Motown was an era where Black people found sound and made it their own. But what really happened was romance translating itself into rhythm. Black artists became the pillar of romance, the agents of romance. Black artists realised a conscience that ought to set us free; Black artists realised love. The Mic's Bea Kasale reports. Diana Ross I sat in oblivion, really comfortably, for I did not know that melodies could feel like caresses. I didn’t know lyrics could sound like co

Last year, Kelburn Garden Party returned to the West Coast of Scotland for its 15th celebration, and it's safe to say that since then, the Kelburn crew have been busy, busy, busy… The Mic's Abi Kara-Fernandes reports. From collaborating with Gilded Balloon and Paradise Palms Bars and Events to bring the new multi-genre venue, The Gilded Saloon, to Edinburgh, to the Halloween Haunted Forest at Kelburn Estate, Kelburn Arts are showing no sign of slowing down. This summer, they

A true trailblazer and master of many crafts, the artist and filmmaker Gina Birch is a woman who lives life on her own terms. As a founding member of a true "Favourite Band's Favourite Band," The Raincoats, she paved the way along with the likes of The Slits for a female and feminist voice to become commonplace in punk. Today, she releases equally boundary and button-pushing solo music, and was recently the face of the seminal Women in Revolt! exhibition which toured London,

Pict, live at The Bodega Each year, Beat the Streets transforms Nottingham into a city-wide celebration of grassroots music, with venues and organisers raising money for Framework, the local charity helping people who experience homelessness across the East Midlands. More than just a gig-hopping exercise, the event brings together artists, promoters and audiences around a shared commitment to community and accessible creative spaces. From early afternoon sets to late-night cl

Liz Clarke sits down (no pun intended) with James bassist and founding member Jim Glennie to discuss their newest compilation and upcoming tour.

As the rise of Artificial Intelligence continues to threaten the very existence of the arts, the influx of AI-generated music on digital music platforms has alarming implications for both artists and listeners alike. With the future of music deeply implicated by this increasing number of AI-generated tracks, musical artists valuing their creativity and rights are pushing back against this unprecedented competition whilst fans are refusing to yield to the machine. The Mic's Fr

Over 50 years old and as relevant as ever, calling What’s Going On  a classic would be doing it a disservice – it’s essential. The idea of labelling it a classic implies it holds importance to the past and has done its job. However, I believe it is just as important today as when it first released – and still has much more to say. What's Going On - Marvin Gaye As a White, British middle-class twenty-year-old in 2025, it’s not easy to fully comprehend the significance and cult

A scene known for its technical, jazzy post-rock associated bands, the London ‘Windmill Scene’ is already responsible for a host of giants in modern British indie rock, such as Black Country New Road, Black Midi and Maruja. There’s one band that boasts a sound completely distinct from their peers, though, and that’s Manchester-based Westside Cowboy. Often being tagged under genres like power pop and slacker rock, the four-piece often rejects complex arrangements in favour of

Riding the wave of their successful appearance at Tramlines 2025 and their subsequent recent single Summertime , Sundress electrified the stage at their first headline show in Sheffield on January 30, 2026, accompanied with fellow South Yorkshire-based and shoegaze-centred supporting guests. The Mic’s Josh Holmes reports.   Even before the announcement of their first ever headlining show, I was already well acquainted with Sheffield indie pop outfit Sundress. An excellent se

From October 29 to December 6, 2025, post-punk band Chameleons (previously The Chameleons) embarked on the European leg of their Arctic Moon album tour following the release of the tour’s eponymous album on September 12 the same year, with special guests including shoegaze pioneers The Veldt. The tour saw Chameleons dominating the stage at Rescue Rooms in Nottingham on November 17 after their most recent reformation revitalised the previously disbanded 80s band. The Mic’s Da

A brand new Nottingham rock band with an exhilarating live performance that commands attention, Jahrel JP and the Future fuse blues, melodic alt rock, metal and post-punk into a combination that is turning heads in the local scene. At this year's Beat The Streets, Liz Clarke caught up with frontman Jahrel to discuss the growth of a true scene out of Nottingham, the development of his band up to this point, and their forthcoming debut EP Step Inside ... You’ve just released y

A recent recipient of a YNot festival Musicians ’  Next Level award, I sat down with the London and Derby based pop singer Terrianne after her electrifying set at Beat The Streets to discuss the realities of being a woman in the music industry, the development of a distinct visual and performance style, and her business of offering free singing lessons to those struggling with anxiety. How would you describe yourself and your musical style? I make gritty, powerhouse, pop, a l

At just 19 years old, and despite his multiple degenerative issues, Jim E. Brown's surreal, satirical brand of indie jangle pop left a lasting impact on The Grove, highlighting that the digital sensation has built a subculture in the unlikeliest of ways. Liz Clarke reports. Having returned this year from a long hiatus, the first support act, Nottingham’s Burly Nagasaki , operate in an appropriately unique realm for a bill like this, with the fact that they have songs about t

2025 has proven itself to be an incredible year for music. Throughout the industry, artists were taking big steps to reinvent their sounds, push boundaries between genres, and explore new emotional and sonic territories. This year saw veterans like Pulp and Suede return with records that balance nostalgia of the Britpop era with urgent modernity, while newcomers like Model/Actriz helped redefine what rock and punk can sound like today. Across pop, indie, electronic, rock, lat

For the penultimate night of the 2025 leg of their huge The Clearing world tour, Wolf Alice graced Nottingham's own Motorpoint Arena with a confidence and conviction which highlights exactly what makes them special and secures their position as part of a new generation of rock royalty. Liz Clarke reports. It’s always a little tough not to be sceptical when indie festival mainstays announce their first arena tours, even if their popularity has long proven them to be ready. The

If you’re looking for a great night out dancing, and you like your music to have some meat to it, Jungle Jazz is the way to go. If it’s talent you want, there’s nowhere better to start than the man himself, Tokyo’s finest, Takuya Nakamura. The Mic's Maisy Harnett reports 11:30pm in the rainy Brickworks carpark smoking area and people are slowly shuffling back down into the basement. Following large colourful paper lanterns through the mass of hot bodies, I sneak my way to th

Emerging from the East Coast US city of Baltimore, Maryland, Virtua dx (@ virtuadx ) have already carved out something of a cult following after the release of their colourful, dance-influenced shoegaze album Guitarpop Forever  in mid-2025. With a DIY production style and engrossing mixes of nostalgic samples alongside raw guitars, there’s a charm to the band’s music that few in the US shoegaze underground can replicate. I had the chance to sit down with band founder and prin

With the success of their new album Reverie and their EP Hand Me Downs , Amble’s 2025 tour felt like a victory lap for the Irish folk band. Nowhere was this clearer than at their first ever gig at Sheffield’s Foundry, where the trio were greeted with a reception worthy of folk royalty. The Mic's Charlie Gadd reports. Cork-based band Maicín started off the night with a storming 30-minute set that took us through their post-punk catalogue. From jagged guitars to dreamlike syn

The UK is introducing strict caps on ticket resales to stop touts from inflating prices. Artists and fans have long demanded these reforms amid rising frustration with inflated resale costs and chaotic ticketing systems. Ticketing companies are pushing back, but the new rules mark a major step toward fairer access for fans. The Mic's Ben Dale reports. Hayley Williams of Paramore , Todd Owyoung/NBC, Getty Images On November 13th 2025, acts like Dua Lipa , Radiohead , and The

Opening in November 2014, Rough Trade in Nottingham quickly became a hub of musical talent, where artists and fans alike can connect, doubling as a record shop during the day (the biggest in the Hockley area). The Mic's Emily Rogers reports. It follows in the footsteps of its predecessors across London and New York. The Nottingham branch has been blessed with performances by Little Simz, Fontaines D.C., English teacher, and many more fantastic artists. The location is invalua