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Keira Knox

Keira Knox is a UK-based music journalist and the host of Heard It Here First, focusing on early momentum within the UK indie landscape.

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‘JAMES GIGS ARE A BIG CELEBRATION OF THE FUCK UP OF BEING ALIVE’ | INTERVIEW WITH SAUL DAVIES | NORTHERN EXPOSURE

Few musicians can claim to have joined a band as a ‘temporary measure’ and stayed for over three decades, but Saul Davies is anything but typical. Since being discovered at an improvisation night in Manchester in 1989, Saul has become the multi-instrumentalist backbone of James. Whether he’s wielding a violin with punk-rock ferocity or crafting the soaring guitar textures that define the band’s arena-filling sound, his influence is woven into the very fabric of their 45 year legacy. We sat down...
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‘I KNOW THAT I WILL BE A STADIUM ARTIST ONE DAY’: ALESSI ROSE DREAMS BIG AHEAD OF HEADLINE TOUR | NORTHERN EXPOSURE

Alessi Rose has taken the pop world by storm in just over two years, releasing three amazing EPs and touring the globe with some of the biggest stars in the business. We sat down to talk with her before her biggest headline tour to yet, and now it’s her turn to shine.


Your music perfectly blends pop with deeply personal lyricism. How do you strike that balance between mainstream appeal and authentic self-expression?


I don’t think anyone can seek to have mainstream appeal, however I do beli...
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‘MEMORIES TO LAST A LIFETIME’ : NBHD WEEKENDER RETURNS TO VICTORIA PARK | NORTHERN EXPOSURE

NBHD Weekender, a gathering that has become renowned for its welcoming atmosphere. On this bank holiday weekend, thousands of music enthusiasts flooded Victoria Park to enjoy the sun and heavy rains while the booming sound of the festival stages filled the air. You won’t find anything quite like the electrifying ambiance that permeates from the Northwest.


Fans spent the weekend scouring the park for the most promising up-and-coming performers and figuring out where they could score the very b...
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TAILORED FOR A LIVE ENVIRONMENT : SUNDAY (1994) TALK NEW MUSIC AND NBHD WEEKENDER | NORTHERN EXPOSURE

We are now firmly in arms length of festival season. NBHD Weekender is less than 20 days away, with stage splits and excitement building it’s only right that we speak to one of the festivals most anticipated acts, Sunday (1994).


They first appeared in 2024 as Sunday (1994), a British-American dream-pop ensemble with infectious tracks and an instantly recognisable retro look. They have gone viral on TikTok in the year since and are currently selling out live performances across the globe.


“...
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NELL MESCAL RELEASES ‘CANDID’ NEW SINGLE ‘THIN’ | NORTHERN EXPOSURE

Following a string of sold-out US shows and intimate UK performances, Nell Mescal balances on the edge of stardom. Mescal has crafted the art of meaningful lyricism, with ‘Thin’ she hits home with deep personal struggle, putting her insecurities at the forefront.


The song delves deep into the perception body image and the emotional toll it may take on self-worth. Before releasing the sombre demo, the singer teased live and social media snippets of the track, much to the joy of her eager fans...
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‘THERE IS SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE!’| NATHAN SHEPHERD TALKS ALL THINGS BBC RADIO 6 MUSIC FESTVAL | NORTHERN EXPOSURE

Greater Manchester will host the BBC Radio 6 Music Festival once more. The station’s premier event is returning to the area for the third year in a row. It will feature new music debuts, exclusive collaborations, surprise guests, and the world premieres of brand-new live events.


On Friday 28th March, Indie Forever will be Live at Band on the Wall with DJ sets from Sports Team, Lava La Rue, Steve Lamacq, Viagra Boys and of course Nathan Shepherd. What can you expect from the Indie Forever nigh...
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NOW IS THE TIME FOR CHANGE | BRIT AWARD WINNERS CALL FOR ACTION FOR GRASSROOTS VENUES | NORTHERN EXPOSURE

Where do we start with the BRIT Awards? Given the current atmosphere, a night that is meant to honour the finest of British music felt a little overshadowed; the performers in attendance obviously felt the same way. One by one, performers used their on-stage presence to raise awareness of the crisis engulfing the UK music industry’s roots rather than to express their gratitude and control the spotlight.


Myles Smith, the Rising Star winner, started things off with a daring challenge to the est...
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‘A GENERATIONAL TALENT THAT DESERVES TO BE CONSIDERED AS ONE OF THE GREATEST’ | SAM FENDER IS BACK WITH ‘PEOPLE WATCHING’ | NORTHERN EXPOSURE

After releasing his debut album, ‘Hypersonic Missiles,’ six years ago, Sam Fender has achieved an extraordinary degree of success, propelling him into the spotlight. Fender appears to gain confidence in his musical skills with every release, his third album is no different. A thoughtful and frequently poignant album, ‘People Watching’ takes the achievements of his previous albums and offers them a fresh perspective and sound.


Fender finds himself at a metaphorical impasse in ‘People Watching....
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SAM FENDER’S RELEASES EMOTIONAL NEW TRACK ‘REMEMBER MY NAME’ | NORTHERN EXPOSURE

Following the releases of guitar-driven anthems such as ‘People Watching’ and ‘Arms Length’, Sam Fender reinvents his iconic sound with his latest single ‘Remember My Name’. A bold and invigorating track, with a heartfelt and mature flare that distinguishes the genuine affection Fender captures for his late Grandparents.


‘Remember My Name,’ is simply astounding; orchestral and brass accompaniments, serve to add to the poignancy of this lyrical exploration. ‘Remember My Name’ is a completely n...
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‘QUINTESSENTIAL INDIE POP’ | THE LOTTERY WINNERS RELEASE NEW SINGLE ‘TURN AROUND’ | NORTHERN EXPOSURE

‘Turn Around’ is the new single released by The Lottery Winners. Following the recently released tracks ‘Dirt And Gold’ with Frank Turner, ‘UFO,’ ‘Superpower,’ and ‘You Again’ starring Jon McClure of Reverend and the Makers, the anthemic indie-pop song is a preview for their next album ‘KOKO,’ which will be released on March 21 via Modern Sky.


A slice of summer sunshine, with any Lottery Winners track you’re guaranteed a feelgood factor that sets to run though your veins. ‘Turn Around’ is no...
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MANCHESTER WELCOMES INHALER WITH THEIR ‘ARMS OUT OPEN WIDE’ | NORTHERN EXPOSURE

A venue of such grandeur deserves a band of equally impressive status. Saturday night saw Manchester’s O2 Apollo welcome Dublin band Inhaler, with their ‘arms out open wide’. Just a day after the release of the critically acclaimed third album, ‘Open Wide’, Inhaler brought tracks of old and new to the stage, its clear that within 48 hours of release fans had spent every waking moment learning the lyrics.


Consisting of Elijah Hewson, bassist Robert Keating, guitarist Josh Jenkinson and drummer...
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“MUSIC’S SUCH A POSITIVE, UPLIFTING THING”| INTERVIEW WITH THE WOMBATS | NORTHERN EXPOSURE

Ahead of the release of The Wombat’s sixth studio album, ‘Oh! The Ocean‘, we sat down with Dan Haggis to talk everything from their arena tour, Sealife, grassroots venues and so much more. In his own words, Dan much like myself is “a fellow verbal diarrhoea sufferer“, so much so that before this interview was conducted we spent 5 minutes attempting to search for an official diagnosis, Logorrhea.


For a band that have achieved so much over their extensive career, The Wombats have stayed true to...
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THE K’S RELEASE BRAND NEW TRACK ‘BREAKDOWN IN MY BEDROOM’ | NORTHERN EXPOSURE

The K’s quickly rose to prominence as among the foremost intriguing and popular new bands of 2024, with sold-out headline tours, numerous main stage festival performances, and a No.3 Official Charts album. They are gearing up to go beyond this year with their upcoming second album, ‘Pretty On The Internet.’ The latest album produced by Grammy Award winner Jim Lowe (Stereophonics, The Dandy Warhols) and mixed by Pete Hutchings (Royal Blood, Foals, Nothing But Thieves), features the first single,...
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‘A Potent Demonstration Of Artistry’ : Brooke Combe ‘Dancing At The Edge Of The World’ Album Review

Words by Keira Knox


The new album ‘Dancing at the Edge of the World’ by rising Scottish singer-songwriter Brooke Combe embraces her soulful roots. This album is her most genuine work to date, working closely alongside James Skelley of The Coral, it combines modern soul sounds with rich, expressive vocals. A wide range of people can relate to Brooke’s music due to how it encapsulates the essence of heartbreak, empowerment, and self-exploration.


A potent demonstration of Brooke’s artistry, ‘...
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SOUND CITY ANNOUNCE SECOND WAVE OF ARTISTS | NORTHERN EXPOSURE

For a 2025 edition, Sound City will once again serve as the hub for discovering new music and the beating heart of music lovers’ favourite up-and-coming performers across Liverpool City Centre, shedding a light on the sound of both today and tomorrow.


Dylan John Thomas and STONE are among the second wave of musicians announced by Sound City for their 2025 festival. The new music discovery festival, will feature Dylan John Thomas as the main act on Sunday night, followed by Merseyside locals...
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THE PINNACLE OF DEBUT EP’S | BROTHER RELEASE ‘GOING HOME’ | NORTHERN EXPOSURE

Drawing inspiration from the iconic sounds of the late 1960s and early 1970s, BROTHER delivers a high-energy fusion of gritty blues and raw rock ‘n’ roll. They merge influences from the greats with a style that is all their own with their debut EP, ‘Going Home,’ which features a dynamic spectrum of sounds from heart-breaking blues ballads to powerful classic rock ‘n’ roll choruses. Their origins and the distinct personality they are forging in the current music landscape are both captured in thi...
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BBC RADIO 1’S BIG WEEKEND ANNOUNCE FIRST WAVE OF ARTISTS | NORTHERN EXPOSURE

There’s no better city than Liverpool to host Radio 1’s Big Weekend. It’s a city rich with a deep musical heritage that has impacted people across the globe. Sefton Park will host the festival from Friday, May 23, to Sunday, May 25. Over 100,000 attendees are anticipated to attend, with roughly 100 acts performing on four stages over the weekend.


On the Radio 1 Breakfast Show this morning, Greg James announced that Radio 1’s Big Weekend 2025 will include superstar Sam Fender as the main headl...
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