Future headline heroes are now lined-up to take to stages across Liverpool city centre as Sound City 2026counts in exciting, emerging artists including Arctic Monkeys-collaborator, TOM ROWLEY, exciting Bristol upbeat pop outfit, ADULT LEISURE and gritty, emotive Dublin quartet, BROOKI for this May’s line-up.
Having already announced other major names including WESTSIDE COWBOY, JALEN NGONDA, KEO and BROOKE COMBE, the latest 21 artist reveal finds the festival standing its ground as the UK festival where talent gets spotted first.
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Blood-rushing young, anthem-toting guitar talent doesn’t come much more thrilling than Stockport’s latest pretenders to the festival main stage throne, THE ROLLING PEOPLE, whose rise continues through major venues and popular releases including the heavy-streaming Disguise. Joining them at the tipping point of becoming huge, Dublin’s latest contribution to the canon of acerbic alt-rock, BASHT, bring fan favourites like Gone Girl to Sound City’s packed underground venues. The kaleidoscopic, post-baggy beats of DIRTY CIRCUS, as heard on latest single Sunshine, add another hot name to the line-up of new indie treats in store.
Heading from London with carefully-constructed melody and a giant reputation, thanks to singles including Sandcastles 2008, TOUGH COOKIE arrive brimming with emotion and hooky, bass-heavy rock, while BLEECH 9.3 turn up the intensity dial another notch after emerging in late 2025 with brooding, squally singles including Cannonball. Feeling out for the boundaries and destroying them altogether, Vancouver’s urgent punks, PISS are set to carve their own, distinct path through Liverpool and leave behind poignant pause for their audience to reflect on their performance’s confrontational themes
Sound City has always been about spotting talent at the moment it’s about to break, and this latest wave of artists perfectly captures that spirit. From acts already making serious noise to those right on the cusp of something special, this line-up underlines why Sound City remains the place where future headliners are discovered first.
Alongside welcoming back major names like Jalen Ngonda and Keo, we’re proud to be creating space across Liverpool city centre for the next generation of artists to connect with audiences, industry, and each other -all while continuing to push forward meaningful conversations through Sound City+ about where music is heading next – Becky Ayres, Sound City’s Managing Director
Peddling ‘songs for the faint-hearted’, hyped five-piece, GIRL IN THE YEAR ABOVE will arrive in Liverpool blending bittersweet melodies, lyrical vulnerability and no small amount of mystery as the world awaits their first, official release.
Blending melodic guitar hooks and emotionally reflective lyrics, Sheffield’s TIDETIED arrive to add fuel to the hands-aloft atmosphere while tipped newcomers, The North, also make the journey from Yorkshire, representing Leeds with huge tracks including the slacker rock of Soundtrack Your Soul. Expanding the festival’s reach further, much-hyped Hackney four-piece, LITTLE GRANDAD, head to Sound City with much of their songbook still under wraps, mixing reflective Americana with bursts of punk energy.
JAMIE MCINTYRE’S honest songwriting and melodic, stripped-back arrangements compliment’s fellow solo-troubadours, Ben Ellis and Zander’s strong senses of reflection and sincerity as Sound City brings talent from the forefront of Britain’s constantly growing community of standalone storytellers. TALIA RAE’S emergent R&B arrives at Sound City with expressive vocal style as showcased on standout songs tracks like her collaboration with pop legend, David Gray, Plus & Minus.
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