Top 10 New British Bands in 2023
10 British alternative bands must-sees for 2023.
If 2022 was a great if wobbly year for UK indie music, 2023 is the year bands are truly back. If your pen digging has dried out, you’re stuck in a sonic rut or merely hungry for bragging rights – here’s a fast track to the top UK bands due to pump out some of the best new alternative music releases in the coming year.
Beef up your 2023 playlists with these up and coming bands your ears and mates will thank you later.
01 BAR ITALIA
Sludgy indie straight from the mouth of London, bar italia have been gigging at some of London’s most iconic venues including Avalon cafe, Shacklewell Arms and Bermondsey Social Club – a great blueprint on how to plan a music tour.
One of the buzziest new bands for 2023, their fresh take on shoegaze/punk is short, sour and sure to soundtrack your long bus rides or your afters.
02 CUCAMARAS
Middle English band Cucamaras are one of our favourite discoveries of last year.
Owning acerbic turn of phrases, slice of life imagery and urgent revelations of small city life, the Nottingham natives are carving their own space into the noise rock scene.
03 GHOST CAR
International outfit Ghost Car are screaming into the void against homophobia, racism, political injustice, the patriarchy and toxic relationships.
Hints of noise-pop combined with the shouty angry lyrics, it’s destined to be an urgent and formidable year for Ghost Car. Listen up!
4. FOR BREAKFAST
The 4 piece London outfit have just released their second EP ‘Trapped In The Big Room’, and they show no sign of slowing down.
After gigging continuously throughout 2022, expect to hear their noise rock/jazz/psychedelic waves piercing through a Radio 6 introducing. Lauren Laverne, listen up
5. GENTLE STRANGER
Gentle Stranger’s immediate sound explores noise-rock/shoegaze/ambient, maybe all of it.
Using unconventional soundscapes, otherworldly and guttural vocal technique and complete and utter switch ups in form, their debut ‘Upon Return’ is sure to leave you breathless and itching to see the insanity live.
A masterclass in how to compose a song that breaks all the rules.
6. JEMMA FREEMAN AND THE COSMIC SOMETHING
UK rock bands are having something of a renaissance and Queer outfit Jemma Freeman and The Cosmic Something are jumping on board.
Incorporating glam-rock, power vocals, a PJ Harvey tinge and ear hooks through and through, we’re ready and waiting for their anticipated LP coming Spring 2022.
7. BERRIES
Grungy 90’s/00’s inspired alt-rock from BERRIES is sure to get you all dressed up to burn the house to the ground.
Snappy choruses, scuzzy guitars and to-the-point lyrics combine to form a powerful, airtight sound for your listening pleasure. One of the best new rock bands, and so much more as well.
08. ORA VIOLET
The international outfit fronted by British singer Tommy Blitz have done the rounds in 2022, at EartH in Hackney and a sold out headline gig at Old Blue Last.
Formed from impromptu jam sessions, they’re set to release their debut EP in Feb 2023.Their straight up indie sound will most likely be heard in the best dive spots everywhere this year.
09. EADES
A classic British indie band, straight from Leeds, the 5 piece’s big sound and off-kilter outlook is ready to cartwheel their way onto festival stages this summer.
Their debut LP ‘Delusional Space’ finally scratched the itch but we’re ready and waiting for more
10. LIBRALIBRA
One of our favourite new British pop groups. The anti-authoritarian collective have been touring the UK, playing some iconic venues, working with IDLES’ producer, releasing an EP and playing on every BBC regional introducing spot.
Our guess is, in 2023 we’ll be hearing a touch more from their punk infected, Life Without Buildings vocals esque noise pop punk.
