With a packed-in, sold-out crowd, eagerly awaiting the arrival of Nottingham's Divorce, the band made their prompt entrance to the stage at 8.30 as keen fans inched forwards to catch a glimpse. 

A lot has happened in the 5 months since I last saw the band. Fresh off the release of their debut album, Drive to Goldenhammer, the quartet delivered a spellbinding performance that solidified their status as one of the most exciting acts in the current UK scene.

Just a few moments in to their set it's clear to see the juxtaposition in a name like Divorce as they do anything but push fans away or create divide. If anything, their music is the glue that sees everyone swaying in unison, singing back each and every word at the top of their lungs. 

Divorce’s unique blend of alt-country, indie rock, and post-punk set a moody yet electrifying tone, with Felix Mackenzie-Barrow and Tiger Cohen-Towell’s intertwined vocals cutting through the room with effortless chemistry. And it's in this live setting that truly gives their music an extra edge - grittier, rawer, and undeniably captivating.

The set-list is a mix of new and old, pitting recent singles All My Freaks and Antarctica up against more familiar favourites like Scratch Your Metal and Sex & the Millennium Bridge. "We are just going to play the new album in full aren't we?" lets on Felix Mackenzie-Barrow, quickly followed by a "no spoilers" jibe as Tiger caught her breath before launching in to the explosive Karen, a track that beautifully captures the band's ability in going from soft fragility to climatic guitar swinging catharsis. 

"D-I-V-O-R-C-E" chants echoed throughout as the band took a moment to show their appreciation and thank the crowd. It also gave Felix time to talk about the backdrop banner sporting the band's name which he created himself and lost 3 socks in the process after getting backed in to a corner whilst painting. 

Other stand out moments came from the scintillating Hangman, to the tender Old Broken String, which brought a welcomed silence to the sporadic chatter as fans stopped talking to bask in its quiet beauty,  with nothing but the crackle of a plastic pint cup in-between melodies. 

As expected, the band's stage presence continues to be as magnetic as ever. Tiger’s vocals soared with an emotive intensity, while Felix’s grounding harmonies added depth and texture. Meanwhile, the rhythm section, anchored by Kasper Sandstrom (guitar) and Adam Peter Smith (drums), kept the momentum relentless, driving each song forward with precision and passion.

"It'd be lovely to hear you all on this one", exclaimed Tiger as the band returned to the stage for a two-track encore, bowing out on the ever crowd pleasing, aptly named anthem Checking Out. The song’s slow build and explosive finale left the audience desperate for more, a testament to the band's masterful pacing.

This wasn’t just a gig - it was a statement. Divorce have arrived, and with Drive to Goldenhammer marking the start of an exciting new chapter, their Strange Brew performance felt like the perfect celebration of what’s to come. If they weren’t on your radar before, they certainly should be now.

*****

Credit – Will Creswick

Following on from the brilliant Joker last month, Welsh outfit Public Order have today unveiled their their highly anticipated debut EP ‘HELLO’, out now on Ignition Records, which includes the brand new track “Someday”. A slow burner, the track softly builds towards its cathartic climax as slow rising guitars and intricate vocals layer together in perfect harmony. Speaking about the new offering, Public Order say, "Someday is all about hope. It’s a journey through longing and self-destruction, holding onto the belief that something better is waiting at the end. It asks the question - are you breaking, or becoming something more?" Sharing more about the EP they go on to say "This EP is a raw and honest reflection of ourselves. It’s our story of love, loss, and the struggle to make sense of it all. Through Someday, Joker, HELLO, and STRANGER, we wanted to capture the highs and lows of youth—fleeting connections, reckless nights, and those quiet moments of realisation in between. It’s not just about love; it’s about everything in between—losing yourself, finding yourself, and hoping that someday, everything will fall into place." Take a listen for yourselves below.

Tour Dates
May 2nd – London, Notting Hill Arts Club, CloseUp’s £3 Series
May 9th – Wrexham, The Rockin’ Chair, FOCUS Wales
May 24th – Bristol, Dot To Dot
May 25th – Nottingham, Dot To Dot
August 1st – Wales, Caldicot Castle, Razorlight special guest

i: https://www.instagram.com/publicorderuk/

Somebody’s Child’s - When Youth Fades Away Tracklist
1. The Kid 2. Last Night I Held Your Hand 3. Porcelain (Losing All My Patience)
4. When Youth Fades Away 5. New Orleans 6. Wall Street 7. My Mind Is On Fire 8. Irish Goodbye 9. The Waterside 10. Life Will Go On 11. Time Of My Life

Dublin's Somebody's Child, led by Cian Godfrey, returns with their sophomore album, When Youth Fades Away, set for release on March 28, 2025. This album marks a significant evolution from their self-titled debut, delving into themes of ageing, self-reflection, and the passage of time, balancing the exuberance of youth with the creeping realities of adulthood in brilliant detail.

Produced by Grammy Award-winner Peter Katis, known for his work with The National and Interpol, the album offers a rich sonic landscape and it's as ambitious as you'd expect. Something that's evident from the record's opening track, The Kid, a song brimming with energy and youthful defiance, yet underscored by a subtle sense of foreboding. Propulsive drums and reverb-soaked guitars drive the song forward, mirroring the restless optimism of youth, while Godfrey’s lyrics hint at the fleeting nature of it all.

From here, the album leans into vulnerability with Last Night I Held Your Hand and Porcelain (Losing All My Patience) as we begin to see towering pop sensibilities reminiscent of early U2 with Godfrey's commanding vocals taking lead as a scintillating backdrop of guitar driven melodies are set alight. 

Elsewhere When Youth Fades Away demonstrates a slow-burning meditation on the passing of time, its steady pulse and layered instrumentation evoking the sensation of watching life slip through your fingers. There’s a hypnotic quality to the song, reminiscent of LCD Soundsystem’s All My Friends, as it builds towards a cathartic climax. 

Showcasing the true dynamics in his capabilities, New Orleans is a perfect moment to slow things down with its sense of intimacy that gradually builds in intensity through rolling percussion, before ramping up the pace once more on Wall Street with its energetic guitar riffs. A track that perfectly sets up My Mind Is On Fire which sees another soaring pop effort lift the roof off with its anthemic status. 

But just as the energy peaks, the album pulls back with The Waterside, a track steeped in melancholy. It’s a moment of quiet introspection, where Godfrey’s voice takes centre stage once more against gentle strings and subdued elongated guitars. There’s an aching loneliness to it, but also a sense of peace, as if accepting that some things - and some people - are meant to fade into the past. It’s this ability to balance sadness with beauty that makes the song so afflicting.

With still gas in the tank, Time of My Life closes the album with a triumphant, yet wistful, sendoff. It’s a song that embraces the contradiction of nostalgia - a euphoric instrumental outro serves as the much needed catharsis, wrapping up the record in a way that feels both complete and hopeful as it culminates in to an explosive finale. 

The band’s evolution is striking, with richer production, emotionally charged songwriting, and a newfound confidence that cements their place in the indie landscape. More than just a reflection on growing up, When Youth Fades Away is a celebration of what it means to keep moving forward, even when you’re not quite sure where you’re going. And we're all here for it. 

*****

Photo credit / Sarah Doyle

Making her very welcomed return last night, CMAT has unveiled her brilliant new single Running/Planning, taken from the forthcoming album entitled EURO-COUNTRY which follows 2023’s brilliant Crazymad, For Me. 

On Running/Planning - which premiered last night as a Hottest Record on BBC Radio 1 - CMAT says: "Running/Planning’ is about having to chase your own tail to be good enough to exist. It’s an abstracted view of societal pressure on women - specifically through a relationship lens: You start dating someone, you get engaged, you get married, you have kids etc etc etc… everything has to follow this linear pattern. (That’s the reason for the repetitive chorus!). And the minute you don’t follow that path, your mam starts giving out to you. That narrow path that everyone is supposed to be on… the minute you get outside of that, it gets incredibly stressful. And I don’t know anyone who is like, ‘Yeah, love this!"

Sharing more about the forthcoming LP, CMAT also added: “EURO-COUNTRY is, I think, the best thing I have ever made. I felt halfway through recording it was the most important record I’ve made for myself… mainly because it was making me go crazy"“I'm always going to make the work I want to make, because there is a little gremlin in my head that tells me if it’s shit. More than success, there’s a bigger gremlin that wants me to make music that’s really good. She’s brutal and has ruined my life at times, but she is the keeper of my life and she’s always right.”

Take a listen/watch for yourselves below along with an extensive list of upcoming tour dates including a full UK/EU run later this year.



Tour Dates 
May 23rd - Wide Awake Festival, London, UK
May 25th - Neighbourhood Festival, Warrington, UK
Jun 5th - Primavera, Barcelona, ESP
Jun 6th - London Stadium, London, UK *
Jun 12th - St James Park, Newcastle, UK *
Jun 14th - St James Park, Newcastle, UK *
Jun 15th - St James Park, Newcastle, UK *
Jun 27th - Glastonbury, UK
Jul 12th - NOS, Lisbon, POR
Jul 26th - Truck Festival, Oxfordshire, UK
Jul 27th - Tramlines Festival, Sheffield, UK
Aug 1st - Belladrum Tartan Heart, Belladrum, UK
Aug 2nd - All Together Now, Waterford, IRE
Aug 7th - Syd For Solen, Copenhagen, DEN
Aug 8th - Way Out West, Gothenburg, SWE
Aug 14th - Cabaret Vert, Charleville Mezieres, FR
Aug 15th - Lowlands, Biddinghuizen, NL
Aug 16th - Green Man Festival, Crickhowell, UK
Aug 28th - Boucher Playing Fields, Belfast, UK *
Oct 2nd - O2 Academy Brixton, London, UK
Oct 4th - Academy, Manchester, UK
Oct 5th - O2 Academy, Leeds, UK
Oct 6th - NX, Newcastle, UK
Oct 9th - Barrowland Ballroom, Glasgow, UK
Oct 12th - Rock City, Nottingham, UK
Oct 13th - Corn Exchange, Cambridge, UK
Oct 15th - Dome Concert Hall, Brighton, UK
Oct 16th - O2 Institute, Birmingham, UK
Oct 17th - UEA, Norwich, UK
Oct 19th - Octagon, Sheffield, UK
Oct 20th - O2 Academy, Bristol, UK
Dec 5th - 3Arena, Dublin, IRE

* Supporting Sam Fender 

Photo credit: Patricio Malagón

Today sees Mexico City-based artist Clothing, aka Santi Ropa, share 'Destituir', the final taster from their incoming debut album La Muerte en Realidad no Existe which is out this Friday March 28th on Tin Angel. Pained in emotion, the single offers up a blistering deliverance through twinkling piano keys, distorted guitars and unconventional percussion, all neatly weaved together by Ropa's emotive vocals. Ropa calls it, "a self empowerment song about devouring the world," adding: "Look into the mirror and accept yourself, look at the wounds in your body, a reminder that you weren’t meant to be unscathed." Take a listen for yourselves below.

i: https://www.instagram.com/clothing_o.k

Photo Credit: Misha Warren

Following on from January's new single Goth Kids, Leeds-based outfit L'objectif have returned with their electrifying new effort, Burbank. Filled with pulsating guitar melodies and the insatiable energy that's become synonymous with their upbeat sound, the band continue to deliver on all fronts. Ahead of their latest single release, the quartet stated: “‘Burbank’ is about a character who travels to America in the pursuit of fame and self discovery but in the process seems to completely lose their identity. This song is the second instalment in a trilogy of songs that are connected, following on from goth kids, written about the same character earlier in their life. In Burbank, the character’s futile search for identity brings about the unravelling of all their flaws as they lose themselves to addiction, false hope and their own ego.” Take a listen below.

Live Dates
1st April - The Deaf Institute, Manchester
2nd April - McChuills, Glasgow
4th April - The Wardrobe, Leeds
9th April – Camden Assembly, London
24th May - Live At Leeds in the Park
2nd August - Kendal Calling Festival 

f: https://www.facebook.com/Lobjectif/

JuliaGodfrey.

Still in the wake of their fantastic sixth studio album last month, Oh! The Ocean, via AWAL Recordings, The Wombats have announced a string of new UK & IE tour dates, taking place in December later this year. 

The new additional six tour dates start on 5th December in Newcastle Upon Tyne, then go on to Birmingham, Bournemouth, Dublin, Belfast and finish in Blackpool on 11th December. Artist pre-sale tickets go live on Wednesday 26th March at 9am and general sale begins on Friday 28th March at 9am - tickets here.

The Wombats are currently on their biggest ever UK Arena Tour next month, which kicked off last week in Nottingham, then went onto London, Cardiff, Manchester and Hull, with Glasgow and Leeds taking place this week. They then cross the channel for 14 dates across France, Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Luxembourg and Belgium. 

Speaking on the experience of recording the recent album, Murph says: “I’ve been to many beaches and seas and coasts over the years but for some reason it felt like the first time I had ever seen it and was truly present. There was this revelation that I had been living a life caught up in my own head, or in some kind of racing helmet or with blinkers on. It was really a potent experience. I felt like I saw everything new for the first time, and was aware that I had been so selfish to not take in how crazy the world and life is. I’d been caught up in my own BS for way too long.The album offers up some internal questions like: why are my head and body disconnected all the time? Why am I incapable at times of seeing any form of beauty in the world or in others? Why do I expect the world to conform to my will? Why do I never stop and smell the flowers? How am I conscious? That’s why I called album 6 ‘Oh! The Ocean”

The Wombats - NEW UK Tour Dates: 

05 December - Newcastle Upon Tyne, England, Utilita Arena

06 December - Birmingham, England, BP Pulse LIVE Arena

07 December - Bournemouth, England, Bournemouth International Centre

09 December - Dublin, Republic of Ireland, Olympia Theatre

10 December - Belfast, Northern Ireland, The Telegraph Building

11 December - Blackpool, England, Empress Ballroom

The Wombats - UK Tour Dates: 

25 March - Glasgow, OVO Hydro

26 March - Leeds, First Direct Arena

19 June -  Liverpool, Pier Head

31 July - Kendal Calling: Lowther Deer Park, Cumbria

31 July - Y Not Festival: Pikehall, Matlock

The Wombats - EU Tour Dates

28 March - France, Paris, Le Trabendo

30 March - Netherlands, Tilburg, 013 Tilburg

31 March - Netherlands, Amsterdam, Paradiso

01 April - Germany, Cologne, E-Werk

03 April - Germany, Munich, Theaterfabrik

04 April - Switzerland, Zurich, Komplex 457

05 April - Czech Republic, Prague, Archa +

07 April - Germany, Berlin, Columbiahalle 

08 April - Germany, Munster, Jovel Music Hall

10 April - Norway, Oslo, Rockefeller Music Hall

11 April - Denmark, Copenhagen, Pumpehuset

12 April - Sweden, Stockholm, Vasateatern

15 April- Luxembourg, Luxembourg City, Den Atelier

16 April - Belgium, Brussels, Botanique

Still from ‘Stonefly’ Music Video (Credit: Daniel Swan)

Irish musician Maria Somerville will share her forthcoming second album and debut project on 4AD, Luster, on 25 April and has today unveiled the record's third single, Stonefly - a scintillating pop masterpiece built on its floated vocals and dreamlike soundscapes. The track’s release is also accompanied by an atmospheric music video directed by Daniel Swan (who has past credits creating visuals for A.G. Cook’s PC Music, as well as Bladee and Yung Lean’s 2024 Psykos LP). Take a watch for yourselves below. 

i: https://www.instagram.com/maria__somerville

 

March 22nd saw Immersed Festival 2025 hold its annual celebration at Cardiff's Tramshed which delivered another eclectic and vibrant celebration of music, art, and sustainability. Curated by Creative Industries students from the University of South Wales and Creative Wales, the festival featured over thirty artists across four stages, blending genres from hip-hop and grime to indie-pop and metal.

A reminder ahead of the event on their social media accounts was a message to say that set-times would not be shared online, which made sense with the festival's ideology set around immersing yourself amongst the excitement on offer. And upon arrival, it truly brought out that atmosphere as the packed out courtyard of Tramshed pumped life in to the bustling venue. 

One of the festival’s biggest draws was Frankie Stew & Harvey Gunn, making their Welsh debut with an electrifying set. Their fusion of hip-hop, garage, and dance music created a hypnotic energy that resonated through the venue. Fans of Loyle Carner and Tom Misch were treated to a soundscape rich in emotion and groove earning big crowd reactions.

Elsewhere, Manchester’s fast-rising electro-pop collective Porij brought infectious enthusiasm to the festival. Their blend of indie, dance, and house beats created a vibrant atmosphere, getting the crowd moving with pulsating synths and smooth, genre-defying vocals. Tracks like Unpredictable and Nobody Scared showcased their knack for danceable, intelligent songwriting, and their playful stage presence cemented them as a festival favourite.

Electronic music enthusiasts were drawn to the set from Douvelle19, who delivered a deep, atmospheric performance packed with pulsating bass and intricate sound design. Whilst Cardiff's Half Happy delivered luscious swells of dreamy guitar pop melodies and flowing vocals.

Porij

Beyond the headliners, the festival also provided a platform for emerging Welsh talent, with local artists adding a raw, authentic energy to the event. From SP Afro Collective who kicked things off with their high energy rhythms and tight grooves, to Cardiff's Razkid who brought his versatile grime productions to life, through to Waterpistol who shared their visceral 60's-inspired psychadelia, the line-up truly catered for all with a rich diversity in sound.

Immersed Festival isn’t just about music - it’s about fostering a broader cultural experience. The festival’s art installations and immersive theatre performances added a multisensory element to the day. Walk-through exhibits and live murals transformed the Tramshed into a living, breathing gallery space, offering festival-goers an opportunity to engage with visual storytelling alongside the music.

Sustainability was another key theme this year, with the festival partnering with Music Declares Emergency to raise awareness about environmental issues in the music industry. Stalls encouraged attendees to consider the environmental impact of live events, promoting greener practices and sustainable audience participation.

With its commitment to supporting both emerging talent and sustainability, it continues to stand out as one of Cardiff’s most innovative festivals. The seamless curation by the University of South Wales students showcased their dedication and passion for the creative industries, ensuring that Immersed remains a key date in Wales’ cultural calendar for years to come showcasing the very best in talent from South Wales and beyond.

w: https://immersedfestival.co.uk/festival/

Photo Credit: Scarlett Carlos Clarke

Self Esteem AKA Rebecca Lucy Taylor today has released her new single ‘If Not Now, It’s Soon’ which debuted as BBC Radio 1’s Hottest Record and is taken from the forthcoming new record A Complicated Woman, due for release on 25 April. Continuing the thematics with its orchestral vocals and choir-esque sound, the track's empowering sound serves as another exciting taster of what's to come. “You wonder who it was who made the choices in that town”, she sings, questioning her treatment of herself, while actress - and friend - Julie Hesmondalgh gives a call to arms: “Something will happen because it’s got to - it’s not just perseverance we need, it’s patience.” It is about marrying the two things, Taylor explains: “Personally, you have to wait and one day you’ll get somewhere less painful. But the world will hopefully get somewhere less painful too. It’s about hope, perseverance and patience!” Take a listen/watch for yourselves below.

Self Esteem - UK tour
15 September - O2 Academy, Birmingham
16 September - Usher Hall, Edinburgh
18 September - O2 City Hall, Newcastle
20 September - Barrowland Ballroom, Glasgow
21 September - Barrowland Ballroom, Glasgow
24 September - 3Olympia Theatre, Dublin
27 September - Academy, Manchester
28 September - Academy, Manchester
03 October - The Beacon, Bristol
04 October - The Beacon, Bristol
09 October - O2 Academy Brixton, London
10 October - O2 Academy Brixton, London
17 October - Brighton Centre
18 October - Utilita Arena, Sheffield

i: https://www.instagram.com/selfesteemselfesteem