indie rock
Live Review: Pixies / Big Special – Leeds O2 Academy 19.05.2025
Pixies and Big Special rolled into Leeds, and it was a night of both contrasts at the O₂ Academy: a blistering, opening set from The Big Special, followed by a masterclass in enigmatic cool from the Pixies. The Big Special opened the night with a performance that was nothing short of brilliant. The duo—Joe Hicklin …
Live Review: Manic Street Preachers – Critical Thinking Tour, Manchester O2 Apollo, 2.5.2025
The Manic Street Preachers launched their much-anticipated ‘Critical Thinking’ tour with a sold-out show at Manchester’s O2 Apollo on May 2, 2025. Despite unforeseen delays due to a reported motorway fire and Glossop’s notorious traffic, which caused us to miss support act Honeyglaze, the evening unfolded into a triumphant celebration of the band’s enduring legacy. …
Premiere: Stream Darker Lighter’s massive self-titled debut album
We told you there was more to come from Los Angeles artist Salar Rajabnik, aka Darker Lighter, and here it is: his self-titled debut album. He’s worked with the likes of Kim Gordon and Queens of the Stone Age, picking up a few things along the way, and poured it all into a deeply personal …
Live Review: The K’s / CVC /Passion Parade – Octagon Theatre, Sheffield 25.04.2025
words: Jim F / pictures: Huw Williams, Jim F Last Friday night saw a sold-out Octagon Theatre absolutely bouncing as The K’s headlined a blistering triple bill that left Sheffield reeling. Riding a wave of momentum, the Earlestown quartet proved exactly why they’re one of the UK’s most talked-about live bands, delivering a riotous, passionate …
Meet: Ryan Breslin from The K’s on their Wild Ride, New Album, and Biggest Tour Yet
It’s been a whirlwind couple of years for The K’s. With their debut album I Wonder If the World Knows on the horizon and a huge UK and Ireland tour about to kick off, it feels like everything’s happening at once for the band. Speaking to Ryan Breslin, it’s clear they’re embracing the madness — …
Premiere: Adam Lytle presents the dark majesty of ‘Sister Wave’, new album out early May
Brooklyn’s Adam Lytle has levelled the hell up on his new record, it has to be said – nothing difficult about this second album, at least not in execution, as these songs were written while splitting his time between Paris and Arles last year. The follow-up to This is the Fire, Altars has been previewed …
News: The Preatures announce ‘Blue Planet Eyes’ 10th Anniversary Tour with 15 dates across Australia
Beloved Sydneyside indie rockers, The Preatures, are reuniting for a 15-date tour from June through to August to celebrate the 10th anniversary of their ground-breaking debut album, Blue Planet Eyes. The band will perform the album in its entirety, along with a collection of their much-loved hits, across major capital cities and regional centres throughout …
Premiere: Darker Lighter bursts through the clouds on soaring new single ‘Open Up, Sunshine’
He’s done the rounds as a guitar tech for the likes of Kim Gordon and Queens of the Stone Age, and clearly has been struck by inspiration – California’s Salar Rajabnik recently set out on a musical journey of his own. A little over six months ago, Rajabnik released his debut single as Darker Lighter, …
Premiere: ‘JFC’, this new Day Joy song is good; new album this year
Succinctly capturing the national mood with the title of their new single and the album it’s taken from, Austin-based band Day Joy (led by Michael Serrin) make it two singles in not even a month with ‘JFC’, which pairs up with last month’s ‘Parking Lot Astronautical’ as the first brace of singles from the band’s …
Album Review: Divorce – Drive to Goldenhammer; Indie Rock at its most adventurous and heartfelt
Since emerging in 2021, Nottingham’s Divorce have carved out a reputation for genre-defying indie rock, fusing elements of folk, country, chamber pop, and alt-rock into something entirely their own. Their debut album, Drive to Goldenhammer, is a testament to that restless creativity—a richly textured, emotionally charged collection of songs that explore transformation, belonging, and the …