Taken from her recently announced EP 'other ways of landing', due to be released Jan 30th 2026 via Fascination Street Records, Pem has today returned with the bittersweet milk, blue. With strained, intimate vocals at its core, the track’s subtle tensions and minimal instrumentation reveal the honest vulnerability running through the Bristol-based artist's work. On the new single, Pem says - "This is about the Moon, I’m very in awe of the moon. My dad passed away on the full moon and wrote about it a lot in his memoirs so it holds a lot of symbolism for me. It’s my ode to feeling nicely small beneath the full moon and the way it punctuates my life." Take a listen for yourselves below.
Tour Dates 20th Feb - Dublin, Borderline Festival 1st March - Leeds, Hyde Park Book Club 2nd March - Manchester, The Lodge 4th March - Bristol, Louisiana 6th March - London, The Old Church
Today sees Charlotte Cornfield return with news of her sixth studio album Hurts Like Hell, set for release March 27th via Merge Records. Sharing the record's title track, we get an exciting taste of what's to come with its intricate lyrics and feel-good country nuances, all neatly bound together into a bouncy, toe-tapping groove. “This song is about someone getting over deep insecurities and inhibitions and putting themselves out there,” Cornfield explains. “These two characters in the song have clearly experienced a lot of pain and are pushing themselves to move past it and connect with one another. It’s a shy people love story. The pedal steel/full band/country-tinged approach felt fitting for this one, and Buck’s backing vocals really sent it.” The accompanying warm and irreverent video was written and directed by friend and fan Scott Jacobson (Bob’s Burgers, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart) and stars James Urbaniak (Henry Fool, American Splendour, The Venture Bros.) and Cornfield as sparring neighbours who resolve their differences through choreographed dance. Take a watch below.
Tour Dates Mar 31st | Brooklyn, NY - Public Records Apr 2nd | Chicago, IL - Schubas Apr 4th | Los Angeles, CA - Scribble Apr 9th | Toronto, CA - Lula Lounge
With the fires still warm from Divorce's recent acclaimed debut album Drive to Goldenhammer, Felix Mackenzie-Barrow, co-vocalist and guitarist from the band, has today shared details of his debut solo project under the moniker Book of Churches. Unveiling the news with the tender and softly played Song By A Stranger, the track's from the record came together in fleeting moments, with each song written in one day, recorded the next, and left largely untouched until the album was handed over to Richie Kennedy (Interpol, The Last Dinner Party) for mixing. Felix comments on the lead single: "Song by a Stranger is the first song on the record because in some ways it felt like the blueprint for how I wanted to make the album. I wrote a note in my phone whilst in the back of the van about a shaft of light falling like an arm across the seats in front of me. I got home for a couple of days off and wrote the song the night I arrived. The next day I recorded it and I didn’t touch it again until Richie Kennedy mixed it in late 2025."
Continuing about the album he says: “It feels a bit like a travelogue.
In some ways, when I wrote these songs, I was talking to the person I
was no longer in a relationship with – just saying hello. Sometimes, the
songs were attempts at looking for a North Star that I could speak to.
It's this idea of how big the world is, and how precious those few
connections that you have with people are, and how you can feel those so
acutely across vast spaces and times. Book of Churches is basically a
metaphor for how I felt making these songs. These songs are like my
version of whatever church is.”
Book of Churches - Book of Churches album tracklisting
1. Song By A Stranger
2. All The Good Things
3. There You Go I Love You
4. North Atlantic Ocean
5. The Quiet Was A Heron
6. I Lean
7. Big Love
8. Hard Dride
9. Catalpa In The Sky
10. Stones In Your Bag
Book of Churches UK headline tour dates 2026
23 April - The Hope & Ruin, Brighton, UK
25 April - The Castle, Manchester, UK
26 April - The Hug & Pint, Glasgow, UK
28 April - Belgrave Music Hall, Leeds, UK
29 April - The Cube, Bristol, UK
30 April - St Pancras Old Church, London, UK
01 May - Nottingham Contemporary, Nottingham, UK
Tickets go on sale at 10am on Friday 9th January HERE.
Pacific Northwest singer-songwriter and guitarist Searows (Alec Duckart) has returned today with his spellbinding new single Dirt. Taken from the forthcoming second album Death in the Business of Whaling, set for release on Friday 23rd January via Last Recordings On Earth, the track's painstaking melodies and strained vocals offer up another blistering insight in to what lays ahead. “This song is about inevitability,” shares Duckart. “We all have the knowledge that we and everything around us is finite, and we all have a different way of dealing with that fact. It isn’t something that has ever been comfortable for me, but I can’t spend my life uncomfortable with it. We all inevitably return to the dirt, but you can’t ease the anxiety over it by trying to dig the hole early. If we can acknowledge the end, maybe we can remember we’re alive now.” Take a listen for yourselves below.
24th March – Doornroosje, Nijmegen, NL 25th March – Tolhuistuin, Amsterdam, NL 26th March – Botanique Rotonde, Brussels, BE 28th March – Rotown, Rotterdam, NL 30th March – La Bellevilloise, Paris, FR 1st April – Chalk, Brighton, UK 2nd April – Trinity Centre, Bristol, UK 3rd April – Irish Centre, Leeds, UK 5th April – Vicar Street, Dublin, IE 6th April – Saint Luke’s, Glasgow, UK 8th April – Academy 2, Manchester, UK 10th April – KOKO, London, UK
Ready to kick-start the year, The Twilight Sad have dusted themselves down as they gear up to release their first new album in seven years, today announcing their long-awaited sixth LP 'IT’S THE LONG GOODBYE', due out 27th March via Rock Actions Records. Coinciding with the news, the band share the record's latest single Designed To Lose - a cathartic track that scintillates in to life through brazen guitar layers and soaring vocal choruses. “It had to contain every element of emotion I was feeling,” says singer/lyricist James Graham. “In the past I’ve used a lot of metaphors within my lyrics. With this, there’s not as much. The record is heavily influenced by my mental health, grief and loss, and the need to be strong in positions where you’re not feeling it. It’s a very human story, I think – this is just my version of it. I feel that everybody goes through something like this. Everybody loses somebody. Everybody questions life.” Take a listen to the new single below.
IT’S THE LONG GOODBYE tracklist: 1. Get Away From It All 2. Designed To Lose 3. Attempt A Crash Landing - Theme 4. Waiting For The Phone Call 5. The Ceiling Underground 6. Dead Flowers 7. Inhospitable/Hospital 8. Chest Wound To The Chest 9. Back To Fourteen 10.TV People Still Throwing TVs At People
THE TWILIGHT SAD headline shows: Sun 12 April - Italy, Milan, Legend Club Tues 14 April - Switzerland, Zurich, Bogen F Weds 15 April - Germany, Munich, Ampere Thurs 16 April - Germany, Berlin, Gretchen Sat 18 April - Denmark, Copenhagen, Loppen Sun 19 April - Norway, Oslo, Parkteateret Mon 20 April - Sweden, Stockholm, Slaktkyrkan Weds 22 April - Germany, Hamburg, Grünspan Thurs 23 April - Netherlands, Utrecht, Tivolivredenburg Pandora Hall Sat 25 April - Germany, Cologne, Gebäude 9 Sun 26 April - Belgium, Brussels, Rotonde - Botanique Mon 27 April - France, Paris, Le Trabendo Weds 29 April - UK, Bristol, Electric Thurs 30 April - UK, London, Roundhouse Sat 2 May - UK, Manchester, New Century Hall Sun 3 May - UK, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Boiler Shop Tues 5 May - Scotland, Glasgow, Barrowlands Weds 6 May - Scotland, Glasgow, Barrowlands Sat 9 May - Ireland, Dublin, Button Factory 24th-26th July - UK, Deer Shed Festival
Live dates with The Cure: Sun 14 June – Italy, Firenze, Visarno Arena Weds 24 June - Cardiff, Blackweir Fields Fri 26 June - Dublin, Marley Park Sun 28 June - Belfast, Belsonic Weds 8 July – Slovakia, Pohoda Festival Fri 10 July - Germany, Berlin, Wuhlheide Sat 11 July - Germany, Berlin, Wuhlheide Sun 12 July - Germany, Berlin, Wuhlheide
Wasting no time, Ellur returns to kickstart the year with her brilliant new single Dream Of Mine. The track serves as the final preview from her forthcoming debut LP ‘At Home In My Mind’, set for release February 6th, and once again showcases the Halifax-based artist's innate songwriting talents. Detailing its origins, she revealed: “‘Dream of Mine’ was written a very long time ago about feeling selfish for wanting to pursue a career that requires a lot of sacrifices. I was feeling insecure and worried my long-term partner would decide that being with a musician would be too much for them. I’m very much interested in the conflict of being a woman and the fact my first priority is not to settle down, get married and provide emotionally for a family. It’s an expectation so woven into society and I find it interesting that you don’t really hear male rock stars apologising for wanting success. Written with Jack Leonard (UNKLE) and inspired by the rock bands I grew up listening to The War on Drugs, The 1975, The Cure and of course my ultimate hero CMAT.” Take a listen below.
Live Dates 6th February - The Trades Club, Hebden Bridge (sold-out) 23rd May - Neighbourhood Weekender, Warrington 30th July-2nd Aug - Camp Bestival, Dorset
Ahead of the release of their forthcoming new album, Selling A Vibe, released on 9th January 2026, The Cribs have today shared the record's final single, Never The Same. Packed with catchy melodies and snappy percussion, the track takes an inward look at what we lose, and what we leave behind when we grow as people. Guitarist and singer Ryan Jarman comments: "Never The Same is kind of a throwback to our original approach: trim all the fat, bring it in as short as possible and keep out of the way...streamlined. Stylish. It’s almost a little paradoxical as lyrically it’s about feeling like a different person at this point in life, and missing the chaos of your previous existence, even if it wouldn’t make sense anymore." Bassist and singer Gary Jarman adds: "We wrote Never The Same the evening that we returned home from Italy, after playing Louis Tomlinson’s ‘Away From Home’ festival. The night before, we had been talking with Louis’ manager about maybe writing and/or producing some tracks for his next LP, so upon our return to Wakefield we got to work and banged this out, fully formed, in a couple of hours. And then we became attached to it and decided to keep it for ourselves! I think that the freedom of conceiving it for someone else just meant that we didn’t overthink anything, and just got straight to the point - it came together fast. So yeah, in an alternate timeline it could’ve been a Louis song."
Take a listen for yourselves below.
The Cribs – Instore + outstore release week shows
08 Jan – Circuit, Kingston, UK
09 Jan – Rough Trade East, London, UK - SOLD OUT
09 Jan – Rough Trade East, London, UK - SOLD OUT
10 Jan – Rough Trade, Liverpool, UK - SOLD OUT
10 Jan – Rough Trade, Liverpool, UK - SOLD OUT
11 Jan - Pie & Vinyl (signing), Southsea, UK
11 Jan – Papillon, Southampton, UK
12 Jan – Thekla, Bristol, UK - SOLD OUT
13 Jan – O2 Academy, Oxford, UK
14 Jan – The Parish, Huddersfield, UK
14 Jan - The Parish, Huddersfield, UK - SOLD OUT
15 Jan – Oran Mor, Glasgow, UK
15 Jan – Oran Mor, Glasgow, UK - SOLD OUT
The Cribs - UK headline tour
18 Mar - Boiler Shop, Newcastle, UK ^
20 Mar - Foundry, Sheffield, UK ^ (SOLD OUT)
21 Mar - Albert Hall, Manchester, UK ^ (SOLD OUT)
22 Mar – O2 Institute 1, Birmingham, UK ^
24 Mar - Rock City, Nottingham, UK ^
25 Mar - Tramshed, Cardiff, UK ^
27 Mar - Concorde 2, Brighton, UK ^
28 Mar - Concorde 2, Brighton, UK ^ (SOLD OUT)
11 Jul - Millennium Square, Leeds, UK
26 Jul – Truck Festival, Steventon, UK
Ahead of their upcoming third album Secret Love, out 9 January 2026, Dry Cleaning have today unveiled their third single, ‘Let Me Grow and You’ll See The Fruit’. A softer offering from the record, the track's intricate guitar melodies and spoken delivery provides another exciting taster of what's to come. The track was one of the first songs written for Secret Love and is inspired by 60s folk act Pentangle, 2001: A Space Odyssey, ancient Roman poet Virgil and musician Robyn Rocket. Lyricist Florence Shaw says, “The song is about hyper focus and loneliness. It’s confessional, like a diary entry, written in a stream of consciousness style." Take a listen below.
Alongside this announcement, the band are announcing the rescheduling of their North American tour dates, and have issued a statement about this decision: "Aside from the great pleasure of sharing ‘Let Me Grow…’ with you all today, it is with heavy hearts that we must also share some important news.We have had to make the difficult decision to move our Jan/Feb ‘26 US tour to May. This is due to a number of factors, not least of which the increasingly hostile economic forces that govern touring in the present day. Thankfully we have managed to reschedule the majority of the original shows and all tickets will remain valid, if that suits you, and refunds available if it does not. Regrettably, we have been unable to make this work for all dates due to the shortened routing. Refunds will be available from your place of purchase and we will do everything in our power to play for you as soon as we can. Thank you for your patience and continued support. Love, D.C".
DRY CLEANING TOUR DATES 3 January – BOGNOR REGIS, UK, Rockaway Beach Festival 9 January – BRIGHTON, UK, Chalk (Resident) 10 January – LONDON, UK, Rough Trade East 13 January – BRISTOL, UK, Strange Brew (Rough Trade) 14 January – LEEDS, UK, Brudenell (Crash) 15 January – NOTTINGHAM, UK, Metronome (Rough Trade) 7 April – BERLIN, GERMANY, Festsaal Kreuzberg 9 April – COPENHAGEN, DENMARK, Vega 10 April – HAMBURG, GERMANY, Mojo Club 11 April – AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS, Melkweg 13 April – BRUSSELS, BELGIUM, AB Box 14 April – PARIS, FRANCE, Le Trianon 17 April – DUBLIN, IRELAND, Vicar Street 18 April – LIMERICK, IRELAND, Dolan’s 20 April – CARDIFF, UK, Tramshed 21 April – BIRMINGHAM, UK, XOYO 22 April – LONDON, UK, O2 Academy Brixton 24 April – GLASGOW, UK, SWG3 TV Studio 25 April – MANCHESTER, UK, New Century Hall 30 April – CHICAGO, IL, USA, Thalia Hall 1 May – TORONTO, CANADA, Concert Hall 2 May – MONTREAL, CANADA, Foufounes Électriques 3 May – HUDSON, NY, USA, Basilica Hudson 5 May – BOSTON, MA, USA, Paradise Rock Club 6 May – PHILADELPHIA, PA, USA, Union Transfer 7 May – BROOKLYN, NY, USA, Brooklyn Steel 8 May – WASHINGTON, DC, USA, Howard Theater 10 May – NASHVILLE, TN, USA, Basement East 12 May – OMAHA, NE, USA, Slowdown 13 May – DENVER, CO, USA, Meow Wolf 15 May – SALT LAKE CITY, UT, USA, Kilby Block Party 16 May – BOISE, ID, USA, Shrine Ballroom 17 May – PORTLAND, OR, USA, Wonder Ballroom 18 May – SEATTLE, WA, USA, Showbox 20 May – SAN FRANCISCO, CA, USA, August Hall 21 May – LOS ANGELES, CA, USA, The Belasco 22 May – SAN DIEGO, CA, USA, Casbah
British singer-songwriter Henry Grace returned ahead of the weekend with “California Rain”, the fourth and final single from his forthcoming second album ‘Things Are Moving All Around Me’, due January 23rd. Painstakingly beautiful, the track’s hushed vocals sit within a solemn atmosphere that slowly stir to life, guided by a delicate, crackling guitar line. “This song has always been a firm favourite of everyone involved in the making of this record,” Grace shares. “It offers a sense of yearning, and a restlessness, that runs like a thread through all the singles on the album.” Take a listen and get lost amongst it for yourselves below.
Released today, London-based artist Gretel returns with her brilliant new single ‘Darkness Be My Friend’, out now via Breadcrumb Records/AWAL. From its gentle, understated opening, the track swells into a cathartic burst of towering pop melody and thunderous percussion. Sharing more detail she explains: “I wrote ‘Darkness Be My Friend’ the day before we went in to start re-recording my next project the new unfamiliar way – I was scared and didn’t know if I had what it takes. It was dark but it was exciting. Recording live in this way challenged me way more as a musician than before, and it’s given me a huge desire to go forward and get better and tricksier with it in future. I feel like I’ve only just been born.” Take a listen for yourselves below.
