40 Live Acts You Should Go And See In 2026 (part three)
Shooting Daggers
An immigrant queercore punk rock trio from London, Shooting Daggers are impossible not to root for. Fast, slamming skate punk that channels real anger rather than performative aggression, their rage is rooted in lived experience and real injustice. Their shows are an uplifting reminder of the good that punk rock can do, leading with heart, community and purpose.
Car Bomb
Not a band for beginners, Car Bomb make music for people who want their brains to be tested, scrambled and smashed. Their music is already mind-bending on record, but these hyper-complex precision rhythms live at full volume leave your jaw on the floor as you’re gobsmacked at how these four musicians can possibly keep track of what’s coming next. Crushingly heavy constantly shifting patterns delivered with clarity, every song Car Bomb perform ends with a huge cheer from the crowd, relieved at the brief pause before they get completely disoriented all over again. Car Bomb are staggering live, and unlike anything else.
Fortitude Valley
An utterly charming band from Durham who occupy an underrepresented space between bright, twee indie and bouncy pop-punk, with a strain of heartfelt, melodic power pop that we haven’t seen done this well in decades. Extremely well written songs performed with crunch and bite, there’s often sadness and longing running through the lyrics but carried by music that’s sunny, buoyant and irresistibly catchy. You’ll struggle to leave a Fortitude Valley show without a smile on your face, there’s just so much bounce to their sets. Delightfully uplifting.
Regal Cheer
Regal Cheer feel like the perfect hidden gem that Sherwood was set up to find. Harry and Max from Brighton shout and scream with immaculate songwriting and no fat. If you imagine the absolute polar opposite of bloated prog rock indulgence, that’s Regal Cheer. Snappy punk music that’s totally free of clichés, the songs are done in two minutes with shouted gang choruses and immaculate live chemistry. The two of them love making a racket together, and there’s a trust in how perfectly matched they are to each other that’s terrific to watch.
clipping.
A clipping. gig will rewire your brain as to what’s possible in a live show. Live hip-hop often struggles to match the clarity of studio albums, but Daveed Diggs’ delivery is rapid-fire and crystal clear with beats that make your whole body rumble and feel more at home in a rave than a rap show. With big, beefy analogue electronic gear, clipping. make music to be felt, not just heard, with immaculate professionalism and an intensity that never dips, with good humour running throughout. Fun and punishing at the same time, clipping. are next-level.
Mei Semones
Without question one of our favourite debut albums of 2025, Mei Semones is unique and impressive. No matter what kind of music you usually gravitate towards, you should broaden your horizons by seeing Mei Semones and her band’s lightning fast jazz-indie-pop. Bossa Nova enriched by stunning string arrangements and soft, brushed percussion, the band are all top-level music school graduates, and integral to the performance, but it never feels academic or stuffy in the slightest. Jazz that’s light, joyful, and easy to connect with that also ranks among the most impressive musicianship you’re likely to see in these kind of settings.
billy woods
You might not think to place a hip-hop set among the heaviest live shows on the planet, but a billy woods show is loud, murky and oppressive enough to sit comfortably alongside Sunn O))) or Swans. The stage is completely dark, with woods barely visible as he tumbles through dense, gripping verses delivered over unnerving bass-heavy backing tracks. This is deliberately far removed from anything resembling mainstream hip-hop, and it’s consuming and overwhelming, with a relentless intensity as you’re battered with words and bass. A staggering live experience.
Nova Twins
In our view, Nova Twins ought to headline the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury in the next few years, because their sound is enormous enough to handle it. Amy Love is an absolute force with razor-sharp guitar playing and a voice that effortlessly shifts between rapping, shouting, screaming and full-bodied operatic power whilst Georgia South builds entire worlds with her bass and effects pedals. What makes it so exciting is how free Nova Twins feel, clearly having as much fun as they can unburdened by anyone else’s rules or expectations, and willing to jump wherever their instincts take them. We usually focus on the grassroots, but we want to see Nova Twins become as big as possible, because they really deserve it.
Coilguns
Coilguns are a phenomenal post-hardcore band from Switzerland. Their performance is rooted firmly in hardcore punk, but elevated by a level of intelligence and emotional depth that feels deep and considered. They’re unforgettable live, humble and grateful to be in front of an audience and giving it absolutely everything. Frontman Louis Jucker will be playing guitar or keys one moment, and clambering onto the audience’s shoulders the next before launching himself off whatever happens to be nearby. By the end everyone is exhausted and grinning ear to ear, reminded why they love live music. Coilguns leave a serious mark, and are well worth spending your money on.
Godflesh
One of the heaviest live experiences on the planet. If you’re drawn to shows that have become notorious for their volume, Godflesh sit firmly in that category. The show feels less like a concert and more like a sauna from hell, with a staggeringly loud drum machine that refuses to let up. Justin Broadrick’s howl is far more pained and real than stylised modern metal. Bass, guitar, and a drum machine generating a wall of sound that’s a deliberately overwhelming endurance test, Godflesh make other heavy metal gigs feel totally soft by comparison.
