George Tavern.

Catch Saint Clair live 
12th Oct .. Louisiana, Bristol SOLD OUT
13th Oct .. Heartbreakers, Southampton SOLD OUT
14th Oct .. The George Tavern, London SOLD OUT
16th Oct .. Sunflower Lounge, Birmingham SOLD OUT
17th Oct .. Neighbourhood Festival, Manchester
18th Oct .. Oporto, Leeds SOLD OUT
20th Oct .. McChuills, Glasgow SOLD OUT
21st Oct .. Jacaranda, Liverpool SOLD OUT

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

Photo credit Yana Van Nuffel

Continuing her pop-perfected return, Rachel Chinouriri has today unveiled her propulsive new single, Broken chair. Taken from her much-anticipated second album, I think I spoke too soon, due for release on Friday 16th October 2026 via Atlas Artists / Parlophone Records, the track opens with an arpeggiated synth line before revealing its pulsating dance-floor ready beat. The song was written in Los Angeles alongside friend and fellow musician Lucy Dacus, of which Rachel shares of their time working together: “I started having these realisations about drinking and partying and all these things and she almost reassured me that I am more than enough just being who I am and what I want to be.” Take a listen below. 

I think I spoke too soon tracklist
One song away from crying
Pretty girls
Baby steps
Favourite desperation
I’m a star
AAAHHH!!!
Broken chair
Shiver
Make believe
Parasite
The good fight
Crash this car

Rachel Chinouriri live
2026
3rd October – Nothing But Love @ Jazz Café, London UK
19th October – Oran Mor (Assai Records), Glasgow, UK ^
20th October - Wardrobe (Crash Records), Leeds, UK ^
23rd October – Jacaranda Baltic (Jacaranda), Liverpool, UK ^
24th October – Trinity Centre (Rough Trade), Bristol, UK ^
26th October – O2 Academy 2 (Truck), Birmingham, UK ^
27th October – Circuit (Banquet Records), London, UK ^
2nd December – Ball Arena, Denver, CO*
3rd December – Ball Arena, Denver, CO*
6th December – Oakland Arena, Oakland, CA*
7th December – Oakland Arena, Oakland, CA*
9th December – Desert Diamond Arena, Glendale, AZ*
10th December – Desert Diamond Arena, Glendale, AZ*
14th December – Kia Forum, Inglewood, CA*

2027
23rd – 24th January – Lollapalooza India, Mumbai, IN
16th February – Enmore Theatre, Sydney, AU
17th February – 170 Russell, Melbourne, AU

*w/ Gracie Abrams
^ instore/outstore tour dates

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