Modern-day shoegazers Whitelands have become faces of the UK’s shoegaze revival scene. After a fruitful tour opening for dream pop legends Slowdive in 2024, as well as the release of their ethereal debut Night-bound Eyes Are Blind To The Day , the band have returned with 2026’s Sunlight Echoes , a vivid shoegaze LP that brilliantly focuses on refined pop songwriting. As the band set out on another tour, this time as headliners, I caught up with vocalist & guitarist Etienne an

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,

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

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

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

It’s an exciting time for US shoegaze revival band she’s green. Originating in the midwest city of Minneapolis, the band have attracted a cult following of nearly half a million monthly listeners on streaming platforms. With a uniquely nature-inspired approach to songwriting, and a gorgeous sound that blends dream pop and shoegaze with a great focus on swirling texture, there’s no wonder the band’s roaring set at the Bodega opening for Softcult drew an enthusiastic crowd resp

The reformation of The Pains of Being Pure at Heart saw the beloved indie-pop band celebrating their 15th year anniversary of their 2009 self-titled debut album with a grand reunion tour and a new compilation album earlier this year. Following their first show together after 7 years in February, the band have continued into the UK leg of their tour, performing at Nottingham’s Metronome on Tuesday night. The Mic’s Josh Holmes reports, sitting down with the band just before th

Sheffield indie pop four-piece Sundress (@wearesundress) have recently been making waves, in no small part thanks to their dreamy sound and a string of appearances at high-profile UK festivals such as Tramlines. Recently, the band played a lush set in Rough Trade as part of the Keeping Music Live tour, organised by music university institution WaterBear.

Few could claim to have such a wide-reaching influence upon underground music and culture in the last 30 years as David Pajo. The influence of Spiderland , the wiry, disconcerting odyssey that he and his band Slint made when they were barely adults can be seen everywhere: from the anxious jitters of early London Windmill Scene bands, to North American post-hardcore, to the noise rock scenes in Asia and South America. The pleasure was all Ria Serena 's when she got to sit down

Rooted in Nottingham, LDYA pours her personal stories into heartfelt soul music that moves both heart and feet, creating an atmosphere that pulls you in on and off stage. We had the pleasure of seeing LDYA live at JamCafé during Nottingham’s Hockley Hustle this October, where her soulful energy lit up the room. The atmosphere was electric, a true sense of community ran through the crowd as she wove heartfelt stories between songs, drawing everyone in. Her rich, personal lyric

Emily Sanders, a Nottingham-local, is acclaimed for her vulnerability and distinct voice. She is an artist with an ability to converge grunge, R&B, and pop. With two incredible singles out now, and more certain to come, Emily Sanders is a local artist to focus on. The Mic’s Daniela Roux  reports.   Emily and I chatted initially, exchanging niceties and introducing ourselves. As I knew we were both music lovers, I asked her what I would ask a friend... Q: What music have you b

Known predominantly for his 1969 record, Ode to Quetzalcoatl , David Bixby's music is that of a true original: deeply intimate, spiritually powerful psychedelic folk embedded with a powerful sense of both hope and crushing loneliness. The Mic's own Ria Serena sat down with Bixby to discuss religion, his experiences of having been shipwrecked whilst working as a sailor, and the absolute power of music to carry one through the void of depression. I had always entertained the i

Following on from Revolver’s recent Nottingham performance, I was pleased to catch up with frontman Mat Flint regarding the band’s recent reformation, as well as its history. Throughout the conversation, he has an optimistic, confident and polite demeanour, and seems more than excited that life and circumstance has returned him to the pioneering shoegaze band he first formed as a teenager. Throughout the conversation, we touched upon the past, present and future of the music

Whilst speaking to him, it felt as though Ndabezinhle was actively ascending into his passion, getting lost in it and finding his gravity in it all at the same time. It was as though he was resting whilst being fuelled simultaneously. The Mic's Bea Kasale reports. The Original Cover of 33 Tall, Dark & Formidable — What might it sound like when a Black man cries? It’s many a time that I am softened by the quaint nature of creation. I am caressed and swayed gently each time m

Welly was back at Nottingham’s The Bodega  for the second time this year. His self-deprecation is an extremely humble act, because there is no way that what Welly is experiencing right now is anything but a comeuppance. Having released their debut album “Big in the Suburbs” in March this year, the band is surrounded by an air of excitement and budding recognition. “They say you play the Bodega twice –once on the way up and... nice to see you again”, Welly quipped. The Mic's A

A Nottingham-based DIY musician working in the realm of dreamy, eccentric bedroom pop and indie rock, familyfriend. is one to watch in...

Ria Serena Many moons ago, I had the good fortune to speak to lo-fi extraordinaire (and now Facebook friend!) Martin Newell , best known as the talented maverick behind Cleaners from Venus .   Newell’s discography reads like a love letter to the eccentricities hidden within life’s mundanities. Full of poetic anecdotes, jangling melodies, and his signature wry charm, his music captures the true essence of English whimsy and wistful nostalgia.   I first discovered Newell’s musi

A tale of spirituality, redemption and wisdom, the post-punker reflects on his antics and how he’s sought solace in his new appeal to faith... When I say Jah Wobble, you’d probably think of a plethora of things.  Post-punk maverick. Dub extraordinaire. Legendary bassist.  However, I don’t think a 66-year-old Cockney bloke who can perfectly recall the Buddhist suttas, would first come to mind... For context, Jah is the musical mastermind behind several projects, most notably b