APES O `CLOCK

APES O’CLOCK – Sechs Musiker*innen, ein wilder Mix aus Rock, Brass und Chanson, und vor allem: pure Bühnenenergie. Die Crew aus Rennes hat sich 2015 gegründet und gleich losgelegt: zwei DIY-EPs („From jungle to downtown“ und „Don’t wake me up“) machten neugierig, das erste Album Le spectacle continue (2019) hat dann richtig gezündet. Mit À l’aube du tumulte (2023) haben sie bewiesen, dass ihr Sound immer größer, intensiver und verrückter wird.

Über 350 Liveshows später weiß jede*r, der sie erlebt hat: Das hier ist kein einfaches Konzert, sondern eine explosive Show. Von fetten Bläser-Hooks über epische Kostüme bis zu visuellen Eskapaden – APES O’CLOCK verwandeln jede Bühne in ihr eigenes Universum.

2024 stand voll im Zeichen von Album Nummer zwei: Neues Team, neue Show, neue Vision – und die ist lauter, bunter und frecher denn je. Denn für APES O’CLOCK gibt es keine halben Sachen: Sound, Story, Visuals und Performance verschmelzen zu diesem verrückten, schillernden Kosmos, in dem man komplett abtaucht.

 

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LES NEGRESSES VERTES

Copyright: Benjamin Pinard

After 17 years away, LES NÉGRESSES VERTES began an event tour in 2018 to celebrate the 30th anniversary of their Album „Mlah“. Following a run of unforgettable concerts in France and around the world: New York, London, Florence, Brussels, Athens & many more, the iconic band continue their incredible tour since 2024.
With more than 300 concerts in six years – they have taken a break in 2025. But back by popular request, the band will be back on stage from February to October 2026, including of course spring and summer festivals.

ALIEN CHICKS

Copyright: Alien Chicks

Alien Chicks are a dynamic post-punk trio hailing from the streets of South London. Known for their electrifying blend of rap, jazz, and punk, the band has quickly become a fixture in the local music scene. The line-up features the vocals and sharp guitar work of Josef Lindsay, the pulsating basslines of Stefan Parker-Steele, and the explosive drumming of Martha Daniels. Together, they create a sound that is both raw and innovative, capturing the spirit of London’s underground music culture

The band’s journey began in grassroots venues across the city, in particular The Windmill, Brixton.  They have combined relentless gigging with their high-energy performances to build a loyal following in the UK and Europe. With highlights including supports with renowned acts such as Big Special, Fat Dog, English Teacher, The Blinders, and Opus Kink, sold out headlines at The Lexington and 100 Club and people queuing to see them at showcase festivals like Mutations, Left of the Dial and The Great Escape.

July marked a significant milestone for the band with the release of their debut EP ‘Indulging The Mobs’ (released on SO Recordings x Hideous Mink), a project that captures the frenetic energy and genre-blending creativity of their live shows. Their rise has not been limited to London alone; they’ve also made waves across the UK and Europe, whilst also sharing stages with renowned acts such as Fat Dog, English Teacher, The Blinders, and Opus Kink.

Alien Chicks’ music is a testament to their diverse influences and fearless approach to genre. Whether delivering rapid-fire rap verses, intricate jazz-inspired bass riffs, or thunderous punk rhythms, they continue to push boundaries and defy expectations. As they prepare to release their debut EP and take their electrifying live shows to even larger audiences, Alien Chicks are undoubtedly a band to watch in the coming years.

RONG KONG KOMA

Copyrights: Nils Bucher

Zu verspielt für Punk, zu dreckig für Indie, zu wütend für Pop – das sind Rong Kong Koma. Reibeisenstimme und treibendes Schlagzeug treffen in Hochspannung auf filigran-ballernde Gitarren und einen hüpfenden Bass. „Die härteste Band im Pop. Die softeste Band im Punk. Sie sind all das, was andere Bands nicht sein wollen. Eingängige Songs, maximal schrammelig und punkig gespielt. Ohrwürmer mit Ecken und Kanten. Dazu rotzfreche Texte, für die man jederzeit eine Tracht Prügel kassieren könnte – oder eine Umarmung.“ (OX)
Rong Kong Koma sind eine hochenergetische, bunte Live-Band mit komplexen Violent-Pop-Superpower-Songs aus Berlin.

IRNINI MONS

Copyright: Tara Ozem

French rock outfit Irnini Mons approach post-punk in an oblique, candid way. With the intent of contributing to the relevancy of modern guitar-based music, they put their four personas at work since 2021 to craft a mixed, diverse solution of indie, progressive, pop and grungy rock. Formed with ex-members of the former punk band Decibelles (endorsed by the legendary producer Steve Albini), the four musicians all sing, sometimes in solo, sometimes in polyphony, always in French.
After touring intensely in several European countries, including a run with Shellac in 2022 and prestigious festivals (Trans Musicales – Rennes, MENT – Ljubljana, MaMA Music & Convention – Paris), the band will release its first full length album in spring 2024.
Line-up: Fanny Bouland (drums, vocals), Guillaume Carle (bass, vocals), Sabrina Duval (guitar, vocals), Valentin Fayaud (guitar, vocals)

PREYRS feat. Amy Montgomery

Copyright: Preyrs

PREYRS, a visceral new force in alternative rock and metal, is the brainchild of Belfast rock artist Amy Montgomery and drummer/producer Michael Mormecha. Fusing raw alternative rock energy with the weight of metal, their music is an electrifying clash of aggression and euphoria, darkness and uplift, chaos and control.

Recently signing to Berlin based Pelagic Records, their forthcoming album is a cathartic journey through pain, growth and transformation, with debut single Wave of Wisdom encapsulating their fierce yet gothic anthemic sound—where healing and rage collide in perfect harmony.

Known for electrifying live performances, PREYRS make their UK festival debut at Bloodstock Open Air this August before supporting New Model Army across Europe this winter then appearing at Planet Rock’s Winter’s End Festival in January 2026.

Nominated as ‘Best Live Act’ and ‘Best Artist’ at the Northern Ireland Music Prize, Amy’s undeniably fierce and captivating front person energy has been her secret weapon often described as ‘otherworldly’ or ‘a force of nature’

For those seeking the epic, the healing, the aggressive and the unrelenting pulse of alternative rock and metal, PREYRS is it.

The live band consists of long term guitarist Nolan Donnelly and the recent addition of Ciaran McGreevy on bass

 

TURFU

Copyrights: Léa Troulard

Turfu ist die eigentlich eher unwahrscheinliche Zusammenarbeit von Raphaël Decoster und Matthieu Souchet. Raphaël Decoster ist ein versierter Musiker in der Trad.- und Folkszene, interessiert sich aber auch für elektronische Musik. In der (sowie im Jazz) Matthieu Souchet seinen Hintergrund hat. Das Wundersame geschah: Es klickte musikalisch – Turfu war geboren. Der Name ist ein Anagramm für Futur, also Zukunft; als Themen ihrer Musik nennen sie Leidenschaft, Ekstase und Betrunkenheit und kleben ihr gerne das Etikett „kosmisch“ auf. Diese dionysischen Themen übersetzen sie in mal rustikale, mal wilde Melodien, verbinden traditionelle Tanzmusik mit Techno sowie handgemachte mit digitalen Sounds, alles mit nur einem Ziel: die Leute zum Tanzen zu bringen. Dazu konzipieren sie ihre Konzerte wie DJ-Sets, in dem sie ihre Stücke ineinanderfließen lassen und so einen Raum für kollektive Trance schaffen. (Festival Rudolstadt 2022)

BLACK WATER COUNTY

Copyright: Marianne Harris

Over the past eight years of playing music together, we’ve grown up through angsty teenage years into angstier adulthood, with only our music to reflect our hurdles and triumphs. On the days where the world seemed to be raging on indifferently or responsibilities came banging at our doors, we took solace amongst the singing, sweating people in front of us on a Friday night with that 10ft by 6ft space beneath our feet becoming our sanctuary.

In 2017 we independently released ‘Taking Chances’ with a sold out launch show at Mr Kyps and embarked on our first self-booked UK tour. After signing with booking agency Midnight Mango in 2018 we’ve had three extensive UK headline tours as well as supports on the tours of a plethora of inspirational artists. Our second album ‘Comedies and Tragedies’ was released on March 13th 2020 with another sold out show at The Old Firestation in Bournemouth, however, the promotional UK tour was halted as soon as the pandemic hit.If our first album, ‘Taking Chances’, is a post-university tale of early twenties life; refusing to conform and rebelling against anything that stands in the way of a good time, then consider ‘Comedies and Tragedies’ to be a reality check sequel; rife with confusion, uncertainty and the struggles of self-identity.

When creating music over the years, it has become integral for us to acknowledge not only a balance between guts and contemplation, but a harmony of punchy pop-punk guitar and hard-hitting drums with the complex but determined layers of banjo, mandolin and tin whistle intertwined. With this we strive to pay homage to our appreciation of folk music and the significance of punk throughout our upbringings.

In both 2016 and 2018, we won our place on Fireball’s ‘Fuelling the Fire Tour’ supporting Less Than Jake, Flogging Molly, The Bronx, The Skints and Face to Face. We then subsequently had an endorsement from Fireball UK in 2019 and featured in Kerrang!’s online coverage of the tour. We also appeared on BBC radio Solent with our single ‘Rise and Fall’ on March 10th 2018.

 

UNDERCOVER HIPPY

Copyrights: Undercover Hippy

Billy Rowan aka The Undercover Hippy ist bestimmt kein klassischer Singer-Songwriter. In seiner Musik vereint er Reggae-Rhythmen mit packenden Hooks und mitreissenden Grooves und singt zwischendurch, als wäre er schon jahrelang als Hip-Hop-MC unterwegs. Während die Musik von Undercover Hippy jedes Jahr über 2 Millionen Mal gestreamt wird, reist die Band viele Meilen, um ihre mehr als 80 Shows pro Jahr allein in Großbritannien zu spielen. Billy Rowan unterhält zusammen mit seinen Mitstreitern die Zuschauer*innen durch ihre intelligent provokativen und politischen Texte und einem «Feelgood-Groove».

“Like the love-child of Steel Pulse, Kate Tempest, and The Sleaford Mods”
Tom Robinson, BBC6Music

 

 

HENGE

Copyrights: Matthew Whitaker

Attention Humans! This is HENGE.
We are not from this world.
We bring you music from distant planets.
We offer this gift for the edification of humankind… so that eventually your species may put an end to war and set up new homes in space.

Die außerirdischen Spaßmacher HENGE begeistern das Publikum in Großbritannien und Europa, seit sie vor neun Jahren auf dem Planeten Erde gelandet sind. Ihre schillernden Live-Performances brachten ihnen den Titel „Best Live Act“ bei den Independent Festival Awards ein. Seitdem haben sie ihren Ruf mit drei hochgelobten Alben, zahlreichen Tourneen und regelmäßigen Auftritten auf den Hauptbühnen von Festivals gefestigt.

Ihre Musik entzieht sich jeder Definition, sondern bewegt sich in einem Bereich zwischen Rave und Prog-Rock, von dem niemand wusste, dass er existiert. Sie ist energiegeladen, subversiv und belebend spielerisch und betritt auf fröhliche Weise Neuland. Letztendlich verbreiten diese unerschrockenen Kreaturen eine Botschaft der Hoffnung, die das Publikum gleichermaßen amüsiert und aufmuntert.

ENGLISH:

Extra-terrestrial joymongers – HENGE – have been delighting audiences in the UK and Europe since they landed on Planet Earth nine years ago. Their scintillating live performances earned them ‘Best Live Act’ at the Independent Festival Awards and they have since cemented their reputation with three acclaimed albums, numerous tours and regular main-stage festival appearances.

Their music escapes definition, but occupies a space between rave and prog rock that nobody knew existed. It is energetic, subversive and invigoratingly playful, jovially breaking new ground. Ultimately, these intrepid creatures are spreading a message of hope which leaves audiences feeling amused and uplifted in equal measures.

You can listen to the album here: