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Liverpool’s Sound City 2026 Drops First Wave Lineup Featuring Westside Cowboy, Brooke Combe, and Teenage Joans
Liverpool’s multi-venue festival of talent discovery, Sound City 2026, has announced its first wave of artists, bringing together indie’s rising stars, punk upstarts, and new pop sensations. Following the rapid sell-out of early bird tickets for the three-day event, Sound City, which opens with the Sound City+ Conference on Friday, May 1, and continues with two days of live music, is demonstrating that its keen talent scouting is sharper than ever. The festival is already welcoming back two previous small-stage artists as headliners this year: Keo and Jalen Ngonda will both perform at the ornate, 3,500-capacity St George’s Hall, setting a high standard for the emerging acts on the bill. This first wave announcement is packed with genre-defying prospects and future figureheads. Bouncing into national recognition after their debut ‘This Better Be Something Great EP’, Manchester four-piece Westside Cowboy leads the charge, heading into 2026 as folkish, infectious indie figureheads. They are joined by Australian powerhouse duo Teenage Joans—Tahlia Borg and Cahli Blakers—who make a stop in Liverpool for the first time during their debut UK tour, promising songs from their album ‘The Rot That Grows Inside My Chest’. Adding fuel to the rock and roll fire, sibling mod duo The Molotovs will arrive for the weekend following the release of their debut album, ‘Wasted On Youth’, in January. The lineup also features buzzed-about London acts Saint Clair and ashnymph, along with Brighton’s complex math-rock risers, SLAG, making for a truly intriguing alternative music compendium.
Sophisticated nu-soul stalwart Brooke Combe returns to Sound City 2026 having previously taken her songbook to overlooked UK towns on the Sound City Tour. She will be joined by similarly exciting and emotive solo artists like Liverpool’s soul-inspired MT Jones and prodigious multi-instrumentalist songwriter Blossom Caldarone. Tik-Tok-borne sensations are also highly represented, with Lincolnshire’s Cherryholt making their debut and guaranteed to draw a huge crowd after their song “Irresistible” caught fire online. The festival also welcomes back hometown heroes Keyside, along with Wigan’s The Lilacs, who bring loud, sing-along crowd-favorites. Sound City’s Managing Director, Becky Ayres, is thrilled, saying: “Sound City has always been about discovering tomorrow’s superstars today: giving artists the platform to grow, connect with audiences, and take their first steps toward global success. This first wave gives a glimpse of the unforgettable experiences waiting for audiences in the world capital of music, Liverpool, in 2026.”
Sophisticated nu-soul stalwart Brooke Combe returns to Sound City 2026 having previously taken her songbook to overlooked UK towns on the Sound City Tour. She will be joined by similarly exciting and emotive solo artists like Liverpool’s soul-inspired MT Jones and prodigious multi-instrumentalist songwriter Blossom Caldarone. Tik-Tok-borne sensations are also highly represented, with Lincolnshire’s Cherryholt making their debut and guaranteed to draw a huge crowd after their song “Irresistible” caught fire online. The festival also welcomes back hometown heroes Keyside, along with Wigan’s The Lilacs, who bring loud, sing-along crowd-favorites. Sound City’s Managing Director, Becky Ayres, is thrilled, saying: “Sound City has always been about discovering tomorrow’s superstars today: giving artists the platform to grow, connect with audiences, and take their first steps toward global success. This first wave gives a glimpse of the unforgettable experiences waiting for audiences in the world capital of music, Liverpool, in 2026.”
Confirmed Artists for Sound City 2026 (First Wave)
- Westside Cowboy
- Brooke Combe
- Teenage Joans
- Keo (Headliner)
- Jalen Ngonda (Headliner)
- Saint Clair
- ashnymph
- SLAG
- The Molotovs
- MT Jones
- Blossom Caldarone
- Finn Forster
- Lynnie Snow
- Jack Devlin
- Cherryholt
- Keyside
- The Lilacs
- Will Parker
- et al
Folk Music Ontario Conference Renamed the Folk Canada Conference
Members of Folk Canada voted unanimously at the 2025 annual general meeting to rename the Folk Music Ontario, Musique Folk de l’Ontario Conference as the Folk Canada Conference. The decision brings the event into full alignment with the current name of the organization.
“We want every member of our Canadian folk community to feel represented in the name we carry and the events we create. To embrace this inclusive vision, we’re excited the fortieth anniversary of our gathering launches the renamed Folk Canada Conference, and look forward to hosting the plurality of our community to celebrate this next chapter” said Folk Canada President Cécile Doo-Kingué.
The changes the organization has taken to transition from Folk Music Ontario into Folk Canada have been incremental. In 2025 Folk Music Ontario and Folk Music Canada finalized a merger process that had been many years in the making – a result of consultation with the membership at a 2019 town hall meeting. Once the new organization name was in place, Folk Canada conducted two surveys of members and conference attendees to gather feedback, which leaned favourably toward the change in conference name. The board was unanimously in favour of bringing the resolution forward, and the membership responded with full support.
The transition to the Folk Canada Conference brings no changes to the event itself. One of the largest music industry gatherings in Canada will continue to take place in Ontario for the foreseeable future. The next two editions were announced at the AGM and will take place in Hamilton, Ontario from October 14-18 in 2026 and October 13-17 in 2027.
“There are many reasons to continue hosting the conference in Ontario. We have amazing partners, members, and stakeholders in the province and it benefits our entire community to provide access to the Ontario music market.” Dennett said at the meeting. Folk Canada currently has six hundred and fifty members, with four hundred and fifty-nine residing in Ontario.
With this announcement also comes the opening of showcase applications for the Folk Canada Conference in Hamilton next October. Artists from across Canada are encouraged to apply. At the most recent conference, artists from every province and territory were selected to perform for the first time in the event’s history. “We were able to truly show what folk music in Canada sounds like from coast to coast to coast. It was an awesome achievement for our event” said Dennett.
For nearly forty years, Folk Canada has played a central role in strengthening Canada’s music ecosystem by supporting artists, industry, festivals, and presenters through year round programs, advocacy, and sector development. Folk Canada’s initiatives include the annual Folk Canada Conference, Developing Artist Program, Developing Presenters’ Program, Festivals’ Retreat, Ontario Folk Music Awards, Refolkus Podcast, international export events, and more.
Folk Canada Conference Dates
- 2026/10/14 – 2026/10/18 Hamilton, Ontario
- 2027/10/13 – 2027/10/17 Hamilton, Ontario
Monolord Announce First North American Tour Since 2022
Monolord is set to return to the United States next June for their first North American tour since 2022, trekking across the Western states for a highly anticipated run of performances. The news arrives just as the trio—Thomas Jäger on guitar and vocals, Esben Willems on drums, and Mika Häkki on bass—wraps up work on their highly anticipated fifth album. The band collectively shared: “The new album is a wrap! Recording with Sylvia Massy has been a fantastic experience and we can’t wait to bring these new songs on the road.” This tour promises to be an essential experience for fans, with Mizmor supporting the band on all dates.
The June tour will include major stops at The Regent Theater in Los Angeles and the Great American Music Hall in San Francisco, showcasing the band’s renowned heavy doom sound. The run covers a vast swath of the country, hitting cities from San Diego up to Seattle before cutting back east to Denver and Salt Lake City. Tickets for the tour go on sale this Friday, December 5, at 10 a.m. local time.
Monolord U.S. Tour Dates
- June 11 San Diego, CA Casbah
- June 12 Santa Cruz, CA The Catalyst
- June 13 San Francisco, CA Great American Music Hall
- June 14 Sacramento, CA Harlow’s
- June 16 Eugene, OR John Henry’s
- June 17 Portland, OR Nova PDX
- June 18 Seattle, WA Substation
- June 19 Bellingham, WA Structures Brewing
- June 20 Tacoma, WA Airport Tavern Music Hall
- June 23 Denver, CO Marquis Theater
- June 24 Salt Lake City, UT Urban Lounge
- June 25 Las Vegas, NV Swan Dive
- June 26 Pioneertown, CA Pappy & Harriet’s
- June 27 Los Angeles, CA The Regent Theater
cootie catcher Announces New Album ‘Something We All Got’ And Single “Straight Drop”
Toronto outfit cootie catcher announced their new album, ‘Something We All Got’, scheduled for release on February 27, 2026, via Carpark Records. They simultaneously debuted the urgent, jangly lead single “Straight Drop,” accompanied by a playful video directed by Shmutz. Vocalist/bassist Anita Fowl explained that the track emerged from the frustration of vulnerability, noting: “I can fully have a cry in front of strangers while taking the bus but then clam up when I’m in front of people I’m close with. That generally parallels my experience performing live.” This band hypercharges the open-hearted tenderness of twee pop with spiraling synths and giddy electronics, exuding both chaotic energy and gentle feelings. ‘Something We All Got’ is the most vibrant reading of their unique vision yet, featuring unguarded songs of sweetness and nervousness.
The album marks cootie catcher’s first official studio recording, though it retains the band’s sharp edges through time-honored lo-fi methods and personally-sourced samples. The three songwriters—Chavez, Fowl, and Jakupovski—share overlapping concerns, navigating the lines of romantic and platonic relationships, city social scenes, and the zoomed-out challenges of living through late-stage capitalism. The sound is explosive and upbeat, driven by euphoric guitars, bubbly synth lines, and speedy drums constantly colliding. This palpable tension between exhilarating sonics and raw, often uneasy sentiments is integral to their uniqueness, as cootie catcher fearlessly runs full-speed toward every excitement.
Track Listing for ‘Something We All Got’
- “Loiter For The Love of It”
- “Lyfestyle”
- “Straight Drop”
- “From Here to Halifax”
- “No Biggie”
- “Rhymes With Rest”
- “Quarter Note Rock”
- “Take Me For Granted”
- “Wrong Choice”
- “Gingham Dress”
- “Puzzle Pop”
- “Stick Figure”
- “Going Places”
- “Pirouette”
Sophia James Releases “So Unfair” Music Video After Viral TikTok Success
Singer/songwriter Sophia James concludes her unbelievable year with the official music video for her single “So Unfair.” The track went viral last month as part of her TikTok science experiment that created the famous “Group 7,” a phenomenon covered by major outlets including Good Morning America and The New York Times. Video 7 of her experiment exceeded all expectations, racking up 85 million views and over nine million likes, creating a cultural firestorm.
James now reinforces her position as a compelling emerging voice in pop with the new video, having amassed nearly 35 million streams and co-signs from Olivia Rodrigo, Billie Eilish, and FINNEAS. She is gearing up for her next release: a powerpop-influenced album produced by GRAMMY-nominated, multi-platinum producer Alex Bilowitz, showcasing her unique blend of indie pop, folk, jazz, and rock.
Comedian Nimesh Patel Announces ‘With All Due Disrespect’ North American Tour
Comedian and television writer, Nimesh Patel announced his 2026 North American ‘With All Due Disrespect’ Tour. Produced by Live Nation, the 7-city tour kicks off on Saturday, January 24 at The Wiltern in Los Angeles making stops across North America in Atlanta, San Francisco, Toronto and more before wrapping up in New York at The Beacon Theatre on Friday, May 1.
TICKETS: Tickets will be available starting with Artist presale beginning Wednesday, December 3. Additional presales will run throughout the week ahead of the general onsale beginning Friday, December 5 at 11am local time at LiveNation.com.
WITH ALL DUE DISRESPECT 2026 TOUR DATES:
Sat Jan 24 – Los Angeles, CA – The Wiltern
Thu Feb 20 – Seattle, WA – Moore Theatre
Thu Mar 12 – Atlanta, GA – Buckhead Theatre
Sat Mar 28 – Philadelphia, PA – Miller Theater
Sat Apr 04 – San Francisco, CA – Palace of Fine Arts
Thu Apr 30 – Toronto, ON – Meridian Hall
Fri May 01 – New York, NY – Beacon Theatre
Nick & June Debut Final Single Ahead of New Album ‘New Year’s Face’
Berlin-based duo Nick & June, featuring Nick Wolf and Suzie-Lou Kraft, debuted their final single, “You Are the Voice That’s Hunting My Soul For a Show,” ahead of their new album, ‘New Year’s Face,’ releasing this Friday. The track, which explores the internal battle between light and dark, was praised by Under the Radar for how it “ebbs and flows beautifully.” Kraft explains the song and the album’s core theme is about accepting the contradictions within ourselves, embracing both the “bright and the dark.”
The new LP, produced by Grammy-winner Peter Katis, is the result of an intimate experiment where the duo, who were ex-romantic partners, rebooted their collaboration in Bridgeport, Connecticut. The ten songs shaped by Wolf and Kraft are both fragile and resilient, exploring the bittersweet beauty of parting and renewal. The album features contributions from The Antlers’ Peter Silberman, majestic brass arrangements by members of The National, and spellbinding strings by Oscar-nominated maestro Owen Pallett.
Forest Critters Find an iPhone 17 Pro and Sing a Holiday Carol of Friendship
Adorable forest critters, including some who were sworn enemies, peacefully gathered together to sing a heartwarming holiday carol of friendship on an iPhone 17 Pro they found on the ground. This charming, handcrafted film created by Apple, titled “A Critter Carol” and shot entirely on the iPhone 17 Pro, showcases a ragtag group of woodland puppets using the lost phone to record a musical surprise for its human owner. The core message of the short film is a simple, beautiful reminder that friendship is a gift.
20 Modern Albums That Could Win Over a Gen X Dad Who Thinks the Best Music Already Happened
Every family has one: the Gen X dad who insists music peaked the moment Kurt Cobain stepped onstage, Stevie Nicks twirled in chiffon, or The Doors opened… well, theirs. He’s not wrong about how great that era was. But he might be missing out on some killer albums that carry the same spark, grit, heart, and craftsmanship he grew up loving. Here are 20 albums you can play for him.
‘Lost in the Dream’ – The War on Drugs (2014)
A warm, guitar-drenched, Springsteen-adjacent ride through nostalgia and open highways.
‘Sound & Fury’ – Sturgill Simpson (2019)
Southern rock, psychedelia, and grit with an animated film to match its swagger.
‘A Black Mile to the Surface’ – Manchester Orchestra (2017)
Cinematic modern rock with the emotional heft of ’90s alt classics.
‘Boarding House Reach’ – Jack White (2018)
A wild, experimental, blues-soaked detour that still delivers the raw guitar grit Gen X rock fans love.
‘Blue Rev’ – Alvvays (2022)
Dreamy guitars and big hooks — like The Cranberries updated for a new era.
‘Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe in You’ – Big Thief (2022)
Organic, rootsy, poetic — the kind of record that feels instantly timeless.
‘Patience’ – Mannequin Pussy (2019)
Sharp, fiery rock energy that echoes the urgency of ’90s punk and alt.
‘Lush’ – Snail Mail (2018)
Earnest, guitar-driven indie with the spirit of Liz Phair and ’90s DIY charm.
‘I’m In Your Mind Fuzz’ – King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard (2014)
A blast of psychedelic fuzz-rock perfect for classic-rock obsessives.
‘Engine of Hell’ – Emma Ruth Rundle (2021)
A sparse, emotional knockout — raw enough to stop a room cold.
‘Gentle Grip’ – Public Practice (2020)
Post-punk grooves with a Talking Heads pulse and vintage swagger.
‘Good Woman’ – The Staves (2021)
Rich harmonies and emotional storytelling — a modern folk-rock gem.
‘Manning Fireworks’ – MJ Lenderman (2022)
Gritty, loose, guitar-led rock with flashes of Wilco and Dinosaur Jr.
‘Everyone’s Crushed’ – Water From Your Eyes (2023)
Angular, weird, and surprisingly catchy — alt-rock experimentation done right.
‘New Long Leg’ – Dry Cleaning (2021)
Deadpan spoken delivery over wiry guitars — Sonic Youth by way of modern London.
‘Rabbit, Rabbit’ – Speedy Ortiz (2023)
Knotty alt-rock riffs with a fierce, intelligent edge.
‘Flock’ – Jane Weaver (2021)
A lush swirl of psychedelia, glam, and cosmic pop.
‘Foul Form’ – Thee Oh Sees (2012)
Chaotic, loud, and electrifying — tailor-made for rock traditionalists.
‘Night Palace’ – Mount Eerie (2022)
Quiet, atmospheric, and deeply felt — music that rewards patience and stillness.
‘Jubilee’ – Japanese Breakfast (2021)
Bright, uplifting indie pop with rich production and emotional depth.