1. TRIPLE DRAIN
This all-femme trio have spent the year making their rounds of Brighton. Self-described as ‘post-punk goth sludge’, Triple Drain draws visual comparisons to a modern-day version of The Slits with a sonic resemblance to Siouxsie and the Banshees.
Their live performance is hypnotic and somewhat unpredictable, leaving audiences in the dark as to whether their next number is going to be vibey, cool, or ear-splittingly dynamic. Although Triple Drain has yet to release their songs to the world, I’d imagine that this coming year may see some action in that space.
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2. FEVER ROUGE
Fever Rouge are arguably one of the most critical up-and-coming acts on this list. Their intricately crafted sound is not easy to put into words. It’s rock, above all, with flourishes of jazz, funk, and an infectious discordance that holds you captive. This band seeps with energy, flare, highs and lows, and everything in between. You simply have to hear for yourself.
This past year has been one of major triumph for the Brighton four-piece, including a new single with an accompanying video and a UK mini-tour. The year approaching is looking equally as mighty for Fever Rouge, so be sure to keep an eye out.
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3. BONES ATE ARFA
Since formation in 2022, Bones Ate Arfa has littered the local scene with an experimental psychedelic desert rock sound like nothing before. Though their influences – Queens of the Stone Age, Muse, Soft Play – can be heard in the music, Bones Ate Arfa don’t shy away from originality and only see boundaries as a thing to break. In addition to their musical merits, these guys seem to have mastered the music business, using their notable social media following to push themselves to the next level.
In 2024, the band released not one but five singles, some of which featured on their recent EP Akimbo People. They also embarked on a UK mini-tour and performed their very own BBC Introducing Live Lounge session.
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4. EVILLE
This Brighton four-piece has spent the year burning up the UK with their very own branch of alternative that they like to call Brat Metal. From crushing riffs to attitudinal vocals, Eville combines bratty charm – a phenomenon that engulfed music this year – with a vital heaviness in a balance that only they can control.
Eville blessed us with a generous six singles this year, which suggests that something bigger may be on the cards for 2025. The band also played some killer gigs this year with the likes of WARGASM and Cody Frost.
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5. ARXX
Brighton duo ARXX is where the grunge movement meets queer culture. Not only is their music irresistibly catchy, packed with earworm hooks and striking lyrical prose, but it also fosters a sense of community that makes this band all the more special. ARXX’s time in the industry has been one of wild success, where they’ve thrived with authenticity and independence.
Their latest album Good Boy dropped in October of this year and has been celebrated internationally with a UK/EU tour.
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6. DITZ
Local hardcore band DITZ has been slowly creeping up the radar with a potent acidity of off-kilter punk. An instrumentally skilled band whose darkly atmospheric performances take no prisoners, their sombre yet contrastingly wild stage presence has been known to captivate audiences all around.
We gained two singles from the quintet this year, which garnered praise from BBC Radio 6 DJ Steve Lamacq. DITZ spread their endearingly unconventional artistry, from cross-country gigging to supporting IDLES on their European tour. Catch them on their way up in 2025, or you’ll be sorry you never did.
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7. CLTDRP
CLTDRP are an electro-punk trio known for pushing boundaries and being unapologetically original. Their unique sound is characterised by a fusion of punk, electronica, and edgy pop. While they are a force to listen to, seeing them live is an infectious experience that’s captured audiences across the UK.
2024 saw the release of their latest single, Until You Showed Me, setting them up nicely for the new year.
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8. TIGERCUB
A name you’re probably familiar with, Tigercub are a group that gives year after year. This one was particularly special for them, with numerous festival appearances, gigs, and a US support tour with the great Chevelle.
Tigercub released a new single, Show Me Your Maker, along with the first two singles from their complete re-record of the 2023 album The Perfume of Decay. The full album comes out on the 28th of March 2025.
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9. LIME GARDEN
Lime Garden is a quartet of best friends from Brighton. Playing together since the age of 16, this band have created an indie-electro sound beloved by audiences across the country. It’s not your run-of-the-mill indie; Lime Garden write songs from an often-unseen perspective.
Their first full-length LP, One More Thing, came out in February, which discusses the intricacies of womanhood at close quarters. It’s stunningly composed, receiving praise from NME and The Independent, and even featured as Resident’s album of the year. These are certainly one to watch out for in 2025.
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10. LAMBRINI GIRLS
There is a plethora of ways to describe Lambrini Girls, yet somehow, not enough. Chaotic, unhinged, and aggressive often spring to mind. However, this Brighton punk duo has become highly praised as trailblazers in the alternative world.
Their live performances manifest as a cathartic act of defiance – against the patriarchy, the government, the music industry, and pretty much anything else one can get angry about. Some of Lambrini Girls’ antics include crowd invasions, vulgar sing-alongs, and excessive alcohol consumption on stage. While their music is crude and their shows deemed less than PG, audiences gobble up their truths. They are the poster children for this queer new wave of ‘IDGAF’ punk and no one could better represent.
Some of their 2024 highlights include a UK tour, a session with KEXP, and countless festival appearances. Next January will see them embark on a US tour – an inexplicable achievement for one of Brighton’s finest.
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