As another festival season approaches, we take a look at some of the small stage sounds that you need to see this Summer. These are artists that are bound to blow up, so if you want to brag to your mates that ‘I saw them before they were massive’, this is the playlist for you. Enjoy!
Explosive and ferocious, Scottish outfit, ‘Dead Pony’ are relatively new to the scene but that doesn’t mean you won’t be belting out their battle-ready choruses after just one listen. Their new single, Bullet Farm is inspired by Mad Max and it’s not hard to see how. It exudes rebellious energy and gets your heart pumping. The band are performing at TRNSMT and Glastonbury this year and if you’re attending either, you really don’t want to miss them.
Like many bands, The UMA made the unfortunate decision to come together in 2019, perhaps the worst year in history to form a band. That being said, it has given them time to put their heads together and truly come up with a great sound. The UMA blend pop-rock with hard hitting riffs and aggressive vocals. Their new single, ‘Enemy’ gives off real Bring Me The Horizon vibes. Check them out if you get the chance.
Bronnie is a woman of many talents. Not only is she a highly respected podcaster and radio host in her own right, she also has an amazing career as an alt/rock artist that has seen her tour alongside such artists as Little Miz and Neck Deep to name just a few. Her new single, ‘Friendzone’ is an absolute banger that delivers pure pop-punk nostalgia.
Made up of The Vamps’ Connor Ball, and Croatian drummer, Sasa Macek, The Lunar Year are embarking on their first ever live shows later this month. The pair met online after Sasa watched Connor’s pop-punk covers on YouTube. Since then the pair jetted off to LA where they collaborated with rock legends such as Mark Hoppus and Matt Malpass to create some amazing new tunes that we’ll be hearing in the not so distant future. In the meantime, listen to their first few releases for an amazing pop-punk nostalgia blast.
Following on from the success of The Lathums, young indie 4 piece, ‘Stanleys’ are the latest in a line of talented rock bands to emerge from Wigan. If they have more tracks like, “A Better Life” in their locker, they’re sure to have a bright future ahead of them. Stanleys are confirmed to perform at Kendal Calling this year as well as Summer Fest in Blackburn.
Another growing star to come out of Scotland, Brooke Combe provides gorgeous soulful vocals over a hooky bassline on new single, ‘Miss Me Now’. The singer-songwriter blends Whitney Houston with Amy Mcdonald in a glorious harmony. After signing with Island Records last year, it’s fair to say that Brooke is going places so this Summer may be the last chance to catch her show on a small stage. She’s performing at Neighbourhood Weekender, Kendal Calling and TRNSMT festival this year.
Driving guitar riffs and pained vocals create a beautiful yet sorrowful story of a break-up in Oliver Keane’s new single 3am. Keane only brought out his first single last year but is already making waves in the music world. There’s certainly something Sam Fender-esque about his voice and performance. You can catch him at Neighbourhood Weekender and Sonic Wave Festival this Summer.
Manchester indie quartet, Corella have been teasing us with singles for the last few years, our favourite of which comes in the form of ‘Barcelona Girl’. They bring a refreshing blend of melodic hooks and multi-layered guitar riffs combined with relatable, catchy lyrics. Recently, the band have been supporting the likes of The Fratellis and The Snuts whilst working on their first E.P – Today, Tomorrow, Whenever – which comes out in August. Keep your eyes peeled on these lads who are surely about to take off.
It’s hard to pin down THE HARA to a specific genre. What you can guarantee is that they’ll deliver high energy and drama when they belt out their songs. Live performance is at the core of THE HARA’s sound and they have built a reputation for explosive shows over the last year or so. If you get a chance to see them, you really need to take it – these guys are going places.
Coach Party are an indie-rock four-piece from the Isle of White. They combine witty lyrics with unique and experimental guitar arrangements that really grab your attention. Their new single, Shit TV starts off with a Joy Division-esque bass riff and soon explodes into life. Like fellow Islanders ‘Wet Leg’, Coach Party are on course to blow up very soon. You can hear them live at Tramlines, Y-Not and Truck festival amongst many more this Summer.
