Alternative · Genres · Festivals & Gigs

Gig Review

February 21, 2026 at O2 Institute Birmingham

A triumphant homecoming from a truly special duo · There’s no place like home. And for Black Country duo Big Special, composed of vocalist Joe Hicklin and drummer Callum Moloney, tonight will have felt the sweetest.

By Ali Al Hashimi · February 23, 2026

Gig Review

Midlake

February 4, 2026 at Brudenell Social Club

Denton, Texas’ finest are getting better with age as they feel right at home on their UK tour

By Joe Sheerin · February 8, 2026

Gig Review

Only The Poets

February 2, 2026 at Brixton Academy

A monumental performance on a history-defining night · Sold out £1 Brixton gig offers glimpse of what’s to come for Reading band

By Ali Al Hashimi · February 4, 2026

Gig Review

Biffy Clyro

January 16, 2026 at Utilita Arena Birmingham

Scotland’s finest prove that they are only getting better · A little love and a whole load of arena-made anthems

By Ali Al Hashimi · January 21, 2026

Gig Review

Mumford & Sons

December 7, 2025 at Utilita Arena Birmingham

Riding the waves of the 2020s folk revival, the band soar to new heights

By Ali Al Hashimi · December 11, 2025

Gig Review

Westside Cowboy

November 19, 2025 at The Sunflower Lounge

You better believe the hype, because these are guys will be something great · Winners of the 2025 Glastonbury Emerging Talent Competition

By Ali Al Hashimi · November 21, 2025

Festival Review

Shiiine On Weekender 2025: Jesus and Mary Chain, Ash & Cast

Nov 14 – 16, 2025 at Butlin's Minehead Resort

Long-established Indoor Indie Music festival

By Jessica Jolly · November 20, 2025

Festival Review

Pitchfork London 2025: Destroyer

November 6, 2025 at Barbican Centre

Destroyer perform a life-infused set, supported by The Fiery Furnaces

By Dreams Burn Down · November 17, 2025

Festival Review

Live At Leeds In The City 2025

November 15, 2025

The most important festival in the country, and a really damn good festival at that.

By Ali Al Hashimi · November 17, 2025

Festival Review

Pitchfork London 2025: Laurie Anderson

November 8, 2025 at Roundhouse

Final night of fifth London edition · A musical journey through 20th century American literature

By my windows were stars · November 15, 2025

Festival Review

Mutations 2025

Nov 7 – 8, 2025 at Brighton

Brighton came to life for a weekend of eclectic music. · The city's last festival of the year showcased its incredible music scene.

By Caspar Motley · November 12, 2025

Gig Review

These New Puritans

November 7, 2025 at The White Hotel

A sonically perfect night of rare clarity · TNP and The White Hotel form a fitting pair on gloomy autumn evening

By Sanjay · November 9, 2025

Festival Review

End of the Road 2025

Aug 28 – 31, 2025 at Larmer Tree Gardens

Tropical Summer Ends in Glorious F-Storm · The beautifully set and adorned festival again offers the most interesting lineups and survives the downpours

By Jessica Jolly · September 5, 2025

Festival Review

All Points East 2025: Raye, FKA twigs, Tyla, JADE & Cat Burns

August 23, 2025 at Victoria Park

Supported by a majority-female lineup including JADE, Tyla, Cat Burns, and last-minute replacement FKA Twigs, RAYE’s sold-out All Points East day brought glitz, glamour and girl-power to London.

By Rap Fan · September 1, 2025

Festival Review

Rock en Seine 2025: Vampire Weekend, Mk.Gee & Khruangbin

Aug 20 – 24, 2025 at Domaine National de Saint-Cloud

Many people will read the words Vampire Weekend and instantly think 'A-Punk, 2008, Inbetweeners soundtrack landfill indie.' This label haunts them unjustly - in the near 20 years since their debut, they have aggressively courted positive reviews with the hard-to-please Pitchfork, won several Grammys, and had numerous albums debut at number 1 on the Billboard 200.

By Sheils · August 27, 2025

Festival Review

Green Man 2025

Aug 14 – 17, 2025 at Glanusk Estate

Something for everyone at a scorching edition of Wales' finest festival. · A music-loving community comes together every summer in Bannau Brycheiniog.

By Caspar Motley · August 24, 2025

Festival Review

We Out Here 2025

Aug 14 – 17, 2025 at Wimborne Saint Giles

Brownswood Recordings and We Organise Chaos are quietly putting together one of the country's best music festivals, pushing back against the commercialisation of live music events with vibrancy and warmth, and not enough people are talking about it.

By Leather · August 22, 2025

Gig Review

Khruangbin

August 15, 2025 at Gunnersbury Park

On a beautifully sunny Friday afternoon, we headed down to London’s Gunnersbury Park to see Khruangbin and returning 00s legends TV on the Radio.

By Johnny Tightlips · August 22, 2025

Gig Review

Fontaines D.C.

August 15, 2025 at Wythenshawe Park

They may not speak much, but these future Glastonbury headliners let their music do the talking.

By Ali Al Hashimi · August 20, 2025

Festival Review

South Facing 2025: Mogwai & Lankum

August 7, 2025 at Crystal Palace Bowl

A perfectly curated beginning to South Facing 2025

By Ema Barnes · August 11, 2025

Gig Review

Geordie Greep

July 23, 2025 at Chalk

Former Black Midi frontman's genius overshadowed by behaviour of oddly cultish fanbase · Geordie Greep headed to Brighton for the second time in his 'solo' career.

By Caspar Motley · July 31, 2025

Festival Review

Tramlines 2025: Pulp

July 25, 2025 at Hillsborough Park

Pulp lead cathartic hometown singalong.

By Johnny Tightlips · July 30, 2025

Festival Review

BST Hyde Park 2025: Noah Kahan, Gracie Abrams & FINNEAS

July 4, 2025 at Hyde Park

“There’s a few more than 77 here tonight”: Noah Kahan’s Hyde Park moment.

By Becca Ingram · July 9, 2025

Festival Review

Bearded Theory 2025

May 22 – 25, 2025 at Catton Park

The lineup is so good it's kinda weird. · Three days of the most exciting, diverse rock-based lineup on the calendar, and a day school where you can drop off your kids. Hard to believe this festival is real.

By Jessica Jolly · May 30, 2025

Gig Review

WU LYF

May 21, 2025 at The Horse Hospital

A New Life Is Coming · WU LYF’s messianic return to London after 13 years.

By my windows were stars · May 27, 2025

Gig Review

Sports Team

November 25, 2024 at Kentish Town Forum

Terrible mullets, tragic bootcuts, and an event you'd rather not admit you’ve attended to your loved ones — no, it's not the farmer's protest; it's Sports Team in Kentish Town.

By Cult Classic · November 30, 2024

Gig Review

ARXX

November 7, 2024 at The Fleece

“This is our last song,” said Hannah Pidduck, guitarist and powerful vocalist, hamming it up enormously for the appreciative Fleece crowd.

By Senator John Blutarsky · November 12, 2024