The Indie Scene

May it be artists you already know and love that are gearing up to release a much anticipated album, an artist you've yet to delve into but have heard plenty about, or an artist whom you have never heard of before, this list should - and hopefully will - be an accumulation of the sorts.  This past year has been, well, a shit one and it's only getting worse as 2021 gets into full flow. Throughout the dark, dreary and lonesome days of 2020 there has been one constant, and that is the music we have been treated to in light of such a devastating time. With some spectacular albums from many different artists, to comebacks, and to albums that provided us with some light-hearted entertainment, it leaves a lot for 2021 to live up to. With the recent dismissal of the arts from the Government (obviously, the Tories have never consumed a bit of media in their life and, when Matt Hancock said he listened to Grime , that was clearly nothing but a fabrication) and the recent Brexit revelatio...

The Seamonsters  are a five-piece indie-pop band hailing from the north, consisting of Naomi Mann, Lauren Smith, Holly Thompson, Tassie Drobinksi and Ciara Hurding. There's no denying that they have been going from strength to strength throughout the last year. If they didn't already assert themselves as 'ones to watch' when they released single 'Blue Movie Baby' then 'How To Be Famous' takes them up a notch to indie icons in the making. 'How To Be Famous' tells the toxic tale of social media and the effects it has on its users. Considering The Seamonsters are made up of a group of young females; they speak in a raw, unapologetic way about how they feel on the current trends and popular topics on social media. With almost 3000 likes on Facebook and 6.2k followers on Instagram respectively, they are fast becoming an extremely important voice for our generation and girls worldwide. The song, if stripped away from its lyrics, is already catchy a...

Taxi Rank are a four piece alternative rock band hailing from Swansea who first released their debut single back in March, which proved to be a huge hit and showed their audience what to expect from their new EP, ' The Butterfly Effect '. If you haven't already listened to their massive first single 'Pier' and their shockingly brilliant cover of King Krule's 'Dum Surfer,' then you're missing out on some seriously good tunes. The first song off their debut EP, titled 'The Only One,' may just be my favourite out of the five - however 'Monophobia' may just challenge it to the top spot in my opinion. As well as the electrifying guitar, the lyrics are intriguing to boot. With lines like "I switched all the lights off / To try and hide my face" capturing the audience alongside their impeccable layered instrumentals. Second up, the aptly titled Smoke & Mirrors starts off with Lukas Kelly's raw vocals alongside some asto...

Clearly a talented singer and all around musician, George Hennessy is a bright new talent on the Northampton music scene. His debut album, 'Whatever,' vocalises that with ease. The album starts with 'Walking On Sunshine' (not to be confused with Katrina & The Waves tune of the same name), a song that hits all the right notes in terms of an opener. An opener has to be special, memorable and set the tone for the rest of the album that follows. 'Walking On Sunshine' does this almost effortlessly. 'Weekend' depicts, well, a weekend with a fast beat and engaging lyrics - the chorus is catchy and will stay stuck in your head. 'Won't You Stay' shows a more vulnerable side to the album; a slow paced song that is perfect for when you want to sit back and relax. 'Will Never Care' is reminiscent of The Smiths' attitude; hazy guitar carrying the song as the last one on the 9 track album. 'Weather' has to be my favourite out ...

Although The Magic Gang weren't playing in our usual gig spot, knowing they would be playing only an hour away from us in such an intimate venue wasn't something we could let slip through our fingers. I knew I had to see them live and, most importantly, nab myself some funky Magic Gang merchandise. They were, and still are, the band I had on a constant loop and one of the bands high-up on my must-see list. The first band we were saw were an all-male band from Liverpool (which we could tell by lead singer Kevin's very strong Liverpudlian accent) and they impressed us with their stage presence and intriguing lyrics. Personally, my favourite song was (and still is) 'Losing Your Love' for it's relatable lyrics and a beat you can't help but nod your head to. However, all the songs were performed amazingly and Paris Youth Foundation is a band I definitely recommend seeing live. They remind me of Circa Waves mixed with a little bit of The Night Cafe due to their...

Photography by Neil Bedford Blaenavon (pronounced bly-nay-von) are a three-piece band hailing from Hampshire (not actually Wales, I know); made up of Harris McMillan, Benjamin Gregory and Frank Wright. Their debut single ‘Into The Night’ is captivating and enticing, with lead singer Ben’s moody voice crooning over the whole song. The guitar and drums in the song deserve an honourable mention as they tie the intricate and intoxicating tune together. Try not to get sucked into the astounding riff that'll strike you when you least expect it, taking you on a raucous journey amongst the heavy beat of percussion.  The band have seen a huge rise this year since supporting Barnsley's The Sherlocks and releasing music videos for “I Will Be The World” and “Let’s Pray.” It’s certain to say they’re the next big thing in the indie scene and, with an album on the way next year, we're going to be seeing a lot more of the trio soon.  After booking last mi...