March was another gig-filled month for us, and we enjoyed listening to music old and new. With our usual mix of artists discovered through seeing live and those we just couldn’t stop listening to, we recommend checking out all our artists of the week!
Week 1: Florentenes
We love discovering new artists as openers and this week introduced us to Florentenes, a Manchester based indie rock band made up of William Smith (vocals), Luke Holding (guitar), Harry Stubbs (bass) and Liam Fiddy (drums).
Despite their young age (ranging from 15-18), this band is undeniably talented, having been compared to indie legends such as Arctic Monkeys and The Strokes. Started in lockdown in their bedrooms, the band have already made a name for themselves in the local scene and have gained plenty of live experience over the past year, supporting artists such as The Royston Club, Jamie Webster and The Guest List. They are currently working towards the release of their debut album, working with producer Dave Eringa (Manic Street Preachers, The Who etc.).
Their latest single ‘The Gun’ has had us hooked from the second we heard it, and has an insane energy live too! Be sure to check this skilled young band out, they are destined for great things we’re sure.
Week 2: Radio Free Alice
We’ve had Radio Free Alice on our radar for a while now, but recently, their name has been everywhere—and for good reason. The five-piece post-punk outfit from Melbourne has been turning heads with their brazenly distinctive sound, blending biting vocals (think Robert Smith) with the sharp twangs and murmuring synths of classic Joy Division and The Smiths influences.
Formed in Melbourne’s thriving underground scene, the band quickly built a reputation for their brooding yet urgent sound—melding crisp, melodic guitars with a moody, driving rhythm section. Their music strikes a balance between sharp, poetic lyricism and raw, unfiltered energy, creating a soundscape that feels both nostalgic and fresh. Lyrically, they tap into themes of disillusionment, longing, and introspection, painting vivid portraits of modern life with an unmistakable edge.
Their latest track, “Empty Words”, has been on repeat since it dropped last week. Written on the road during their UK tour, the track revisits Katie—a character first introduced in Look What You’ve Done—and delivers another dose of their gloomy, yet electrifying energy.
With two EPs to their name, a spot on NME’s 100 watch list, and a stacked year that’s seen them open for The Killers and hit SXSW, it feels like they’re only just getting started. We’re still kicking ourselves for missing their UK shows, but fingers crossed they’re back soon.
Week 3: Keo
Keo are an alternative rock band currently making waves in the London music scene. Led by brothers Finn (vocals, guitar) and Conor (bass) Keogh, Keo have already built themselves a dedicated fanbase despite the absence of music on streaming services (until now!). The Keogh brothers grew up surrounded by live music, touring with their father’s Irish folk band throughout their childhood. You can hear these folk influences in their songwriting, blended with inspirations from 90s grunge classics such as Nirvana and Pearl Jam.
Highly anticipated single ‘I Lied, Amber’ was released on streaming services today, a powerful and emotive song which illustrates how Finn’s raspy vocals complement the band’s unique yet nostalgic sound. You can also check out ‘Fly’ and ‘Crow’ on their SoundCloud.
Keo received an enthusiastic reception opening for Nieve Ella in February and early March and are supporting overpass on a few dates at the end of the month. We were lucky to catch them at Oslo in Hackney last night for a momentus headline show and they are one of those bands you have to see live to truly understand the hype. Keep an eye out for them on festival line ups over the coming months such as The Great Escape and Dot to Dot, if you have a chance to see them live you don’t want to miss it!
Listen on Spotify and Soundcloud
Week 4: Slate
Slate are an exciting Welsh four-piece emerging from Cardiff’s growing music scene and we can’t stop listening to them! With a brooding, new-wave post punk sound, the band explore topics such as national identity and self-reflection. They have a clear talent for balancing intensity with melody in their music, each instrument bringing unique contributions to the band’s sound as a whole and complementing their poetic lyricism.
After releasing singles ‘Tabernacl’ and ‘St Agatha’ in 2023, the band released their first EP ‘Deathless’ last year. As a cohesive body of work, Deathless showcases the band’s storytelling expertise and their ability to draw influences from music and poetry old and new. Having heard some of their unreleased songs live, we also can’t wait for what’s to come from Slate in the future.
Live performance is another area where Slate shine as a band. We saw them live at the Sebright Arms a couple of weeks ago and the performance blew us away. For a relatively new band, they have a striking ability to command the stage and conjure an intense, moody atmosphere, interlacing released and unreleased songs with spoken word poetry. Definitely check them out live if you get a chance!