Powerful, energetic, and deafeningly loud, The Lathums bring indie party to SWX 

SWX, Bristol, 25th March 2025 Packed tightly into SWX like a can of sardines, the room is swelteringly hot and the excitement is palpable as lively chatter ripples throughout the audience. Following an invigorating, sax-infused warm up by Silvertwin, the crowd are desperate for The Lathums to make their anticipated on-stage appearance. From the momentContinue reading “Powerful, energetic, and deafeningly loud, The Lathums bring indie party to SWX “

State Champs live review: proving their pop-punk reign is stronger than ever

O2 Institute Birmingham, 26th Februrary 2025 If there’s one thing State Champs can do, it’s deliver an exemplary pop-punk show. So when the lights in Birmingham’s O2 Institute dim and a thumping, building instrumental track blasts from the speakers, the cheer that erupts from the crowd is nothing short of deafening. The members walk outContinue reading “State Champs live review: proving their pop-punk reign is stronger than ever”

“None of this will matter when I’m 38”: The Manatees on Submarine, playing live, and ‘Without You’

In the last few years, Southampton-based band The Manatees have steadily built a reputation in the indie rock scene, selling out shows at London’s The Camden Assembly, embarking on a headline tour, and even performing on Made in Chelsea. Now, the five-piece – consisting of Jay, Tyler, Miller, Issy, and Joe – are back withContinue reading ““None of this will matter when I’m 38”: The Manatees on Submarine, playing live, and ‘Without You’”

Open Wide review: Inhaler’s muddled foray into pop

Inhaler have a very characteristic sound, and it only takes listening to a few songs from their first two albums, It Won’t Always Be Like This (2021) and Cuts and Bruises (2023), to notice this. Two albums and several big tours and support slots later (Harry Styles, Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, Arctic Monkeys, etc.)Continue reading “Open Wide review: Inhaler’s muddled foray into pop”

The Kawala Collection review: A triumphant curtain call for the indie pop group

Late in 2024, tropical indie outfit Kawala announced that their February 2025 tour would actually be their farewell tour. But before the tour kicks off, the band dropped The Kawala Collection, a final body of work bringing together all the music they’d released over 2024, plus a few new tracks. The album is a triumphantContinue reading “The Kawala Collection review: A triumphant curtain call for the indie pop group”

Remi Wolf’s show at the O2 Academy Brixton proves she’s full of Big Ideas

O2 Academy Brixton, 5th December 2024 It’s not often that an upcoming artist makes a mark bold enough to rival that of mainstream legends, but Remi Wolf proves she’s one to watch and keep on all your feel-good playlists. Blending pop, funk, disco and rock, her release of Big Ideas transformed her from being aContinue reading “Remi Wolf’s show at the O2 Academy Brixton proves she’s full of Big Ideas”

Sports Team live review: bizarre and a whole lot of fun

O2 Forum Kentish Town, 25th November 2024 If there’s one thing Sports Team fans have come to expect from them, it’s the unexpected. From printing fans’ tweets on t-shirts to reposting snarky comments about them on social media to asking fans to go to their afterparties dressed like Jeremy Clarkson, there’s very little Sports TeamContinue reading “Sports Team live review: bizarre and a whole lot of fun”

The Story So Far Oxford review: therapeutic headbanging makes for a cathartic night out

O2 Academy Oxford, 25th October 2024 Nearly 20 years into their career, California-based The Story So Far show no signs of slowing down. Having just released their terrific fifth album, I Want to Disappear, this last June, and having supported pop-punk giants Blink-182 on tour, there was nothing left to do but embark on theirContinue reading “The Story So Far Oxford review: therapeutic headbanging makes for a cathartic night out”

The Story So Far Bristol live review: Californian pop-punkers rip the venue like it’s their second home

O2 Academy Bristol, 24th October 2024 A few months out of the release of their latest album, The Story So Far return to Bristol for a triumphant headline show celebrating the release of I Want To Disappear. Here, they’re headlining the O2 Academy for the first time in their career after playing it once beforeContinue reading “The Story So Far Bristol live review: Californian pop-punkers rip the venue like it’s their second home”