With a bold artistic vision, an all-star cast of collaborators and themes that stare directly into the uncertainty of modern life, Roxanne de Bastion is entering a striking new chapter. The London-based singer-songwriter has announced her third studio album, Here Lies Human, alongside the release of its powerful new single, Apocalypse Queen, produced by legendary David Bowie and T. Rex collaborator Tony Visconti.

Following the release of her deeply personal new album, Caro reflects on identity, vulnerability, artistic freedom and the journey from global success to genuine self-discovery. In this candid conversation, she discusses stripping away ego, embracing imperfection, challenging expectations around womanhood and finding the courage to say "I don't know".

For many musicians, the dream of making music has to coexist with the realities of everyday life, and Yorkshire indie outfit Mini Disc wear that balancing act as a badge of honour. Describing themselves as a "quarter-life crisis indie rock band", they combine heartfelt songwriting, sharp humour and a healthy dose of workplace satire to create something both relatable and refreshingly honest. Ahead of the release of their new single Whale Song, we caught up with frontman Charles to discuss the band's origins, musical influences, corporate culture, dream festival line-ups and how a discontinued 1990s audio format became one of indie music's most charming new names.

Fresh from the release of his acclaimed second album if i don't love you, who will ?, South London's genre-defying force Master Peace has announced a major UK and European headline tour for 2027. The run will see one of the UK's most exciting young artists take his vibrant, emotionally charged new record directly to audiences across the continent, building on a remarkable period of momentum that has firmly established him as a rising star of modern alternative music.

Some bands arrive with a carefully constructed image. Others evolve organically through years of shared experiences, changing line-ups and a determination to let the music lead the way. Brisbane outfit Scandal Tree firmly belong in the latter camp. Fronted by a collective of musicians whose influences and backgrounds are embraced rather than constrained, the band have built a reputation for crafting songs that are as unpredictable as they are distinctive. Their latest album, Never Look a Gift Foot in the Mouth, takes listeners on a darkly entertaining journey through betrayal, obsession, deception and redemption, all wrapped in what drummer and founder Dano affectionately describes as "Tarantino garage rock".

Fresh from sharing soundtrack space with some of the biggest names in contemporary music, Micko & The Mellotronics return with a new anthem that wears its heart firmly on its sleeve. Viva La Underdog, released on 16 October, is a vibrant slice of power-pop that manages to be uplifting, reflective and quietly profound all at once.

As Pop Will Eat Itself prepare to return to SHIIINE ON, Adam mole reflects on four decades of reinvention, creative risk and refusal to follow convention. From the grebo explosion and sampling culture to PWEI.40 and beyond, this candid conversation celebrates a band that has always thrived on unpredictability.

Ahead of their return to SHIIINE ON Festival in Minehead this November, The Soup Dragons frontman Sean Dickson reflects on a journey that has taken him from Bellshill rehearsal rooms and John Peel sessions to festival stages packed with multiple generations of fans. Warm, passionate and refreshingly candid, Sean looks back on lifelong friendships, creative breakthroughs, the misconceptions that still surround Lovegod, and the enduring spirit of freedom that continues to define The Soup Dragons more than four decades after they first emerged.

It takes a special kind of artist to fill a room with music lovers, curious theatre-goers and television fans in equal measure, but Damian Lewis managed exactly that at Exeter Phoenix. While many arrived keen to catch a glimpse of the acclaimed actor up close, they left having witnessed a genuinely accomplished musician fronting a band packed with groove, swagger and classic songwriting nous. Before that, however, local favourites Sound of the Sirens reminded everyone exactly why they remain one of Devon's most cherished live acts.

There’s a certain magic that happens when experienced musicians stop chasing trends and simply focus on writing great songs. On their second album, Funny Cos It’s True, Everyone Says Hi have done exactly that. The result is a record rich in melody, emotion and lived experience, one that feels both timeless and refreshingly human.

There are albums that reflect the world around them, and there are albums that challenge listeners to confront it. With The Great Shakedown, North Shields folk-modernists Hector Gannet appear determined to do both. Arriving on 23 October via Guga Records, the band's third studio album is an expansive and deeply rooted collection that blends community storytelling, political reflection and stirring musical ambition into what may be their most significant work yet.

From late-night temptation to morning-after reflection, The Howlers return with a record that captures the thrill, danger and consequence of living in the moment. Following a breakthrough debut and an intense period of reinvention, Heavy signals a bold new chapter for one of the UK's most exciting modern rock bands.

For many, Northside remain one of the great "what if?" stories of the Madchester era. A band whose infectious blend of psychedelic guitars, acid house rhythms and effortless Northern swagger captured a moment in British music history before circumstances conspired to cut their story short. Now, more than three decades later, they're back with unfinished business.

For years, The Rosadocs have been steadily building something special in Sheffield. Through packed grassroots venues, relentless touring and an ever-growing catalogue of emotionally charged indie anthems, the four-piece have earned their reputation the hard way. Now, with a major record deal secured, a debut album taking shape and an extensive UK tour on the horizon, the band stand poised at the beginning of what could be their most significant chapter yet.

There is an infectious energy about Talon that jumps from every answer they give. Whether they are reminiscing about Battle of the Bands glory, celebrating chaotic summer tour memories, debating dream festival line-ups or sharing stories of pre-show Secret Santas, the band's chemistry is impossible to miss. Built on friendship, humour and a shared love of making noise, Talon are carving out their own space with sharp instincts, unapologetic swagger and a growing catalogue of music that refuses to stand still.

Few debut albums arrive with the force, confidence and cultural timing of 1977. When Ash released their first full-length record in 1996, Tim Wheeler, Mark Hamilton and Rick McMurray were barely out of school, yet somehow possessed the knack for writing songs that felt both reckless and meticulously crafted. In the midst of Britpop's swaggering peak, the Northern Irish trio carved out their own lane, blending punk energy, power-pop melodies and sci-fi imagination into a record that felt refreshingly detached from the laddish cool dominating the era.

As festival season increasingly becomes a battle between nostalgia and discovery, Stockton Calling continues to thrive by striking a careful balance between the two. The first names announced for the festival's 2027 return suggest organisers are once again leaning into what has made the event one of the North East's most respected grassroots music gatherings: pairing established crowd favourites with artists whose ascent feels unstoppable.

Record Store Day Black Friday 2026 takes place on Friday 27 November, with exclusive titles available from participating independent record stores across the UK and Ireland from 8am.

The boat that rocks (Thekla) played host to Violet Grohl as she celebrated her debut album, Be Sweet to Me, with her first Bristol headline show. Having already sold out several grassroots venues across the UK, anticipation was understandably high.

Independent musicians releasing music between gigs and day jobs often feel the same pinch: online presence growth seems to demand constant output, yet every post can feel like shouting into the void. The core tension is staying visible without burning out or slipping into content that doesn’t sound like the artist behind the songs. With the right mindset around consistency in content, clearer storytelling, and creative engagement strategies, digital music marketing becomes less of a grind and more of a repeatable practice. Momentum comes from building trust, not chasing noise.