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.

'‘This is a full-circle moment. I played this venue two years ago when I opened for Tom Odell'‘ Sofia Isella said during her headline show at the Roundhouse on June 4th. The 21-year-old singer from Los Angeles concluded her 'Her Desire, The Nemesis' Tour that night. Isella’s music is often described as dark, as she explores themes of horror and womanhood. Her debut EP 'I’m Not Yours' was released when she was just 15 years old, but it was her 2023 single 'Hot Gum' that brought her wider attention, generating over 10 million streams, helping her build a loyal fanbase.

American indie rock band Rainbow Kitten Surprise (RKS) brought their 'bones' tour to a close at London’s O2 Brixton Academy on June 9th. Formed in 2013 at Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina, the band has built a distinctive sound that blends folk rock with hip-hop influences. The lineup consists of Ela Melo (lead vocals), Darrick "Bozzy" Keller (rhythm guitar), Ethan Goodpaster (lead guitar), Jess Haney (drums) and Charlie Holt (bass). Their 2024 release 'Love Hate Music Box' marked their first album in six years and was followed by their fifth studio album 'bones' in 2025, the record behind the current tour.

For the first time ever, Los Angeles-based Holywatr brought their unique hard-hitting blend of metal, emo and hardcore to the UK. With a sold-out show at the legendary Underworld in London they delivered an explosive, unapologetic and memorable performance, cementing their rising status in the alt rock/metal scene.

Taking the stage in front of larger-than-life screens, Australian pop-punk titans Tonight Alive rolled into London for a night of pure emotion and nostalgia. "Hope your knees and back are going to be okay," frontwoman Jenna McDougall joked early in the night, eyeing the crowd with mischievous affection. "We’ve got 22 songs on this setlist." And they absolutely delivered.

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, I’m happy to say that Slam Dunk managed to deliver yet again a line-up that offers stellar options for any fans.

The air was warm and buzzy as the sun set on the outskirts of Milan, where thousands of fans dressed in loafers and polka dots gathered to witness Olivia Dean’s first performance in Italy.

On the 7th of May, London’s Scala played host to a hopeful high-voltage political rally filled with moshpits, and good vibes. This was the night Hyphen proved the doubters wrong by selling out the iconic Kings Cross venue, but the journey to that historic finale of his REBEL SCUM TOUR was paved with a super strong line-up of artists who had travelled from all corners of the country - and the globe in the case of MUDRAT. From the unapologetic "top vs bottom" rhetoric of MUDRAT to the joy of Genand the Degenerates and the hybrid one-of-a-kind sound of Native James, this was a manifesto set to a high standard.

Stephen Sanchez concluded his ‘Sing Love Again‘ tour in London on May 11th 2026 at the Roundhouse. He began his career in 2020 by posting covers on TikTok before eventually going viral. The American singer-songwriter is known for his 1950s-inspired retro-pop sound and gained massive popularity with his 2021 song ‘Until I Found You’. The hit song was reportedly written in just ten minutes and even caught the attention of Sir Elton John, who called Sanchez a brilliant songwriter.

Rosalía returned to London for two sold-out dates at The O2 Arena on the 5th and 6th of May for her LUX Tour, marking her first performance in the capital since the MOTOMAMI World Tour over two years ago. While she made a massive impression back then by redefining the "visual language" of arena concerts, these two tours represent two distinct eras for the 33-year-old Spanish singer-songwriter, shifting from industrial reggaeton to a full symphonic orchestra. If the gap between these two worlds seems drastic, it certainly did not disappoint the fans; Rosalía has returned stronger, with a vision bigger than life itself.

‘‘Nice to hear some cheers…means I’ve still got it“ Astley shouted three songs into the final night of his 12-date UK and Ireland Reflection Tour. The show at The O2 on April 25th concluded the run with a triumphant finale. British singer-songwriter Rick Astley, who reached number one in 25 countries with his 1987 smash hit ‘Never Gonna Give You Up‘ and celebrated his musical comeback in the early 2000s, shows no signs of slowing down again anytime soon. The crowd was on its feet all night, cheering and dancing to classic 80s hits as well as newer material.

On the 26th of April, Vincent Lima brought his haunting indie-folk melodies to The Garage in London. From the moment I arrived, there was a strong sense of excitement in the air. The venue’s intimate setting brought the audience close to the stage, creating a personal and immersive atmosphere, while the packed crowd added energy throughout the night.