For many remembering their teenage years there will be a nostalgia attached to the feeling of the fair coming to town. The smell of burgers, the glittering of the lights on the rides, sticky fingers from candyfloss and the excited, bustling crowds. Dreamland in Margate facilitates a trip down memory lane with all of the above whilst hosting pivotal artists that were a big part of the soundtrack of those heady days for many. As a part of the Margate Summer Series line up, McFly brought their party vibes to the Kent coast.

At the end of a week that saw the world lose the Prince of Darkness, live music and the community around it felt extra important. Down at The Engine Rooms rehearsal studios in East London, a stacked roster of bands kept the flame of rock 'n roll alive, dropping in plenty of Ozzy tributes for good measure.

Wet Leg shot to stardom immediately with their cheeky early singles ‘Chaise Longue’ and ‘Wet Dream’, followed by a #1 self-titled debut album, seemingly endless touring, a support slot with Harry Styles and a string of awards, including recognition from the GRAMMYs and BRITs. After a short break, Wet Leg returned, now as a fully-formed band, and eager to get back to work once again. Their sophomore record, Moisturiser, was crafted intentionally to break expectations and serves as a sonic departure. It’s punchier, angrier and heavier in every way. 

Florida heavyweights A Day To Remember brought their trademark blend of pop-punk and metalcore carnage to London’s O2 Academy Brixton on 25 June for a second night in a row, and the result was nothing short of pure mayhem.

Somewhere between fan-club and cult is the space that YUNGBLUD’S BLUDFEST sits. A hazy fever dream of summer fun, riotous music acts and a community of dedicated followers of Dominic Harrison. Curated by YUNGBLUD himself and held at Milton Keynes Bowl on June 21, BLUDFEST returned with even bigger scale and ambition than its debut.

Last night at the magnificent Union Chapel in London, Nick Mulvey transformed what could have been a simple acoustic, intimate set into an immersive experience, effortlessly drawing the audience into his soulful world. More than just a performance, it felt like a musical communion of emotion, vulnerability, and hope.

It's been quite a few days for Mothica. Off the back of a set at Download festival on Saturday, the American songstress was ready for more with a second round at the O2 Academy Islington. Occasionally wandering into the path of the wings on her backdrop, creating a genius visual, Mothica wound around the stage looking like an ethereal entity.

It’s been more than a decade since Canadian bashers Kittie last headlined a stage on UK soil - and tonight at The Dome in Tufnell Park, the wait ended. The atmosphere inside the venue was electric with anticipation, a heady mix of nostalgia and adrenaline coursing through the crowd.

Pendulum have a mystic that is quite hard to define. They seen timeless, illusive and monumental whilst also utterly modern, tangible, and at Dreamland in Margate, within arm's reach. With them, Pendulum brought a trio of varied and exciting supports for a sunny day adjacent to the beach.

Early on in their career, BABYMETAL broke records for being the youngest band to play all sorts of festivals and venues in Japan such as Summer Sonic and Budokan. Later on, they became notable further afield for being the first Japanese act to play a number of festivals and venues worldwide, including in the UK where they were the first Japanese act to headline Wembley and play on a main stage at Glastonbury festival. At the O2 Arena, the trio of kawaii metallers do it all over again and become the first Japanese act to headline the venue. Selling it out for good measure.

In the heart of London, the O2 Academy 2 Islington became a hub for raw, uplifting indie music as Australian outfit South Summit’s The Bliss album tour rolled into town for their first ever UK headline show in the Big Smoke.

It's heartwarming to be reminded that being a fan is still badass in 2025. Outside The New Cross Inn, a small delegation of committed music lovers waited to be first in and right at the front for Story Untold. It's been 6 years since Story Untold's last show in London supporting Between You & Me. Latching onto the resurgence of early 2000 emo fashions, Story Untold are serving all you could want from a pop punk fest, complete with Creepers, Pink tape on mic and the most emo of haircuts. Band and crowd have the same vibe though. The niche of throwback style feeling both nostalgic and utterly relevant.