Delilah Bon has announced the release of Live in Leeds, a live album capturing a powerful night of music, community and solidarity, while also giving US fans who missed her cancelled tour the chance to experience the show. Delilah had been due to embark on a US tour in spring this year but cancelled the dates as violence surrounding Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) escalated, believing it was no longer safe for her team or fans to travel and attend the shows. Instead, Delilah brought that energy home. The Leeds show became a night of music, solidarity and fundraising, raising…

"Technically, I describe it as a my fourth child," Lady Nade says of her latest release, Identity, before admonishing me for asking her to compare it to her previous three albums.

Slam Dunk, the UK's biggest independent rock festival, is back for 2027 and today unveils its first wave of artists. Hot on the heels of a milestone 20th anniversary this summer, the festival kicks off its 21st edition with a line-up of monumental proportions. Bowling For Soup, Simple Plan, Killswitch Engage, Beartooth, Sleeping With Sirens, The Used and The Front Bottoms top the bill, as 20+ artists join the party across the best in pop-punk, emo, ska, metal and beyond. This time, Slam Dunk switches things up and takes place in the north first, landing at Leeds, Temple Newsam on Saturday 29th May before closing the weekend at Hatfield Park on Sunday 30th May 2027.

Mastering the art of writing a great song is never easy, but when it's done correctly, it cuts through the noise like a compass in the dark. Luckily, Swedish songwriter and producer Kent Olsson has mastered his craft, building capable story-driven songs like his recent single Lipstick on the Exit Sign (which also features Italian singer Jolie on vocals). I wanted to find out a little more about Kent's music and his songwriting process - see how we got on below! By Jane Howkins I believe this is our first time speaking to you.

On his new EP Existentialism, independent singer-songwriter Jared Bond has taken a delightfully defiant stance against the commercial music industry of old. There may be only two tracks on this record, but each song is a thoughtful alternative-indie tune that looks at key concepts such as mortality, time and human consciousness, creating something really unique in the process. By Jane Howkins Opening the release with an expansive sound is Nothing Lasts Forever, a song that immediately establishes the contemplative tone of the record. It was recorded in a pretty unconventional manner (for example, the drums were captured in a public library), but Jared has still managed to create a warm and dreamy indie-folk tune with a slight psychedelic bent.

...this is not ok... is the curiously new album release from singer-songwriter Matt Smith - it's actually his twentieth studio album to be released, which is very impressive indeed - particularly with today's cutthroat music industry! Matt has worked with many famous artists and producers during his deeply accomplished career, and it's clear that he's used his veteran musicianship here to craft a project rooted in unity and empathy - something which I very much admire! By Jane Howkins There are nine killer tracks on offer on ...this is not ok...

It's no secret that I'm a big fan of the rock, metal and punk genres (despite having a fairly varied music taste), so I was very excited to discover a new British punk band called Rooster Riot - their new single Trigger Happy makes for an amazing listen! By Jane Howkins Trigger Happy lives up to the title of the song perfectly, as it's an upbeat tune with a tempo that never stops. The song simply radiates energy and attitude, providing a fast-paced, adrenaline-fueled burst of modern punk rock that really lives up to the spirit of the genre.

I'm a sucker for an addictive sounding pop-rock, which is what San Francisco-based Argentine artist Loco Tranquilo (real name Julián Armando Gervasi) has managed to produce on new single release, SUEÑO. By Jane Howkins Interestingly, SUEÑO was actually written in Spanish first on a classical guitar, before being transformed into the banging indie rocker we have now. It's a guitar-driven piece of work that explores concepts of identity, self-love and the quiet courage it can sometimes take to keep believing, even when the odds are against you. Musically, …

For over a decade, composer and multi-disciplinary artist Karen Salicath Jamali has built up a respected musical identity around the pure, evocative language of the piano, one of my favourite instruments. Karen's celestial compositions are often born from her early morning dreams, with the majority of the tracks on her new full-length album, Om Mare Shangri-la (translating roughly to The Cosmic Ocean Paradise), being rooted in the aftershock of a near death experience. As such, all the songs on the record have a spiritual vibe to them, which may not be for everyone.

Rock recluse Lyndo Jaco is a new discovery of mine, having recently released a killer new EP that is simply titled 3. As you might have guessed from the title of this record, there are three key songs on here - this may seem pretty short to some readers, but I'm pleased to announce that there's plenty here to sink your teeth into. 3 sees Lyndo leaning into a much more stripped-back approach, allowing the crackling guitar strings and natural backing effects really take hold. Each song acts as a distinct narrative vignette, bound together by the rock and roll pulse that beats nicely throughout the EP.

Some artists spend years overcomplicating their sound, which often leaves the listener searching for meaning through layers of production noise. Then there are acts like EGGER, who strip away the buzz to find the raw, pounding pulse underneath. We recently reviewed EGGER's track Get Up as part of a round-up review on electronica music - if you liked the track, you can find out more about the artist below! By Jane Howkins I believe this is our first time speaking to you. How has your 2026 been so far?

We first discovered creative collective Blindness & Light back in 2023. I'm pleased to announce their return to these pages with their amazing new single, What Else?, taken from their project Our Man From Fife. By Jane Howkins What Else? perfectly showcases Blindness & Light's knack for blending rich acoustic storytelling with an atmospheric alt-rock depth, mixing genres together in a cool way. The track has an earthy sound, seeing Blindness & Light construct an intimate vibe with is defined by the evocative pacing and the reflective vocals provided by frontman…

I was in York the other day, walking through Kings Square when I hear two starry-eyed kids utter “he’s got a vagabond t-shirt on”. And my son was in Hull, wearing his vagabond band t-shirt, when someone at his college exclaimed “I have seen that band play”. Perhaps their reputation is spreading?

There's something to be said for the classics. They still have much influence on modern music be it subtly or, in the case of Mon Rayon's new album Image Repertoire, writ large.

Ned Farr & The Good Red Road have been playing together for over 30 years. Their latest album started as an improvisation and became so much more.

There is something inherently refreshing about discovering a new artist who refuses to hide behind smoke, mirrors or algorithmic trends. UK singer-songwriter Mark Emsley is such an artist, creating his music out of his raw lived experiences, pairing soaring, stadium-sized alternative rock guitars and massive pop-rock hooks with an unflinching lyrical transparency that is astonishing to behold. We reviewed his new release Satellite Heart as part of our Pop Sensibilities #2 review - you can also check out the track at the end of this interview if you missed the review!

Let’s face it - modern commercial pop music has spent the last few years trapped in an endless loop of boring safety, recycling the same glossy formulas until the edges start to completely blur. Whilst the genre often gets a bad rep, there's still a good deal of pop music being made that deserves your attention. In this round-up review, we'll jump straight into the world of underground pop, exploring the fearless artists proving that catchy hooks and experimentation can (and perhaps should) co-exist. Review by Jane Howkins. Photo of Shelita…

Jon Ronson's book 'The Castle' (and the accompanying stage show which he brought to York) opens when he received a message in the middle of the night from his son, Joel in 2023.

Clocking in at just two tracks, The Wires Out EP by THROES NYC (the creative partnership of producer and multi-instrumentalist Michael Bosso and vocalist Courtney Leo) packs an extraordinary punch. Listening to the record feels exactly like catching a glimpse of a sprawling metropolis through a rain-streaked window at 3:00am, as the duo effortlessly curate a captivating, nocturnal world of their own here. By Jane Howkins THROES NYC have perfectly blended their brand of moody, dark alt-pop with a selection of sultry trip-hop rhythms and textured electronic soundscapes to create a form of modern pop music with a sharp and melodic instinct.

Birmingham-based producer, multi-instrumentalist and drummer Kai Moa steps into the spotlight with his debut EP, Some of My Best Friends Are…Electric Sheep. It's fair to say that the EP is a fairly unique proposition. It contains a grand total of four songs that draw from Moa's deeply eclectic background, spanning genres such as jazz, punk, post-rock and house music. This is the sort of record that thrives on being different, creating an intoxicating tension through the use of digital precision, industrial soundscapes and a raw sense of musicianship. Let's jump straight in...

Sydney outfit Marlophone have finally released their debut full-length album, Remembered Adventures in Widescale to much acclaim from this writer! The record was released via Defend Vinyl and Love As Fiction, with the album operating as an imaginative bridge between the concepts of memory and everyday magic that pervade this record so well. It also features several guest contributions from artists such as Sarah Blasko and Wayne Connolly, making for one killer record overall! By Jane Howkins The dream-pop vibes are apparent from the first track Nintendo Era Hero. …

9 o'clock Nasty have quickly become firm favourites here at York Calling, and for good reason! The Leicester-based group have recently release their latest single release Check the Neck - give it a listen below if you've not checked them out yet! By Jane Howkins If you've heard 9 o'clock Nasty's music before, you'll already know that they aren't interested in playing it safe, as new single Check the Neck shows. It's a delightfully abrasive piece of music that combines a punk attitude with an old-school hip-hop feel, using an electronic-based beat to highlight a surprisingly heavy existential theme of aging, mortality and society's refusal to grow up.

Pop icon Ronan Keating is bringing his world tour celebrating his 30-year career to Yorkshire next summer, playing Scarborough Open Air Theatre on Sunday 18 July 2027.

Many artists who I cover as part of this blog use their music as a form of therapy. The latest is Lior Golan, who has turned to classic rock to process his trauma.

London indie-folk songwriter James Crowley released his new EP, Imprint, on 18 September. The collection consists of four tracks, written in collaboration with Wolf Alice’s Joel Amey and produced by Mike Horner (who has also worked with bands such as Franz Ferdinand and Hot Wax).

The thing about teen artists is they're usually as unrefined as they are exciting. It's rare to find one who starts their career fully formed.

Multi-talented composer and producer Paul Frazer Clarke has released a shimmering synth-pop gem titled Cycle. The track also features guest vocalist Will Champlin, serving up a masterclass in the world of sun-soaked alternative pop. By Jane Howkins From the opening moments of the song, Cycle feels deliberately designed to evoke the sense of a warm summers day. The track sees seasoned industry veteran Paul Frazer Clarke bringing an immediate sense of space to the arrangement of the tune, creating numerous summery layers that draw you in immediately. Musically, …

In a musical climate that often seems to be obsessed with hyper-polished production and desperate bids for viral hooks, German singer-songwriter Roland Wälzlein (who records under the moniker Fish and Scale) takes us on a delightfully defiant path with his new album Elf. The 11 tracks on offer here make for a nice follow-on from Fish and Scale's previous EP Wonderful, building an earthy and contemplative world that pulls gently from classic folk-rock traditions without leaning on cheap hooks or gimmicks. If that sounds good, then why not slow things down and take a listen to the album after reading through this review?

Swedish singer-songwriter and musician Kent Olsson is a newcomer to these pages, but I have no doubt that we'll be featuring her here again, due to how amazing her new single, Lipstick on the exit sign, is! By Jane Howkins Lipstick on the exit sign actually closes out Kent's conceptual trilogy titled The Art of Breaking Up (which also includes the previous gems Replay:me and Access denied). However, on this song, the Swedish mastermind returns alongside Italian vocalist Jolie for the grand finale. This means that Lipstick on the exit sign…

Music and politics have an uneasy symbiosis, as two recent stories have made clear. Ed Sheeran went through ‘the worst week’ of his life after his tour support act, Macklemore, was shuffled off the gigs following an on-stage pronouncement about Palestine. The Jewish owner of the Gillette Stadium, Robert Kraft, was apparently so incensed by this that he issued an ‘ultimatum’ to Sheeran. Macklemore was dropped from the tour.

I first featured the music of singer-songwriter Sylva Faye at the start of 2025, and was enchanted by her second album release, Sunday Forever.

Gilbert O’Sullivan @ Grand Opera House, York – 22nd September 2026 Words and Photos - John Hayhurst There’s something wonderfully disarming about spending an evening with Gilbert O’Sullivan. Seated at his piano in a flowery shirt, he makes York’s Grand Opera House feel like somewhere considerably smaller. Between songs, his heartwarming stories have the easy familiarity of a favourite uncle chatting beside the fire. The difference, of course, is that this uncle can punctuate the conversation with some of the biggest hits of the 1970s. Celebrating 60 years in music and approaching his 80th birthday, O’Sullivan has plenty to look back on.

When I review an artist’s debut record, I must admit I rarely put myself in that artist’s shoes.

The Molotovs @ Beckett SU, Leeds – 17 September 2026 Words and Photos - John Hayhurst Some venue upgrades tell you everything about where a band is heading. Originally booked for The Wardrobe, tonight’s show has moved to Leeds Beckett SU to accommodate extra demand. For The Molotovs, it feels like another step in a climb that is gathering serious pace. The London band have put in the miles, played every gig they can and earned their growing reputation through sheer hard work. Seeing that graft translate into bigger rooms is hugely satisfying.

Australian post-punk risers Radio Free Alice return to Leeds on Wednesday 18 November, playing Brudenell Social Club as part of an extensive UK/EU tour.

One theme emerging from the music I’ve featured in 2026 is that of immigrants coming to the UK and bringing the traditions of their homeland with them.

Beabadoobee’s has released her fourth album Pylon.

Josey Reinhardt is a Nashville, USA-based artist who is new to our blog thanks to his honest new single, Over My Head.

Few bands can claim a live reputation quite as enduring as Marillion’s.

Every so often, an album comes along that’s truly fascinating, not just for the music but for the stories behind it.

In 2025, I featured Sehore’s Dadaist album Husfikbur and found myself enchanted by their experimental style.

The modern world is a sometimes scary, sometimes exciting place and one act that are rising to meet the moment is Pivots.

On new release No Safe Ground, Paul Durnham has created an understated and haunting piece of songwriting on this introspective acoustic track, perfectly capturing the feeling of emotional instability. By Jane Howkins No Safe Ground is a rock song that is built largely around sparse, brooding acoustic guitar patterns that are particularly restrained on the verses. Paul has managed to establish a moody foundation right from its quiet opening bars of this tune, before the chorus break open with huge soaring guitar riffs and a selection of passionate vocal lines. There's also a cool solo towards the end, allowing the deliberately restrained music to final explode in style, allowing every note to breathe when required.

American singer-songwriter Eric Mann has created an exceptionally poignant piece of dark country-folk with Guanajuato, a cinematic song that explores themes of human connection, circumstance and moral complexity. By Jane Howkins Eric's plainspoken, gravel-tinged vocals carry the exact emotional restraint that this song demands - it's raw, yet the production sounds perfectly and the live recording seems to have really brought about a brilliant balance of sounds here. Guanajuato almost sounds a bit like an old Western film score at times, creating a dusty, reflective mood for the listener that is grounded in a traditional form of folky instrumentation.

Michael B Kowal delivers authentic grit and a strong melodic backbone on new song Fire in Your Eyes, which is a soulful, warm-blooded slice of blues-infused rock and roll that wears its heart proudly on its sleeve. By Jane Howkins What's really interesting about Fire In Your Eyes is that it relies primarily on natural heat and organic instrumentation, subtly building the music up nicely over the course of the piece. Built on an earthy form of acoustic framing, rich guitar flourishes and a steady, simmering rhythm section, the track brilliantly creates an atmosphere that feels immediately familiar yet deeply captivating. It's a real stand-out song and one that makes me eager to discover what Michael comes up with next time around!

I love a catchy pop song, and Echo Union have managed to deliver exactly that with their punchy new single, Until You Needed Money. By Jane Howkins Until You Needed Money is a sharp, groove-laden slice of pop/rock music that pairs cynical, real-talk lyricism with an irresistible, driving rhythm. The songwriting is absolutely superb here, using an amazing chord sequence that echoes nicely on the piano, with occasional guitar riffs tailing off every so often in the background as the song builds up. The vocals are perfect too, also using some pretty choir-like backing vocals at times to add more of an emotive effect. This is a must listen song from me!

British indie-rockers The Howlers have quickly made a name for themselves within the music scene, with D.R.I.V.E being another killer new single for the band. By Jane Howkins As previously stated, The Howlers have been making serious waves across the UK indie circuit - now their latest offering, D.R.I.V.E, proves exactly why they’re one of the most exciting guitar bands around right now. As you might have expected from the song title, D.R.I.V.E is a relentless piece of garage-rock that feels built for wide-open highways and late-night highway cruising, due to the rhythm and riffage on offer here.

Here at York Calling, we have a huge soft spot for music that tells a story, which is exactly what singer-songwriter Grant Maloy Smith does - why not try out her new single Tear Trail and see for yourselves? By Jane Howkins There is something timeless about an artist who can pick up an acoustic guitar, lean into the roots of American folk music and tell a story that feels both historically grounded and deeply human. That's what Grant has managed to do on his new single Tear Trail, …

Texas-based singer-songwriter WE THE QUEENZ is a brand new discovery of mine, but I guarantee I will be sharing more of her music in the near future if A Place Called Home is anything to go by! By Jane Howkins A Place Called Home is a beautiful piece of music that wraps the listener up in an inviting wave of melody and passion from the very start. You can really feel the pain in the vocals, especially as they're belted out on the chorus, getting deep underneath your skin in no time.

Evanescence are one of those bands you come to expect a great show from. I've seen them several times over the years at different moments of their career (the orchestra tour for Synthesis and their last Download Festival appearance in 2023 are particular stand-outs for me), and yet their never fail to disappoint. Armed with two killer support acts in the form of K Flay and Poppy, Amy Lee and the rest of the Evanescence gang arrived in Leeds on Tuesday to kick off their UK tour in style. Review by Jane Howkins…