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Better Joy - plugged in
It’s been almost two years since we praised the jangling guitars, taut drums and haunting vocals of 'Hard To Love' from Manchester indie-pop talent better joy, aka Bria Keely. In that time, she’s earned plaudits from BBC Radio 6 Music, released her debut EP 'heading into blue' earlier this year, with its baby-blue vinyl selling out, and played a near sell-out ten-date UK/EU headline tour. At the end of last month, she returned with 'plugged in', a striking and reflective burst of indie-pop lifted from her forthcoming second EP 'at dusk'. Produced by Mike Hedges (The Cure, U2, Manic Street Preachers), the track finds her leaning into a more stripped-back soundscape, led by spectral guitar lines, soft percussion, and her lush, evocative vocals. This autumn promises to be her busiest yet with the release of 'at dusk' on Halloween, which will be followed by headline UK shows and a major UK tour with Amy Macdonald – including a sold-out 13,000-capacity night at Glasgow’s OVO Hydro – before continuing as Macdonald’s main support across Europe in 2026.
