TikTok Killed the Video Star: Introducing The Man The Myth The Meatslab

Armed with a £20 Akai mic, a notepad of whimsical lyrics, and the enviable ability to capture the hearts of the TikTok masses, Jamie Clarke, aka The Man The Myth The Meatslab is a sensational emerging indie-folk artist carving his own path. Taking inspiration from Bon Iver, Japanese Breakfast and Alex G, the London-based singer-songwriter has a knack of defining the little things, with his new EP ‘Until the Comet Came’ dropping on January 30 ahead of a UK tour in March. “I’d love it if people can find some peace and comfort in the songs and attach them to moments that feel relevant to the music in their life,” he says of his work.

Written by: James Palaczky | Date: Wednesday, 28 January 2026

Shared Anxieties: La Dispute Reflect on 'No One Was Driving The Car' Prior to UK Shows

Photo: Martin Music can be visceral, and bands such as La Dispute really amplify that characteristic. For 20 years, the Grand Rapids post-hardcore group have told raw stories in increasingly brutal ways, leading up to their latest offering, ‘No One Was Driving The Car’.

Written by: Jack Butler-Terry | Date: Wednesday, 21 January 2026

Next Gen: Stereoboard's Ones To Watch in 2026

Every year throws up its share of potential stars or genre-defining talents, with scenes ebbing and flowing in terms of prominence and game-breaking excitement. Join us as we run through 15 bands and musicians with the sort of spark that might light a fire under 2026, from pop auteurs to rap technicians and ragged rockers.

Written by: Stereoboard | Date: Monday, 19 January 2026

Spilling The Tea: The Beaches on 'No Hard Feelings' and Their UK Tour

With pop pedigree and enviable cool on their side, The Beaches are one of the most exciting bands in the world right now. Having released their third studio album ‘No Hard Feelings’ last summer, the Canadian quartet — bassist-vocalist Jordan Miller, guitarist Kylie Miller, drummer Eliza Enman-McDaniel and multi-instrumentalist Leandra Earl — will soon kick off the latest leg of their world tour with a string of UK shows, starting in Manchester on February 11 before heading to Bristol, Leeds, Birmingham, Glasgow and London, where they’ll play the O2 Academy Brixton.

Written by: Laura Mills | Date: Thursday, 15 January 2026

All The Places We've Been: Midlake Reflect On 'A Bridge To Far' Prior To UK Tour

Photo: Shaina Sheaff When beloved Americana band Midlake convened to discuss their future a short time ago, they considered calling time on their 20 year career. It would have made their upcoming tour a valedictory affair; one last chance to commune and celebrate with fans. Instead, the ties that bind this close-knit Texan sextet resulted in their new album ‘A Bridge To Far’, arguably the best of the trio of records they have released since original frontman and songwriter Tim Smith departed in 2012. It’s a widescreen-yet-reflective, personal record that draws on both their alt-folk beginnings and the dusty desert rock of their more recent work.

Written by: Jeremy Blackmore | Date: Tuesday, 06 January 2026

The List: Stereoboard's Top Tickets Of 2025

td#right {display:none !important;} There were 50,844,461 searches for the top 100 most popular artists' tour dates over the past 12 months via Stereoboard. Oasis obviously continued to take up those virtual column inches with one of the biggest reunions of the decade, but the return no-one saw coming was Lily Allen, who raised eyebrows the world over with her tea-spilling, banger-filled new record. Luke Combs proved that country's time in the mainstream is far from over, and Ariana Grande announced she was returning to the road, but the news was bittersweet. Find out why below, while checking out our Top 50 tours of 2025.

Written by: Laura Johnson | Date: Monday, 22 December 2025

The List: Stereoboard's 50 Best Albums of 2025

td#right {display:none !important;} Welcome to Stereoboard's Album of the Year rundown for 2025, where we delve into 12 months of intriguing, joyous, confrontational, conversation-starting music through the lens of 50 incredible albums selected by our team of reviewers. Join us.  

Written by: Stereoboard | Date: Monday, 15 December 2025

The Best Metal Shows of 2025 (And How to See Them Again in 2026)

This might have been the greatest year for heavy metal live shows in a generation. In July, Ozzy Osbourne’s retirement gig brought the entire genre together for one stadium-filling moment of reverence, but that was just the tip of the iceberg. From Iron Maiden to Ice Nine Kills, multiple bands have graduated to their biggest leagues yet, while the underground is full-to-bursting with promising talent. And, the momentum already seems set to continue in 2026.

Written by: Matt Mills | Date: Monday, 08 December 2025

Hottest Tickets: Stereoboard's Xmas Gift Guide

Hey! You! Stop scratching your head while wondering how to spin the fact you’ve got socks for everyone (again). This Christmas, why not give the gift of lights, noise, dancing and merriment? That’s right, why not buy tickets for that someone special? Here, we pull together some of the biggest and best tours that are set to hit the UK and Ireland in 2026, gaining a little bit of seasonal inspiration from Stereoboard’s constantly-updated Hottest 100 Tickets list, where you’ll always find info on the shows that are selling like hot (Christmas) cakes. 

Written by: Stereoboard | Date: Wednesday, 03 December 2025

'Success Is Longevity': Justin Hawkins on The Darkness's Return to Arenas After 20 Years

Photo: Sam Lane Wherever your cut-off point for Christmas songs falls, November 25 is a pretty safe bet to start rolling out something draped in tinsel. The festive spirit is sky-high inside London’s St. Pancras International train station, where hundreds swarm around the fenced-off piano, layered up and eagerly anticipating the arrival of The Darkness. Shortly after 1pm, Justin Hawkins  and his younger brother Dan emerge through the glass elevator, armed with one solitary acoustic guitar.

Written by: Rishi Shah | Date: Thursday, 27 November 2025

Five Reasons Why Luke Combs' My Kinda Saturday Night Tour Is The Hottest Ticket Around

Photo: David Bergman How many nights at Wembley Stadium is too many? Silly question, especially if you’re Luke Combs looking at your diary for next summer. The country star’s upcoming My Kinda Saturday Night Tour has been one of the buzziest tickets around of late, with dates selling out left right and centre. He’s set to play three nights at Wembley, following up two at Slane Castle in Ireland and two at Murrayfield in Edinburgh, and could have played a whole bunch more if time allowed for it. Here, we take a look at five reasons why Combs is the man to see live in 2026. Head here to find tickets through Stereoboard.

Written by: Stereoboard | Date: Tuesday, 11 November 2025

Bodyweb: Meet The Leeds Mob Blending Slipknot And Hardcore Catharsis

Photo: Nat Wood When he’s writing music, Louis Hardy is trying to excavate something. “It can be a really thorough way of trying to explore yourself on a deep level,” he reasons. “I don’t want to say it’s like therapy, because that’s the most clichéd thing ever, but you can explore a lot. If something happens in my life that triggers a strong emotion in any direction, I want to write a song about it.”

Written by: Emma Wilkes | Date: Thursday, 06 November 2025

Poetry, Cinema, PISS: Getting To Know Hardcore's Most Exciting New Band

Photo: Megan Magdalena Around the corner from Womanby Street, long the heartbeat of Cardiff’s live music scene, you’ll find the City Arms. Downstairs, punters sink pre-gig pints. Upstairs, in a quiet corner, Canadian hardcore experimentalists PISS are in quietly good spirits, munching on Haribos and enjoying a cup of tea before their set at Sŵn festival.

Written by: James Palaczky | Date: Wednesday, 29 October 2025

Light And Shade: Meet The Guest List, Your New Favourite Indie Band

With the band sprawled across a sofa even as frontman Cai Alty’s phone is perched precariously on the edge of a table, The Guest List cut a relaxed figure as our Zoom chat gets underway. It’s fitting given how they want to be seen as musicians. “A lot of bands feel very serious right now, and we like showing that you don’t always have to be,” Cai explains. “We’ve got our serious songs  but it’s important to have lighter moments. Some of the best bands never took themselves too seriously and we want to do the same.” 

Written by: Amelia Jones | Date: Monday, 27 October 2025

Hottest Tickets: Take That, Westlife, Boyzone and the Enduring Appeal of Boybands

Boybands have always been big business, but have manbands become even bigger business? A quick look at Stereoboard’s Hottest 100 list suggests that they might well have. Over the coming weeks, Westlife will get their 25th anniversary celebrations underway at the Royal Albert Hall in London, while next year both Boyzone and Take That will hit the road for colossal stadium shows. Here, we take a look at just why these groups continue to resonate with people so deeply.

Written by: Stereoboard | Date: Wednesday, 22 October 2025

Five Sets That Blew Us Away At Sŵn 2025

Photo: Ren Faulkner Each year, as the summer’s festivals fade into a distant memory and the cold winter nights draw in, Sŵn is a beacon warding off impending winter blues by unleashing an onslaught of new music onto the streets of Cardiff, taking over venues both traditional and unusual across the Welsh capital. The only downside of this bountiful celebration of culture is that you can’t catch everyone.

Written by: James Palaczky | Date: Tuesday, 21 October 2025

'We Don't Want to be What You Want Us to Be': Swim School On Their Debut LP and Tour Plans

Swim School are in the midst of a deeply exciting time, with the release of their self-titled debut album running straight into a buzzy UK and Ireland headline tour, which kicks off in Newcastle on November 5. Comprising guitarist-vocalist Alice Johnson, guitarist Lewis Bunting, bassist Lee Brown and drummer Billy McMahon, the Edinburgh band’s sound is a potent blend of shoegaze noise and heady melody — we caught up with them to chatting about everything from the brutality of the music industry to blending genres and touring in a cold van.

Written by: Laura Mills | Date: Monday, 20 October 2025

Scream Louder: Five Pivotal Florence + The Machine Performances

Photo: Autumn De Wilde There are few sights in contemporary pop quite like Florence Welch in full flow. Over the course of almost two decades, the leader of Florence + The Machine has become one of the most arrestingly theatrical live performers on the planet, melding startling vocal power with otherworldly presence equal parts Stevie Nicks and folk-tale sprite.

Written by: Stereoboard | Date: Tuesday, 14 October 2025

The View From The Merch Table: Panic Shack

Photo: Ren Faulkner If you love music, your wardrobe is likely stuffed full of band shirts. You might have a bunch of hoodies or a cap or two as well, or maybe something even more eclectic than that. It’s a conversation starter with fellow fans, a way of announcing that you belong to a certain scene, and a way of shouting about bands you love. On top of that, it’s also a vital way of putting money in artists’ pockets at a time where making enough money is harder than ever. Put simply, it’s the lifeblood of music.

Written by: Emma Wilkes | Date: Thursday, 09 October 2025

'We're The UK's Halloween Band': Creeper On 'Sanguivore II', Cosplay and Comic Con

Photo: Harry Steel For Creeper, rock music is about much more than just riffs and anthemic choruses. While the Southampton goth-punk outfit certainly do a brisk trade in both, there’s a third key element that defines their vision: world-building. From their earliest incarnations, the band have fused theatricality and storytelling with a level of commitment few of their peers can match, creating universes that expand far beyond the confines of a record sleeve. 

Written by: Maddy Howell | Date: Monday, 06 October 2025