Any Good Unsigned Bands?
Hi,
I and one other person run a radio show on Subcity Radio called Pop Goes The Revolution. The show specialises in playing unsigned and independent bands from around the UK. Last year we managed to pretty much keep on top of finding some really good and new unsigned bands to play, but I thought I would see if some people on here could recommend some really good acts to track down and give a listen and try and play some stuff by.
We're based in Glasgow, although we broadcast on the internet so can be heard all over the UK. However due to our Glasgow location, we've pretty much got that city covered, although by any means if people look through our play lists and find we've missed someone from Glasgow please feel free to tell us. What we could really do with some help with is finding some good new bands from the rest of the country. Last year we played more songs by unsigned bands than any other show on the station (180 to be precise), so it would be good to help keep that momentum going.
As a general rule we play a lot of indie music, but do play a lot of singer-songwriter stuff through to some heavier rockier stuff - really anything that's covered by the widespread labels indie, rock and pop. As a rough guide for some really good bands we love - if you're in Glasgow check out Brother Louis Collective, De Jour, Washington Irving, Skinny Villains, Belgrade, Young Aviators, Juno - and from the rest of the country we're massive fans of Max Raptor, Baghdad Country Club, Kat Flint, The Perils, Pause.Break.Riot! and others.
You can find more stuff on the show, and our playlists with all the bands we've played on it at www.subcity.org/shows/popgoestherevolution. And of course you can also find all our past episodes on Listen Again, and you can even tune in every Friday from 5-7pm. ;-)
Personally I'm well up for people in bands plugging themselves to us, although if you are going to do that you might as well just cut out the middle man and just add us at www.myspace.com/popgoestherevolution.
Please do suggest some good bands from anywhere in the UK though, north or south, quiet or loud, rural or urban. Anything good. We'd love to hear it. Thanks for any good suggestions.
George
Thread not appearing correctly? Click here to rebuild | Report this

i have one!
http://www.myspace.com/victoriandaad
David Rybka & The Victorian Dad Band
were playing London this weekend if anyone is around? Camden Barfly 3rd October
Fiddlers Elbow 4th October
Cheers
DR & VDB
A bit heavier than what you've mentioned I think
but you could try Battle For Paris (http://www.myspace.com/battleforparisuk). Its a shameless plug but you said you were ok with that.
Some good scottish stuff I didn't see in the playlists
http://www.myspace.com/penguinskillpolarbearsuk
http://www.myspace.com/vegasnights06
http://www.myspace.com/thisisyahweh
sunset cinema clu are highly underrated
especially since johnny foreigner inexplicably got a gold pass
yeah that mystified me too
BTW You can get SSC's album via import on Norman records.
Folk-Indie SELondon
http://www.myspace.com/milkwoodband
Alt Track
www.myspace.com/alttrack
Cheers...
A lot of this stuff is really good.
As to the Scottish bands - I've been a massive fan of Penguins Kill Polar Bears and Yahweh for a while, not really spent enough time trying to get hold of some stuff by them. But good call, they're good bands. Cheers for the introduction to Vegas Nights as well.
Thanks for these people. Will definitely be tracking down a lot of these bands. And yeah, I'm well up for bands plugging themselves. I'll like it or dislike it as much as if it comes from the band than from another anonymous person.
i really like my band...
www.myspace.com/whereisourlostinfantry
like guillemots with balls... or arcade fire with bits in 7/4.
indie singer songwriter
you alright there. I've got some demo's on my myspace. I'd say "its time" is radio worthy, not sure about the others they're a bit rough unpolished diamonds I like to think!
www.myspace.com/nateevelyn
have a listen
please listen to my band The Arts Factory
www.myspace.com/wearetheartsfactory
Indica Ritual
www.myspace.com/indicaritual
What about me? 8-)
http://www.myspace.com/alexira
good stuff on the show(s) have fun... always.
alexira
Upcoming Special Episode/Project...
Thanks very much for a lot of this stuff people. Am trying to contact a lot of these bands currently, and there are even more I'll be keeping an eye on waiting for some fresh recordings and things.
My co-presenter months ago said she would be missing one show, so I made an extravagant plan to do a special show when she was away, and she kindly reminded me it was this Friday during the last episode.
But I'm trying to put together a special of 25-30 artists who have never recieved radio play before. Quite a special project, and one that's probably going to be a bit of a challenge, but I've got 5 days.
But please do get in touch at www.myspace.com/popgoestherevolution, especially if you meet the crieria for the special show (but also if you're generally good as well).
Has anyone had a chance to listen to some of the recent episodes? If you have been what to do people think about the Pull Tiger Tail tracks, or what do people think of the album if they've got it?
In my opinion it's quite frankly rediculoud that an album this good sat on the shelf for three years. But at least it's out now. Am loving the track It's About Destruction played on our most recent episode. Really good song.
Here's a few local bands I've played on my unsigned radio show:
http://www.myspace.com/goodbyeplutoni - Goodbye Pluto: It's alternate-emo music you don't feelguilty listening to
http://www.myspace.com/cutaways - Cutaways, angular pop with songs that sound like 3 rolled into one (Check out Lovers Are Lunatics and Hey Map My Way)
http://www.myspace.com/wearenakatomitowers - Nakatomi Towers, Hot Chip-esque synth yummyness.
Heres a few who have played for me
www.myspace.com/underdogsmusic
www.myspace.com/ivancampo
www.myspace.com/mindshockuk
Thanks...
The more bands the merrier.
Brett - what's your show?
It'
It's an unsigned Show on Queens Radio in Belfast, going out at Tuesday nights at 9. It's been running for a month now and I've got some brilliant music from both local NI acts and further afield.
unsignedbandweb.com/alarms
Alarms
whoops.
www.unsignedbandweb.com/alarms
(((rural
www.myspace.com/ohdearishere
Sound's good Brett
Does the station have a Listen Again service. Wouldn't mind checking it out.
Pop Goes The Revolution will be back today at 5pm till 7pm live at www.subcity.org. Or of course you cool Listen Again kids can catch us afterwards at www.subcity.org/shows/popgoestherevolution
Could be an odd show today, Nikki is away in London this week. So I'm doing my first solo show. Expect minimum chat and instead more tunes. Everyone loves tunes, right?
blue veils
www.myspace.com/blueveils
do you need a cd?
Alternative Rock from South (Nr. Portsmouth)
www.myspace.com/huntingbearsuk
Ska/Indie/Reggae London 6 piece
www.popesofchillitown.com
Cheers for all these bands. There is becoming quite a healthy backlog of stuff to get through - it's a nice feeling. Fortunately now have the listen again file for the last show up.
If anyone wants to win a copy of the single by the latest King Hat's signing The King Hats then listen into the show at www.subcity.org/shows/popgoestherevolution.
The last episode contained some of the best tunes I've got hold of this year though. Some of the links were a bit dodgy but the tunes were class - so thanks to the tip offs on here. The Indica Ritual tune has to be one of my favourites from the show - just a class tune. Loving that Heels Catch Fire number as well.
Thanks for all these bands people. Please do keep 'em coming. Out of interest are there any venues/sources of music from around the country that are pretty reliable. There's like one venue in Brighton which often puts on a lot of good bands, and I'm perpetually raiding the free music collection at the Mill's website - www.themill-live.com - which is probably the best source of unsigtned free music in Scotland and one of the more reliable venues. But if there is anywhere else the listings are pretty good let me know.
The Go-Hawks
http://www.myspace.com/thegohawksmusic
futuristic retro champions
www.myspace.com/retrochamps
playing captain's rest on saturday if you are about
also on vic galloway's radio 1 show tonight
My Lost Youth
EP Stream
http://www.myspace.com/mylostyouthmusic
free EP download from here:
http://www.musicglue.com/mylostyouth
The Display Team
http://www.thedisplayteam.com
Fiorentina
Duo acoustic-pop from Norwich.
www.myspace.com/fiorentinauk
Fables
Fables wil knock ur little cotton sox off.
www.myspace.com/fablesmyspace
Ex Libras
www.myspace.com/exlibmusic - simply phenomenal x
Cheers for everyone's advice
Have had a load of bands add me on MySpace from here. Loads of which are really good. I will try and check up the rest of them posted here tonight - this is really good though, really enjoying all this music.
We're on again at 5pm tomorrow by the way. Any one checked out the show and got any feedback out of interest? Have got some really big and exciting plans for the new year.
I've had a wee listen at the podcasts
What I've heard sounds good.
Starsexplode
www.myspace.com/starsexploderock
Rob the Rich
If you're aware of the Perils and Max Raptor you've probably heard us (and unless I'm mistaken not had any contact though hopefully not because you think we are shit) but hey, here you go!
www.myspace.com/robtherichtheband
Actually I came across your page during the Summer through either The Perils of Max Raptor and remember at the time thinking I needed to chase it up once Season 2 came about but by then had forgotten all about the page. Glad you found me really. I'll get in touch via the MySpace though!
In Isolation
www.inisolation.co.uk
Our debut single's out tomorrow through iTunes and Amazon, but you can hear it at the above link too. :)
the unfortunate incident
have a look at this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p813KWpPbso
then find out more at this http://www.myspace.com/theunfortunateincident
thank you
Gdansk...
Are also a pretty good band. Although sadly I've never caught them live - although there's that pretty nice video kicking about of them at the Mill.
Fake Union
www.myspace.com/thisisfakeunion
been compared to the fall alot, currently in the process of reworking our current songs to have a clearer direction. Feedback would be helpfull. Thanks.
The Pressure Room
The Pressure Room from London(thepressureroom.com)
Featured on 'Marc Mulcahy' tribute alongside Thom Yorke and Michael stipe..
Unsigned Bands
Check out the Wooden Pigs a new Highly Infectious Rock n Roll band starting to get a load of gigs in and around London. One of their songs "Taste" was recently featured on a Premiership football highlight reel on Sky Sports
www.myspace.com/woodenpigs
There's my band
Lo Fi diy punk www.myspace.com/deadspex
the scruffs
www.myspacecom/thescruffs from glasgow gee it a listen : D
honey pine dresser
http://www.myspace.com/honeypinedresserhere
fierce panda are interested, but still unsigned for now... (and to be fair subcity have already heard of hpd, but others lurking about might be interested)
hey guys
check out
Safari
www.myspace.com/thisissafari
I'm really rating them at the moment as one of my favourite unsigned bands, what do you reckon?
The Noise Pirates
pretty good rock and roll two piece from London though you wouldnt think so to hear them. i've seen them this month. certainly one to look out for.
you can hear their songs at myspace.com/thenoisepirates
Thanks...
...for all the musical suggestions on here. If you are a band plugging your stuff and I haven't been in contact it's because I've been super busy as of late and not had a great deal of time to get in touch with folk. But I shall sit down over the weekend and go through the list and see whose call.
On a separate note we're running an awesome competion on today's show to give away two tickets to see the Plasticines supporting Cobra Starship at the ABC in Glasgow.
If you're in Glasgow and fancy heading to it, then simply tell us what European city is the name of a Plasticines song (easy peasy) and then email it to popgoestherevolution@googlemail.com!
Also, sorry to double spam, but we have Woodenbox in the studio a couple of weeks ago who performed a few amazing tracks, check out the set at www.subcity.org/shows/popgoestherevolution if you haven't already.
Youth in Colour
www.myspace.com/theyouthincolour
:-)
x
really useful post!
hi, I'll be using these links to get in touch with bands for www.intheloft.tv
great post!
Jogga
self plug;
http://www.myspace.com/teamabc
singy yelly indie pop with dancey bits and/or rocky bits.
Dirtblonde
If you like Sonic Youth, Patti Smith, Jesus & Mary Chain, you'll like Dirtblonde.
Other cool bands I could mention: Billy Ruffian, Pete Bentham & The Diner Ladies, Mugstar, Dead Class, Colt 45s, Leatherettes (RIP), Slopes...
Well, we're returning for a secodn series...
...so ummm... bump...
Would love to find some more great bands for another series people.
www.myspace.com/popgoestherevolution
www.facebook/popgoestherevolution
www.subcity.org/shows/popgoestherevolution
popgoestherevolution@googlemail.com
Lifescreen
Hi if you get chance be great if you could check out us at
www.myspace.com/lifescreen
Thanks
Chris
Loving Butterflies on Strings. Good shout.
By the way in case people don't listen to the show, and want some tips back. Both the bands below have an album and an EP out respectively, and they're both brilliant releases.
www.helptheendorly.com or www.myspace.com/endor
www.myspace.com/canceltheastronauts
Anyone else in London you have seen that you want to reccomend?
Please check out Sensual Noise. They're an atmospheric/experimental downtempo band from the Belgian coast. They just released "Chasing Swans", a 6-page digipack with 100% selfmade artwork and 5 varied songs! Check them out at http://www.sensualnoise.be
Charles Dexter Ward and the Imagineers
http://www.myspace.com/charlesdexterwardmusic
"Screaming, howling psychedelia that will have you cowering behind the sofa screaming for momma and a joint. Exceptional biz-niss from this Cov band." - CovertMag
a few suggestions...
As I previously said in Sean's pre 2011 hotly tipped list you should definitely check out some of these bands:
The Voyeurist
Ghosts You Echo
Hella Better Dancer
Hocus Tocus
Dont Wait Animate
They are all really awesome!
UNQUIET NIGHTS
I'd suggest "Burning The Tracks" fits into the genre you're after. I'll link to hear the song here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXkIQzR1qAA
And if you want to use it, there's a direct .mp3 download from ReverbNation on: http://www.reverbnation.com/controller/audio_player/download_song/5394400
That goes for anyone reading this who wants to check it out.
Billy Vincent
Acoustic album at http://www.billyvincent.co.uk, a few more tracks at http://www.myspace.com/billyvincent. MP3's a plenty available on request...
New EP due soon as well so you'll prob here from us then!
Also played (and due to play) with Three Blind Wolves on a few occasions and highly recommend them, though with Ross seeming to know everyone on our mini tour of Scotland kinda tells me you probably don't need telling!
http://www.myspace.com/threeblindwolves
*hear
What poor poor grammar!
Hmm came across these in Sheffield and their very interesting...
http://www.myspace.com/steeltreesofficial
and these
http://www.myspace.com/girlspit
http://www.myspace.com/alanbonnermusic
http://www.myspace.com/alanbonnermusic
London based indie/folk singer songwriter with theatrical flare
myspace.com/theclaptape
New Folk-Rock Five Piece
http://www.myspace.com/thebitbetween
GHOST MILK
Please check out GHOST MILK at: www.myspace.com/ghostmilkuk
- Let me know what you think. Playing live in Sheffield early 2011. Thankz xx
Some awesome stuff being listed on here.
Really liking Ghosts You Echo and the Bit Between. Great stuff.
Also (to get a little pluggy) we just did an episode with almost entirely new artists. Included some ace stuff. Particularly worth checking out are Natalie Holmes and Stars and Sons. Brilliant Acts.
You can listen here:
http://www.subcity.org/shows/popgoestherevolution/669bc
Rounds
http://www.myspace.com/rounds1234
Indie/electro from Essex. A Few gigs coming up in Southend & London in the next few months
GHOST MILK
Hi boys!!!! Nice 2 hear from u again!!! GHOST MILK will be playing in Sheffield in March/April 2011, as part of the national tour. Check us out!!!
www.myspace.com/ghostmilkuk
xx
Highly Motivated Staff
That's us: http://www.myspace.com/highlymotivatedstaff
Some cool shit going on there.:-)
Sensual Noise
Sensual Noise, an Atmoshperic / Experimental Downtempo-band from Belgium. We started in 2005 and play experimental music since 2006-2007.
Check out our new release "Chasing Swans":
http://www.sensualnoise.be
Liking Highly Motivated Staff an awful lot. Sound good.
Out of interest has anyone got any really good music venues they could reccomend? Looking for places that consistently put on great gigs with unsigned bands. I constantly check out the likes of Captain's Rest in Glasgow and the Prince Albert in Brighton. But the more I can find the merrier.
Also looking for any good unsigned labels (if that's not an oxymoron), or anyone else who cureates music to a degree. Anyone who's really good at selecting good bands from there area basically. Any recommendations?
Obviously keep the band suggestions coming.
And if I can quickly plug while I'm here. The latest episode of the show features a live session by Glasgow's Let's Talk About Trees. You can also download the songs they played on the show for free.
www.subcity.org/shows/popgoestherevolution/16daf
COMPLY OR DIE
Hi were are new here hopefully youll take the time to check out our music.
From now until Xmas we are offering our debut album as well as our recent Metal Ireland endorsed EP 'Invocation' as a digital download for only £3
Review here: http://www.metalireland.com/2010/10/06/comply-or-die-ni-invocation/
Buy it here: http://complyordie.bandcamp.com/album/comply-or-die
In the new year we will also be releasing a limited edition split cassette with the mighty Slomatics.
Below is some details of upcoming shows in Northern Ireland
[img]http://profile.ak.fbcdn.net/hprofile-ak-snc4/hs1246.snc4/158037_141402202578979_2583515_n.jpg[/img]
[img]http://profile.ak.fbcdn.net/hprofile-ak-snc4/hs346.snc4/41589_127077980678193_563_n.jpg[/img]
[img]http://profile.ak.fbcdn.net/hprofile-ak-snc4/hs455.snc4/50511_133445026699852_5931185_n.jpg[/img]
http://www.diecomply.com
An Axe
Do take a listen to my band, An Axe, if you have the time.
We're a bristol based noir-pop three piece.
Just self released our new single Destructo!/Cherry.
http://www.myspace.com/anaxe)
Many thanks.
a few bands you havent put on your playlist yet
Really loving these bands:
www.myspace.com/TheVoyeurist
www.myspace.com/GhostsYouEcho
www.myspace.com/GLDGRVZ
:)
The Stowaways
I love this London-based band
http://soundcloud.com/thestowaways
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXq6a99P59k
http://thestowawaysmusic.com/
Station Agents
http://soundcloud.com/station-agents
We've had a few spins on internet radio so more of that would be great! :)
Little Ghost
Little Ghost are a band from the uk and they have a good sound, like a indierock/dance/pop sound :)
http://littleghostmusic.bandcamp.com/track/mysterious-ways
Neon Highwire
http://www.neonhighwire.com
GagReflex - bass/drums duo
Hey guys
We've put out our debut EP today - up and available for nowt at http://gagreflex.bandcamp.com. Might be what you're looking for?
[experimental/electronic] Amok Recordings label
Great stuff from 27 independent groups/artists from 7 countries.
http://www.amokrecordings.com
http://www.amokrecordings.bandcamp.com
my band Total Victory
http://totalvictory.bandcamp.com/album/national-service
we sound like your mum dressing like your dad.
Shoegazing atmospheric folky stuff if you like
www.soundcloud.com/stormsonthemoon
Hope you like!
Not quite a band but great lyrics and passion
http://www.reverbnation.com/uplugtv#!/storiesofparoxysm?profile_view_source=header_icon_nav
&
also the 2nd track is the radio hit pop song which sings for the people, hopefully thats at least intriguing...!
Highly Motivated Staff
You can find them here now:
http://soundcloud.com/highly-motivated-staff
MOUSE
here's another one for you... punk band from north london. think x-ray spex, dfa1979, deerhoof, pistols etc. gigs in feb and march! cheers x
mouseband.bandcamp.com
mouseband.tumblr.com
.
http://mouseband.bandcamp.com
http://mouseband.tumblr.com
with clicky link things this time hopefully!
Just released 2 cd's!
One is like experimental pop (whatever that is) and one is a mellow acoustic, fingerpicking thing
http://dantematas.bandcamp.com/
or
https://soundcloud.com/dante-matas
WET EYES
Amazing ambient electronic stuff coming out of the US http://weteyesproductions.bandcamp.com/
Benjamin Dara
http://www.youtube.com/user/benjamindara?feature=watch