another end-of-year playlist for us, we’ve put all of the tracks from our The Wrap features this year into one playlist
an incredible show of talent in this playlist, with a massive variety of music – over 4 and a half hours of listening time! well worth checking it out.
we’ve got our next edition of The Wrap for you all, covering a load of incredible releases from November! there’s so much incredible music being released, we love to see it – we’ve written a bunch of reviews for some of our favourites, and you can find all of them below ⬇️
Sheffield’s own alternative rockers Sweet Beast have just released their new EP “Good Times“! Full of luscious guitar riffs, huge vocal harmonies and a driving rhythmic backdrop, it’s an incredible release. Lots of old school rock inspiration here, it’s full of energetic and upbeat ferocity, and with gorgeous guitar solos, their ability to write bangers is proved in full. With anthemic choruses, lovely guitar tones, a real chemistry between the band, they’ve proved themselves as ones to watch – we can’t wait to hear more! (SPOTIFY / APPLE MUSIC / YOUTUBE)
We’re huge fans of Jacob Reddy, with him making incredible waves in the North West scene over the course of the year, performing a headline set at The Deaf Institute and playing at Glastonbury, releasing a bunch of incredible tracks, and he’s returned with a brand new single “Breaking Me Down“! Taking a more heavier, alternative rock feel compared to his previous singles, it feels as if his maturity shines right through this tune. An intimate and passionate lyrical context throughout, over a lovely guitar progression – the drums and bassline only accentuate the quality of this track, giving it a lovely flow and space, which Jacob utilises extensively with his performance. Well worth a listen! (SPOTIFY / APPLE MUSIC / YOUTUBE)
We had Abi Rose Kelly perform for us during the Summer, and we’ve been waiting so long to have her play for us – she’s an absolutely incredible talent, we love her tunes, and this new single “Startin’ 2 Panic!” is real proof of her ability. Her unmatched ferocity, and ability to write down-to-earth and relatable lyrics, puts her as a real talent to keep an eye on in the North West. The force behind this track, with the production, instrumentation, and prolific vocals really bring the track to life – the layers of distortion, the power that’s embedded in the song, they all come together to make a really incredible tune. We can’t wait to hear even more! (SPOTIFY / APPLE MUSIC / BANDCAMP / YOUTUBE)
We’ve had Aurora Rays on our radar for a good while now, and her innate ability to create a gorgeous track is incredible – her new single “Saturday” here with Claudio Filippini is evident of that! Opening up with a lovely, almost synth-pop feel, there’s a luscious production element here, and with the pianowork as it opens up it really unfolds into a massive sound. Her vocal over the top is encapsulating, really drawing the attention of the listener, and the rhythm is spot on to keep the track flowing expertly. There’s lovely vocal harmonies throughout, and you can listen to the track over and over and still retain the feeling you had when you heard for the first time. It’s well worth checking out! (SPOTIFY / APPLE MUSIC / BANDCAMP / YOUTUBE)
We’ve had Cal Murphy perform for us a bunch – the Manchester-born songwriter has a real ability to convey a story within his lyricism. We’ve been in awe of his live performances for a good while, always a great set – and this new single “One More Glass Of Whiskey” really proves his talent. The storytelling in this track is top-notch, conveying the socio-political elements of corruption, you can really hear his influences of traditional music and folk singers throughout. There’s a lovely melody that repeats right from the get-go, referenced by the violin later in the track, and the groove of the track is accentuated fully by the rhythm, balanced with the guitarwork. Fantastic stuff! (SPOTIFY / APPLE MUSIC / BANDCAMP / YOUTUBE)
We covered Zara Smile‘s previous single “Human” on our Just The Crust feature earlier this year, and their brand new tune “Spotlight” is out now! A lovely, indie-folk-inspired tune; reminiscent of songwriters like Elliot Smith and Julien Baker – it’s a real delicate track full of emotion, about finding the right path, in a world that feels like it’s against you constantly. Their ability to convey such intricate and deep-rooted issues through music is inspirational, really proving their songwriting talent; and the downbeat and intimate nature of the instrumentation in the song really lends you to take a real good listen to the lyricism. It’s a gorgeous release and well worth checking out! (SPOTIFY / APPLE MUSIC / YOUTUBE)
We had BARDS perform for us back in October at The Castle Hotel, and their raw power, ferocity and ability to wow a crowd really sets them apart from the rest – we’ve caught them live a bunch and they always smash it! Their new single “Roast” came out in November and it’s one of our favourites – getting going right from the start with huge anthemic guitarwork, massive drums and a powerful bassline, giving a real ferocious backdrop for the vocal to shine through. This is one of our favourite choruses, it’s catchy, driving and powerful – and the parallel atmosphere compared to the verse really makes it stand out. It’s a huge track, with so much going on, working perfectly in unison to create a huge soundscape – and the psychedelic nature of the bridge is a perfect break, yet also a brilliant precursor to the final chorus. We love it! (SPOTIFY / APPLE MUSIC / BANDCAMP / YOUTUBE)
The Rolling People have had an incredible 2023, performing at prestigious venues across Manchester and the North West, gaining over 100k streams on their single “Better Man” – and their new single “Grateful for Nothing” sounds absolutely fantastic. The Stockport-based indie outfit open the track with an anthemic, dreamy state, with luscious guitar lines throughout, only for the main vocal to come in and take direct command of the track. It’s a down-to-earth and conversationalist tone lyrically, almost as if you’re in the pub with your mates – and with a proper singalong chorus, it’s a track that will see The Rolling People go far. (SPOTIFY / APPLE MUSIC / BANDCAMP)
yet another incredible month of music, there’s been so many fantastic releases, and there’s a whole plethora of talent out there, that we didn’t get to cover! thanks to everyone who has checked this out! 🤘
Make sure you head on down to open mics, gigs, support local music and arts and keep your scenes going! 😊 all music, videos and images remain copyright of their respective owners. 🍞
we’re back with our next edition of The Wrap – covering a bunch of our favourite releases from October! there’s so much incredible music being released, we love to see it – we’ve written a bunch of reviews for some of our favourites, and you can find all of them below ⬇️
Sheffield’s own Sam Scherdel returns with his new single “R.E.T.R.O.“! We’ve covered his music a bunch in the past and his indie-rock styling sounds fantastic, with so much energy behind it; reminding us a bunch of 70’s rock like Springsteen! This new single is a testament to his songwriting ability, and his talent to be able to write an intricate and personal track, conveying his words in a real lovely manner, whilst maintaining a lovely upbeat feel to it all. It’s a real class tune, and well worth checking out! (SPOTIFY / APPLE MUSIC / YOUTUBE)
Manchester indie-punk outfit Spooky Goose have returned with a bang with their first release in two years “Conjure You“! We’ve had these guys perform for us a bunch over the past few years that we’ve known them, and this tune is a real culmination of the progress that they’ve made since being in Manchester. With great dual vocals from Will and Joe, their individual styles complimenting each other superbly, and maintaining their original unique storyteller songwriting ability – plus with intricate rhythm, gorgeous guitar tones and walls of sound alongside their harmonies, it’s a fantastic tune! (SPOTIFY / APPLE MUSIC / YOUTUBE)
New Manchester indie-folk band Sad Sells have just put out their debut single “Between The Covers“! Already gaining a bunch of traction, having performed a headline set at Night & Day, being played on BBC Radio 6 – it’s a real show of their talent. We’ve known many of the band for a good while, and they’re all incredible musicians in their own right – performing together on this track, they compliment each other so well and create a gorgeous soundscape for the track. It’s intimate, yet inviting – there’s a gorgeous country-esque feel to it, and an incredible debut release from the band. We can’t wait to hear more! (SPOTIFY / APPLE MUSIC)
We’ve been a fan of Issy Sutcliffe for a good while now, her debut single was an incredible way for her to burst onto the scene, with punky and grungey elements throughout, a real no-holds-barred release. She returns with her next single “Drugs Can’t Fix Me” – continuing with the heavier sound, albeit opening softly and delicately, showing her prowess as a songwriter, and the groove behind the track is super lush, allowing the track to flow smoothly through to a massive chorus, where Issy’s vocals shine, demanding the listener’s attention and ensuring you’re listening to every word as she bares her soul out in her music. (SPOTIFY / APPLE MUSIC)
We had Maxwell Varey perform for us last year, at our Toasted event and he absolutely smashed it, we knew from then he was gonna go far. The Wigan-born songwriter has just put out his brand new single “Ain’t It Funny” – an indie-rock anthem laced with alternative inspirations, it’s got gorgeous guitar melodies throughout, and Maxwell’s vocal commands attention right from the get-go; his lyricism is on point here, proving his ability to write a relatable and catchy track – plus, the production on the track is lush, giving him so much space throughout, and every instrument perfectly in place to work in unison. Well worth checking out his discography! (SPOTIFY / APPLE MUSIC / BANDCAMP / YOUTUBE)
We were massive fans of Bridget. after the release of her previous single earlier this year, and she’s returned with a brand new single “Reason“! Her grungey, 90’s alternative inspired tracks are fantastic, with gorgeous guitar tones, huge rhythm sections and luscious lead lines throughout, and her vocal is ferocious in every part of the track – fantastic stuff. There’s a real power and intensity behind this song, showing that she’s a real force to be reckoned with for the future – we’re super looking forward to what’s coming next! (SPOTIFY / APPLE MUSIC / BANDCAMP / YOUTUBE)
We covered Taurine‘s last single on one of our previous features, and they’re back with their brand new single “Starv” – a huge anthemic banger, kicking off in a real mellow manner, and it opens up ferociously, with a gorgeous guitar melody that gives a perfect compliment to the intensity of the main vocal – as it comes into the chorus it explodes into a huge wall of sound, distortion and chaos, with a massive burst of rhythm, the guitar riff taking control yet giving so much space to the vocal; it’s a real political anthem about the climate of today’s society, with hard-hitting lyricism and pure passion and rage put into the track. Well worth checking out! (SPOTIFY / APPLE MUSIC / BANDCAMP)
Over the past few years, Emma Taylor has been making waves on the North West scene, performing in her hometown of Blackpool and beyond – now she’s moved to Manchester she’s formed her band Emma Taylor & The Wallflowers, and her brand new debut single “Fade (Stripped Back Version)” is a gorgeous introduction to her music. With a lovely intimate atmosphere, her vocal and guitar being solely on show, it proves her innate natural creative ability, her songwriting talent and ability to capture the listener’s attention right from the start. It’s a lovely tune, and we’re super looking forward to hearing even more from her in the future! (SPOTIFY / APPLE MUSIC / BANDCAMP)
another incredible month of music, with so many fantastic releases, and this is just a taste of what’s been out – there’s a whole plethora of talent! thanks to everyone who has checked this out! 🤘
Make sure you head on down to open mics, gigs, support local music and arts and keep your scenes going! 😊 all music, videos and images remain copyright of their respective owners. 🍞
we’re back with our next edition of The Wrap – covering a bunch of our favourite releases from September! so much incredible music being released, you can find all of our in-depth reviews below ⬇️
Manchester’s indie-pop outfit VALA have returned with their brand new single “Bleed Together“! We’re huge fans of these guys, having reviewed a bunch of their previous releases and they’ve gone above and beyond with this new track. The synth elements are hugely more prominent in the track, giving it a much more ethereal, dream-pop styling, especially as it comes to the end of the track, it’s short and sweet but a must-listen for any fans of feel-good, indie-pop goodness. The track is held together with a tight rhythm, a lovely guitar pattern and delicate vocals. Well worth checking out! (SPOTIFY / APPLE MUSIC / BANDCAMP / YOUTUBE)
Sheffield’s Kid Conventional put out this new single “Rambling Roses“, and it’s a gorgeous indication of his talent. Opening with a gorgeous guitar picking pattern, creating a lovely atmosphere from the get-go – and his vocal comes in, a lovely contrast to the clean guitarwork with his more rugged, gravelly tone. The harmonies in the chorus section elevate this track even more, creating a sense of calmness and serenity – and his lyrical capability is on full show here. It’s a lovely tune, and. we can’t wait to hear more from him – with his intricate and honest storytelling style, and carefully crafted songs. (SPOTIFY / APPLE MUSIC / YOUTUBE)
We had Hannah Robinson perform for us earlier this year, and she was fantastic – blowing us away with her stage presence, songwriting excellence, and the musical capability and chemistry of her band. She’s returned with a brand new track, “Rosie“, which only proves her ability, a gorgeous tune laced with grungey elements, psychedelic guitar tones and intricate and delicate songwriting. There’s a real groove behind the track, with a driving bassline, flowing drums, and gorgeous guitar soundscaping – all setting the scene for her to excel in. She’s definitely one to watch, keep an eye out! (SPOTIFY / APPLE MUSIC / YOUTUBE)
Joel Gardner has been a staple of the North West songwriting scene for a good while now, with his storytelling capabilities, effortless guitar work and general loveliness keeping him at the forefront. He’s just put out a new single, “God & Star Signs“, which showcases all of these abilities superbly, it’s an absolutely gorgeous tune, and the flow of the track is insane, building so smoothly throughout, maintaining a lovely sense of calmness and building to a real singalong – his ability to write a song is incredible. The production on it is fantastic too, little elements coming in to keep the track going, it’s well worth a listen! (SPOTIFY / APPLE MUSIC / YOUTUBE)
We’ve been huge fans of Venus Grrrls for a good while now, having listened to their previous releases, their unmatched ferocity and energy is infectious and portrayed incredibly in their music. Their new single “Liar Liar” came out last month, and it’s quickly becoming one of our favourites – the contrast between the verses and the choruses are amazing, the soundscape and walls of sound in the hooks are huge; the balance of guitars and synthesisers creates a massive atmosphere that they utilise so well. Their ability to write a hook is fantastic, every song feels fresh and shows their musical and creative capabilities so well. We can’t wait to hear more! (SPOTIFY / APPLE MUSIC / BANDCAMP / YOUTUBE)
Sugarstone have been taking the North West by storm, we caught them last year and were blown away by their stage presence, their unique synth-punk energy, and their ability to hold an audience in the palm of their hand. We were huge fans of their previous releases, and this new single “Tender Hook” goes above and beyond. Their guitar riffs, matched with gorgeous synth sounds, huge drum patterns and driving basslines, prove that they’re ones to watch in the UK – and with each song touching on political and societal issues, the disconnect that one can feel – they’re sure to relate to a great many of people in today’s world. (SPOTIFY / APPLE MUSIC / YOUTUBE)
DEAFDEAFDEAF have been tearing it up over the past few years here in Manchester, with their lovely post-punk, shoegazy sounds – they’ve cultivated themselves a sound that is not only energetic and raucous, but at times delicate and tender. This new single “City Song / Auto Love” is evident of that, with gorgeous drumwork, a solid foundation of bass and rhythm to create a lovely soundscape for the track, and then incredible guitar tones that ring loud throughout the entirety of the tracks, lead guitar riffs that lace the atmosphere – all giving the vocal ample space to command the songs. Two fantastic tunes! (SPOTIFY / APPLE MUSIC / YOUTUBE)
Liverpool’s Leonie Jakobi marked September with the release of her EP “Nothing More To Say“! Right from the get-go, her vocal commands your attention on the first track “Bedroom Eyes“, a powerful, huge opener, filled with a gorgeous guitar tones, a massive rhythm section, all giving the ferocity needed for Leonie’s vocal to soar above. The EP is chock-full of these massive tracks, even the country-esque “Run Towards the Edge” has guitar tones, drumwork and vocal harmonies that create a gorgeous sonic atmosphere, incredible to hear. It’s well worth a listen, a fantastic EP! (SPOTIFY / APPLE MUSIC / BANDCAMP / YOUTUBE)
another incredible month of music, with so many fantastic releases, and this is just a taste of what’s been out – there’s a whole plethora of talent! thanks to everyone who has checked this out! 🤘
Make sure you head on down to open mics, gigs, support local music and arts and keep your scenes going! 😊 all music, videos and images remain copyright of their respective owners. 🍞
we’ve got our brand new edition of The Wrap for you all here – covering music from last month, in August 2023! there’s so many incredible tunes and you can find our reviews below! ⬇️
We’ve covered York-based Pennine Suite in the past and we’re huge fans of their dreamy, atmosphere sound – their new single “Make Up” only furthers upon their ambient tones! With a gorgeous backdrop behind them, the track sounds absolutely lovely, the vocal harmonies in the intro give a luscious sense of serenity – and set the stage for the main vocal so well, being accompanied by the infectious piano/synth melody in the back, and the dreamy guitar sounds that soar in and out of the track throughout. The chorus has a real energy behind it, creating a brilliant contrast and ensuring that this song is one that will be stuck in your head for days. Well worth checking out their full discography! (SPOTIFY / APPLE MUSIC / YOUTUBE)
We had Sam Steele perform for us last month, and we were blown away by his infectious, upbeat pop style, yet keeping a real personal element with his intrepid and descriptive songwriting – and his first single “Thought Swimming” is a perfect example of that. The track is led by a lovely guitar melody, held together with a calm rhythm behind it, giving him space to sing and command the listener’s attention, highlighting his lyrical ability. It’s a real summery tune, upbeat and groovy – a fantastic debut single! (SPOTIFY / APPLE MUSIC / BANDCAMP)
Manchester-based Max Anglesea just released his new album “You’re Welcome“! Originally from Wales, he moved to Manchester, and over the past few years he’s been putting out a consistent stream of music, and this album is a culmination of his musical ability and prowess. His songwriting talent is on show throughout the entirety, his ability to create something that is personal and captures attention throughout is fantastic – the production on the album is top quality too, with every song maintaining a unique sound yet holding a continuity and balance between them, and a gorgeous use of dynamic throughout – plus, delving into so many different genres; it’s well worth a listen! (SPOTIFY / APPLE MUSIC / YOUTUBE)
We’re huge fans of Gen and the Degenerates, with an incredible run of releases behind them already, garnering attention nationally for their no-holds-barred, unapologetic attitude and expertly crafted music, and their new single “BIG HIT SINGLE” only accentuates this, sounding incredible! A proper tongue-in-cheek track, taking a stab at the viral and trending sensation, the shelf-lives of tracks and the commerciality of the modern music industry. It’s a testament to their ability to be able to write a track that sounds so quality, yet is about the ethic ambiguity of it all – fantastic to see. As always, we can’t wait to hear more from them! (SPOTIFY / APPLE MUSIC / BANDCAMP / YOUTUBE)
The third single from Poppy Holmes “Friend For Life” just came out and it sounds gorgeous! Following her previous releases, you can hear the progress and maturity of her sound so well in this track – opening with a gorgeous, soft soundscape around the song, delicately flowing throughout, until it reaches the chorus, a huge and eccentric show of her musical ability, sounding lovely and proving her songwriting talent with intricate and personal lyricism – conveying her tale of the balance between a friendship and a romance in a real expert fashion. The production and instrumentation behind the song only add to the tension and quality, fantastic stuff. Well worth a listen! (SPOTIFY / APPLE MUSIC)
Sheffield’s own Harri Larkin just released the brand new single “Get The Girl Away” – and it’s an incredible follow-up to her previous singles! Opening up with a real funky guitar progression, there’s a real energy throughout the entire track, and the rhythm only brings this even further to the forefront of the track, holding a lovely groove throughout for Harri to sing over – and her lyrics are lush, flowing so well across the melody of the track and proving to be one to watch this year with tunes like this. A real feel good track, well worth a listen! (SPOTIFY / APPLE MUSIC / YOUTUBE)
South Manchester-based alternative rock outfit Grey Mare just released their debut single “Still Here Dreaming“! With post-punk, shoegaze vibes around the track it sounds lovely, there’s a real lush sonic soundscape surrounding the song and it’s a brilliant debut from the band. There’s a proper energy behind. the track, most prominently in the chorus, with a tight rhythm section gluing the track together, giving the main guitar riff so much space to glide and for the main vocal to sit on top of. The breakdown marks a real special point in the song, slowing down and opening up to make space and create tension, only for the final section to explode into ferocity – an incredible tune. (SPOTIFY / APPLE MUSIC)
Manchester-based psych-rockers Valetta just dropped their new EP “God Lives Underground“! We were huge fans of their previous EP last year and this doesn’t disappoint – with a huge range of influences throughout, each song takes on a wide journey of genres, incorporating so much into each section, from indie-rock to grunge to more psychedelic and electronic elements! They’ve done so well to create a proper unique sound to definite themselves as a band, and it’s brilliant to see. Not only this, but the production is on point for each track, every part in its rightful place to perfectly compliment one another – it’s a joy to listen to. Well worth checking out! (SPOTIFY / APPLE MUSIC / BANDCAMP / YOUTUBE)
another incredible month of music, with so many fantastic releases, and this is just a taste of what’s been out – there’s a whole plethora of talent! thanks to everyone who has checked this out! 🤘
Make sure you head on down to open mics, gigs, support local music and arts and keep your scenes going! 😊 all music, videos and images remain copyright of their respective owners. 🍞