Some bands clearly need no introduction. VOIVOD are clearly progressive thrash metal legends, and are definitely capable of selling clubs wherever they go. Pair them with blackened thrash heroes MIDNIGHT, and an appetising yet bizarre menu is set. Unusually, Rebellion hosted this co-headline monolith which is strange as the iconic Manchester venue rarely hosts shows where more than one headliner is involved in, so not only is the lineup slightly random, with having blackened

June 2026 marks the first Bulletproof Festival, a three-day event placing grassroots music culture at the centre of its mission. As part of the Music For The Many campaign, Bulletproof has spotlighted the importance of grassroots venues. Recognising their role in showcasing emerging talent and providing accessible, affordable live music within local communities. Across four grassroots venues in Hackney, presenting over thirty bands, festival-goers were invited to explore some

This was to be a night of firsts. First tours, first time touching down on UK soil, first live experience of already loved bands, but what was familiar was the energy in the room buzzing as five-hundred people filed in, every inch of the venue filled shoulder to shoulder with excited gig goers, the electrifying anticipation of a night to remember hanging in the atmosphere. Taking to the modest sized stage that seemed as if it wouldn’t be big enough to house this five piece gr

Walking into Deaf Institute, the first thing that stood out was how little space there was on stage. With two drum kits already set up and equipment squeezed into every available corner, it felt like all three bands would have a challenge on their hands before a note had even been played. As the venue slowly filled, a selection of DAVID BOWIE tracks played over the speakers before ROBBIE WILLIAMS' Let Me Entertain You welcomed the first support act to the stage. Opening the n

The room became one as a sea of two-hundred onlookers swayed back and forth in rhythmic timing to the hypnotic synth tune sphere of annihilation. Entranced by the sound, it was clear that this moment would be career defining for IVRI. The Theory of You Tour Pt. 2 marked the first time IVRI not only played in London, but embarked on an international tour. With the London show fully sold out, anticipation buzzed around the room in conversations between likeminded fans, many of

Slam Dunk? We believe so! In fact, the festival's twentieth birthday had one of the strongest weekends to date. The duelling dates at both Leeds and Hatfield rarely miss, but this year sunk the basket with its most ambitious roster yet. Staying true to its pop-punk roots, American high-fliers GOOD CHARLOTTE take the headlining slot, flanked by TAKING BACK SUNDAY and DASHBOARD CONFESSIONAL. On the newer, heavier rebranding of their other main stage, hardcore takes precedent wi

For the last twenty-five years, Birmingham’s most beloved heavy music pub Scruffy Murphy’s has sat nestled on the edge of the city centre, serving the alternative scene from the nu-metal days to now. But underneath the bar is where the real magic happens. With a dinky 130 person capacity, the pub’s live music venue is the perfect size for intimate, explosive shows – and that’s exactly what BODYWEB are primed to deliver. Fresh off of their tour supporting hardcore heroes SPEED

Closing off the tour for their new EP Our World, ALT BLK ERA played a sold out home town show at Nottingham’s Rescue Rooms. Nottingham‑born sister duo Nyrobi and Chaya are reshaping the UK alternative landscape with a sound that fuses rock, drum’n’bass, rap, trap and dark pop into something unmistakably fresh. Rising from their DIY beginnings during lockdown, to winning MOBO awards, the band have built a world where they cause genre boundaries to cease existence and where ide

SIM have travelled six thousand miles over to the UK to play at Slam Dunk Festival, so while on their trip over, they surprised their London fans with a one off show! Taking place at the Signature Brew Blackhorse Road, the small venue was packed to the brim with their biggest fans. Their last show in London was in November 2024, so it is needless to say the fans have been waiting patiently. Supporting them was the UK’s own DEADWAX, coming over from Yorkshire. The band brings

BLACK LABEL SOCIETY have been a band that have been wowing audiences since 1998. For a band to have this much notoriety they must be doing something more than right, and their latest UK tour has solidified why they have evolved into the iconic band they are today. Opening the evening were DARK CHAPEL. Fronted by Dario Lorina from BLACK LABEL SOCIETY, the band are fairly new in their formation, however played as though they had been doing this for decades. Opening with Afterg

Bearded Theory is a festival built upon the collective love of music. A true celebration of everything that makes festivals so magical. Everyone who attends seems to be there for the same reason: to see some great acts with a great crowd. Every hour you’re there, you will have another insightful conversation with a stranger. You can attend without knowing a single act on the bill, but you’ll end up with a list of people to see, recommended to you by anyone you run into. The

HAGGARD CAT are a band that are consistently pushing the boundaries of what it means to be creative. Having released their third album The Pain That Orbits Life, the Nottingham duo are on tour to celebrate not only the new release, but the fantastic work they have created up until now. Taking to the stage first was ARID WAVE, a Southampton based grunge metal three piece that had the prospect of warming up a crowd on one of the hottest weeks of the year. The band managed to s

DEAD PONY didn’t arrive so much as evolve into the scene. What began as a scrappy Glasgow project, found its shape in cramped rehearsal rooms and late‑night arguments about riffs, identity, and how heavy was “too heavy.” By the time they re‑emerged under their new name, the edges had sharpened: Anna Shields’ vocals carried more bite, the guitars more swagger, the rhythms more intent. Their sound became a kind of forward motion, restless, adrenalised, impossible to pin down.

One of the most renowned progressive rock instrumentalists, PLINI rose up high from Down Under, taking his third studio album An Unnameable Desire on tour right after its recent release last month. An almost entirely silent show, it still possesses the force to leave the visitors speechless, crushing them with the immense sound of electric guitars and layered melodies that create a mesmerising effect. Even when there is little movement across the room, this night is turned in

What better way to start a warm bank holiday weekend than with the first of several Slam Dunk side shows, headlined by the wonderful DRIVEWAYS, with support from Brighton-based alt rock duo HELL HOTEL. Manchester welcomed the Boston-based 2000s-inspired pop-punk band to the Rebellion stage with open arms for their first time performing in the city, ahead of their weekend performance at Slam Dunk Festival. HELL HOTEL were up first, with the dynamic duo Demi Jay Broadhead and T

We are back at Camden Town’s premier celebration of bone-dry guitars, nasty tones, Orange amps, Red Stripe beer, sick-ass riffs, and desert rock madness known as “Desertfest”. Once again, for those not in the know, Desertfest is the home of Stoner/Doom/Psych metal in the UK. And just for your convenience, dear reader, your reviewer-photographer dream-team (who are currently recovering their necks from three days solid of riff-slanging and head bangin’) are here to give you th

Hopping across the pond for the first time since 2022, the Canadian singer-songwriter LIGHTS is bringing her sixth album A6 on a near sold-out UK tour. This body of work is LIGHTS in her truest form, produced and fully owned by the artist herself. The synth-pop star managed to pour her joy into the rest of us tonight, sharing this sacred moment with the London crowd. In her own words: "We’re humans, we’re not AI, so let’s get together and dance!" It’s a Friday night at the Ga

JOEY VALENCE & BRAE brought their unwavering positivity and energy to their biggest ever headline set at The Roundhouse. Opening the night was up and coming pop forward hip-hop group WHATMORE who got the crowd warmed up in a brief thirty-minute set showcasing all their influences. Opening with DJ led mixes whilst each member showcases their lyrical flow. The crowd started to dance and celebrate the joy that is live music. The group then transitioned into showcasing their inst

There's a quote that circulated the room at New Cross Inn on the 4th of May, by one of the organisers: "hardcore exists for shit like this." Not for streetwear. Not for big corporations. For this - an afternoon of music, community, and solidarity that raised over £4,000 for Palestinian relief, packed into one of South East London's most beloved grassroots venues. Punks for Palestine was not an event defined by a rigid definition of being ‘punk’. What followed throughout the d

Rolling into Manchester for the highly anticipated God Forbid A Girl Goes On Tour, the night promised huge energy from three artists all bringing something completely different to the stage. Opening the night was Canadian indie-pop artist DAWSON GAMBLE, performing a more intimate solo set without the full band behind him. Even stripped back, his mix of catchy melodies, emotional vocals and guitar-driven indie pop instantly grabbed the crowd’s attention. By the final song, the