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Livesphere is an online music magazine led by a female collective united by the love of music, dedicated to bringing you the latest music news, reviews, live photos and insights, predominantly in London and the UK as well as throughout Europe. Whether you're a fan of rock, metal, alternative, pop, or indie, we’ve got you covered with in-depth features on artists, album releases, concert reviews, and interviews.
And don’t forget to check out the Live Events section to stay updated on what’s to come!
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LIVE reviews
SLAM DUNK FESTIVAL 2026 | HATFIELD PARK | 23 MAY
NEW!
2026 marks 20 years of Slam Dunk, as well as 10 years of The Key Club Stage and this year was filled with an incredible line-up filled with nostalgic bands (Good Charlotte, A, Dashboard Confessional, Broadside to name a few), festival titans (Bury Tomorrow, Knocked Loose, Malevolence), exciting debuts (Currents, President, The Home Team), viral bands currently on an unstoppable roll (Unpeople) and a tease of what the future may hold (Dead Pony, SiM).
Whether you came for the pop-punk/alt rock emo nostalgia, the moshpit heavy titans, or to see what the fuss of the new bands is all about, there was something for everyone! With the amount of rock and metal sub-genres out there, it’s getting increasingly difficult to please everyone; however, Slam Dunk managed to deliver yet again a line-up that offers stellar options for any fans.
A factor in facilitating this in 2026 was also the debut of the brand new rotating stage on Scott’s Key Club Stage, which is genius and worked like a charm! In previous years, the changeover between bands was roughly 20 minutes, but with the new system, it has been reduced to 5 minutes. The turntable setup allows one band to set up their gear on the back half of the stage while the previous band is finishing their set on the front half. The stage then rotates 180 degrees, allowing the next band to start playing immediately. The Key Club Stage has been undergoing massive developments in recent years, and they managed to find the perfect solution in order to ensure a smooth changeover between bands, without sound bleeds and reducing crowd surge in a confined tent, whilst only using one active PA system. This year, The Key Club stage was named in memory of the late great Scott Hickinson, manager of The Key Club venue in Leeds and an integral part of the festival team, who sadly passed away early this year due to cancer.
DOWNLOAD FESTIVAL 2026 | DONINGTON PARK | 12-14 JUNE
NEW!
When it comes to catering for all the flavours of rock fan, Download Festival certainly has it down. Returning to Donington race track for the 2026 edition of the legendary music festival, the event felt even more diverse, even more exciting and just as special as ever. With a bit of an arena rejig, now featuring a food stage and an increase in size of the main stage ‘Apex’, which is now one of the biggest rock stages in the UK.
First off the blocks on Friday, Native James brought out some special guests at the end of a powerful set at the Avalanche stage. For the grime rocker’s first ever outing at Download he was gracious and appreciative of everyone that made it down to his set, declaring;
“You know how special you guys are making me feel now. I've got some special guests for you." treating the crowd to an unrealised song ‘Never Been Scared' with Frisco and ‘Block’ with Professor Green.
“Happy pride month!” Scene Queen declared over on Apex stage. “We come from the US where a whole load of fucked shit is happening.” She continued, touching on the politics she is never afraid to address.
Bringing her unique brand of controversial Bimbo-rock she ended with ‘18+’, Pink cowboy boots with tassels clopping all over the stage.
ALBUM reviews
MUSE - THE WOW! SIGNAL | 26 JUNE
Muse's tenth studio album, THE WOW! SIGNAL, is arguably their strongest and most focused release since BLACK HOLES and REVELATIONS. It doesn't reinvent the band, but it refines nearly every aspect of what they've spent 25 years building: towering riffs, cinematic production, science-fiction themes, and emotional vulnerability.
THE WOW! SIGNAL, inspired by a mysterious radio transmission once thought to be a possible sign of extraterrestrial intelligence detected in 1977, becomes a symbol for reaching out into the unknown and wondering whether anyone is listening. Lead singer Matt Bellamy has said the songs were influenced by a difficult personal period, giving the record a level of emotional honesty that hasn't been this apparent for years.
When the band released 'Unravelling' in June 2025 as the first glimpse of what would eventually become THE WOW! SIGNAL, it immediately sparked excitement among fans. The single felt like a statement of intent. Its combination of crushing riffs, shimmering synths and an expansive, atmospheric sound suggested that Muse were entering a new creative chapter rather than simply revisiting familiar territory. 'Unravelling' was proof that the band still had surprises left.
The album often plays like the soundtrack to an epic science-fiction film. Orchestral arrangements, cinematic synthesizers and sweeping instrumental passages create the feeling of drifting through galaxies before erupting into thunderous guitar-driven climaxes, as if supernovas were unleashing their cosmic tapestry. Tracks seamlessly blend progressive rock, electronic music and symphonic textures, giving the record a grand, immersive quality that rewards listening from beginning to end.
Starting off with 'The Dark Forest', the album introduces a universe that is both beautiful and intimidating, where haunting synths, orchestral flourishes and crushing guitars capture the feeling of drifting into an endless void. The fans will appreciate the sharp and cutting signature attack of the guitar, also present in the classic track 'Knights of Cydonia'. The staccato, galloping tempo is cinematic and takes you off the Earth.
CHARLOTTE SANDS - SATELLITE | 6 MARCH
NEW!
With her distinct blue hair and a Y2K meets modern alt edge, Charlotte Sands has become a fearless force in alt-pop. On her sophomore album, SATELLITE, she sharpens her genre-blurring sound into soaring, diaristic anthems built for cathartic, sold-out show singalongs that feel intensely personal yet universal.
When the album was announced, Charlotte let us know how personal an album it was. “‘Satellite’ was born from a search for meaning, identity, and self worth,” she said. “It’s a collection of moments from the last two years of my life - the highs and lows, the joy and the grief. It’s about drifting, discovering, questioning your purpose, and learning to trust the quiet pull that brings you back to yourself.”
And so begins the bold, high-energy world of SATELLITE.
The album opens with the title track ‘Satellite’, two minutes and 36 seconds of pure perfection. With those signature vocals on display with a somewhat eerie backdrop, it carefully builds the anticipation for what to expect from this collection of songs wrapped up as an album. As ‘satellite’ closes, it leads into ‘one eye open’ and listeners are immediately confronted with the distinct possibility that the listening experience will get better with each track.
When ‘one eye open’ was released as a single late last year, listeners were promised a track that showcases Charlotte's mix of emotional intensity and arena-ready hooks. It did not disappoint.
THIS WEEK’S FAVOURITE TRACK
We can’t get enough of Future Palace’s explosive new single ‘Resurge’.
aboutus
We are an inclusive, independent, non-profit publication led by a female collective launched out of sheer passion for live music and all things music related.
Executive Editor and Photographer: Florelle Servageon
Contact: florelle@livesphere-magazine.com
Editor and Photographer: Eva Grant
Contact: eva@livesphere-magazine.com
Lead Writer & Photographer: Imogen Bird
Contact: imogen@livesphere-magazine.com
Writer (Platform ‘96): Vlad-Paul Ghilaș
Contact: platform96events@gmail.com
Contributors: Nadine Goetz (Writer and Photographer), Justyna Serafin (Photographer), Bia Vismara (Writer), Isabella Jacklin (Writer), Maria Dominici (Writer), Cat Wiltshire (Writer), Auré (Writer), Liv Kendall (Writer), Verity Eaden (Writer), Julie Moisson (Writer), Julia Jevzikova (Photographer), Charlie Wright (Photographer)
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