As part of Something For the Weekend’s Big 2026 Preview, we’ve put together a guide for all of the rising stars to keep an ear out for this year.
Here, Jacqui Swift gives her verdict on twenty emerging acts.
ROSE GREY
EAST Londoner Grey has been grafting since 2019, blending glossy pop hooks with the strobes of underground club culture.
Before the buzz, she was working on the door at London club Fabric – so she knows her way around dancefloors.
She says of her sound: “It is definitely pop, but it has its roots in the soundscapes and world of underground club culture, dance music, electronic, electro-clash”
Grey’s debut album Louder, Please, pulls in an impressive roll call, with collaborations from Melanie C, Shygirl, Casey MQ and Jade.
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She has supported Charli XCX, Kesha and Scissor Sisters.
TYLER BALLGAME
BALLGAME is from Los Angeles via Rhode Island and channels a dramatic, soul sound that sits somewhere between Roy Orbison, Tim Buckley and Alabama Shakes.
His debut album For The First Time, Again arrives on January 30.
You might already have caught him performing Got A New Car on Later . . . With Jools Holland, and he’s in the UK at the end of the month for a run of in-store shows.
ISSAC RYAN BROWN
THE US actor, rapper and singer is best known for playing Booker, the psychic son of the titular character in Disney Channel’s sitcom Raven’s Home.
Hailing from Detroit, this 20-year-old draws inspiration from the smooth soul of Luther Vandross and Stevie Wonder.
Brown releases new single End Of The Season on February 6, and the hype around him is already big, with some tipping him as a new-generation Michael Jackson or Usher.
JACOB ALON
THE Scottish folk sensation is having a huge moment.
The singer-songwriter’s Mercury Prize-nominated debut album In Limerence landed in 2025, and now Alon has been shortlisted for the 2026 Brits Critics’ Choice Award.
Inspired by Nick Drake, Alon was introduced to music as a youngster, learning piano at age nine and picking up the guitar at 15.
The singer also played Glastonbury and Latitude and it was only because of lockdown that the singer began to commit to his music.
“I never took it very seriously until Covid hit and then I needed it. I needed to write to process. I was living on my own and songwriting became a way to understand the chaos.”
VILLANELLE
LED by Gene Gallagher, son of Liam, this London trio are already generating a serious buzz.
Gallagher, guitarist Ben Taylor and bassist Jack Schiavo met through mutual friends in a bar in 2023.
You may have caught them supporting Liam on his solo Definitely Maybe 30th anniversary tour in 2024.
Drawing comparisons to Nirvana, Black Sabbath and Arctic Monkeys, Villanelle deal in gritty, straight-up rock with sharp edges.
Debut single Hinge sees Gallagher tackling paranoia and sleepless nights.
ALESSI ROSE
RISING English indie-pop singer-songwriter from Derby, Rose has carved out her own lane with confessional pop and raw lyrics that focus on heartbreak, love and femininity.
Emotionally open and sharply observational, she’s already drawing comparisons to Olivia Rodrigo and Gracie Abrams.
She’s supported Noah Kahan and Tate McRae, and of her no-nonsense approach to songwriting she says: “If people don’t want me to write bad songs about them, they shouldn’t do bad things.”
EIGHTY EIGHT MILES
THE Midlands five-piece fronted by singer Ellie Grice are quickly building a reputation as a must-see live band.
They have wowed crowds at Isle of Wight Festival, Viva Sounds in Sweden, The Great Escape, Truck Festival, Y Not Festival and 2000 Trees, notching serious word-of-mouth along the way.
They’ve also landed choice support slots with The Lottery Winners, Red Rum Club and The K’s, while Fleetwood Mac legend Lindsey Buckingham has publicly heaped praise on them.
ALEX SPENCER
FROM Droylsden, Gtr Manchester, though born in Barcelona to a Spanish mum, Spencer has been picking up momentum fast.
Fresh back from a run of UK dates with Corella and a high-profile support slot opening for The Black Keys at Alexandra Palace Park in London, he’s now lining up a run of UK headline shows for next month.
Influenced by Sam Fender, Catfish And The Bottlemen and Arctic Monkeys, he travelled extensively as a child and wrote his first song while on a family trip to India.
THE GUEST LIST
FORMED in early 2021, The Guest List quickly built a huge online following after a number of energised indie covers.
Frontman Cai Alty says they are “a band from Manchester, not just a Manchester band”.
Often compared to Sam Fender, Arctic Monkeys and Radiohead, they worked early on with The Coral’s James Skelly, who produced the singles London and Loose Tongue.
They’ve since won more fans after touring with Inhaler, Blossoms and Two Door Cinema Club.
MACKENZY MACKAY
MACKAY broke through in 2022 with song The One That You Call, quickly earning comparisons to Post Malone and Ed Sheeran.
Built around heartfelt storytelling and a genuine connection with his audience, his music has steadily found its people.
Tracks such as This Life, Broke and Cats & Dogs have helped grow a loyal fanbase.
AIN’T
LONDON outfit fronted by Hanna Baker Darch on vocals and George Ellerby on guitar and vocals, Ain’t pull together ’90s guitar music.
They have supported Thus Love on their UK tour, opened for Sunflower Bean, and will take part in The Great Escape Festival in Brighton in May.
Latest single Long Short Round follows recent release Jude.
SIENNA SPIRO
LONDON singer-songwriter known for her deep alto vocals and viral TikTok covers. She draws inspiration from Amy Winehouse, Frank Sinatra and Etta James.
Spiro started writing songs at age ten as a way of processing her emotions, and by 16 had left school to pursue music full-time.
Her breakout moment came with Maybe, a powerful, straight-talking anthem about self-worth that struck a chord far beyond social media and marked her out as a serious new voice.
THE SLATES
THE Slates are a West Yorkshire indie rock band you might have spotted tearing up festival stages at Isle of Wight, Truck and Y Not.
Their debut single Calling Up landed as a song of the summer, with frontman Louis Barnes saying it reflects “the feeling of rejection and feeling left out”.
DEAD DADS CLUB
THE new project fronted by Palma Violets’ Chilli Jesson is built around a deeply personal, self-titled debut album exploring his emotional journey following the death of his father when he was just 14.
Produced by Fontaines D.C.’s Carlos O’Connell.
CARDINALS
IRISH five-piece Cardinals are set to release their debut album Masquerade in February, and already have some serious backing.
Fontaines D.C. singer Grian Chatten is a vocal fan, calling them his favourite Irish band, while live shows alongside The Pogues and NewDad have helped spread the word fast.
Fronted by Euan Manning, with brother Finn adding accordion.
TOLOU
NORWEGIAN Nigerian singer Tolou blends the atmospheric textures of her former home Tromso with the vibrant rhythms of her African heritage.
She describes the resultant sound as Afro-Scandi pop.
Her influences range from Lana Del Rey and Burna Boy to Robyn and Bruno Mars but her main inspirations are Rihanna and Beyonce.
SAINT HARISON
A SOUTHAMPTON-born songwriter and R&B artist, Saint Harison’s music is rooted in soul-baring honesty, using songwriting to process emotion and hardship.
Introduced to Aretha Franklin, Barbra Streisand and Marvin Gaye by his grandad, he won a local singing competition at the age of 13 and is set to release his EP in early 2026.
MARY MIDDLEFIELD
THE Swiss musician and songwriter has been classically trained on the violin since the age of five.
Middlefield’s work brings a refined, emotionally direct edge to modern pop.
Her latest single The Feast landed in late 2025, building on earlier releases such as Atlantis and Summer Affair as she gears up for a new project in 2026.
ANDREW WASYLYK
A SCOTTISH composer, multi-instrumentalist and producer, Wasylyk’s work drifts between modern classical, ambient and soundtrack worlds.
His single First Moonbeams Of Adulthood came out in November 2025, and is from the anticipated forthcoming album due this spring.
GIRL TONES
THIS US rock duo made up of sisters Kenzie on vocals and guitar and Laila on drums, are often compared to The White Stripes.
The Girl Tones’ debut releases, including recent single Burnout, were produced by Brad Shultz of Cage The Elephant.
They have toured with Cage The Elephant alongside The Velveteers and Silversun Pickups.