The Best Bands You've Never Heard Of
How do you begin to sort through a roster of nearly 200 emerging bands?
This year’s New Colossus festival is all wrapped up, but the music discovery is only just beginning. Good news for anyone feeling some FOMO after Tuesday’s post.
It’s only slightly less overwhelming to flip through a 200-band rolodex now that you’re not working on a deadline. Luckily for you, Indie Scientist, Jeff Van Dreason and I are back with a quick weekend bonus post and a curated selection of some of our favorites from the 2026 New Colossus Lineup to take all the stress off.
A Curated New Colossus: 2026 Edition
Next year, maybe we’ll do this in advance?? A novel concept!
Gabbie’s Picks:
Lip Filler
The latter end of Britpop is an obvious influence for these UK indie rockers. What’s surprising is how much they are (probably unintentionally) taking from Our Lady Peace’s high-angst playbook. Maybe Silverchair, too. Three EPs into their career, and “Tricky” absolutely locked them in as a band to watch.
Shunk
This Montreal art-pop band brings their jazz and classical training to their distinctly chaotic sound. Like an unhinged Cocteau Twins, a cabaret Blondie, or dark B-52s… you’ll feel like you’re in a dingy Berlin or Paris nightclub.
Bonus:
Midnight Rodeo (California’s paisley underground takes a detour through Nottingham)
Alien Chicks (experimental/surrealist post-punk, with sax!)
Previously recommended:
SHAGGO (Brooklyn-based; riot-grrrl inspired)
TVOD (Post-punk/new-wave hybrid)
BRNDA (Arty college rock)
Talon (Queer, catchy ‘90s-inspired alt-rock)
Indie Scientist’s Picks:
cootie catcher
cootie catcher takes that distinctive twee, DIY sound of K Records in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s and makes it their own. Their eclectic mix of jangly guitars and twitchy/glitchy "twee-tronica” makes for a very satisfying unpredictability.
Adult Leisure
This Bristol band delivers Tears for Fears’ synths and Peter Gabriel’s vocals. ‘80s tinged melancholia and emotionally-charged lyrics with just enough energy for the dance floor.
Bonus:
Wolfschmidt (Swedish “nu-gaze”)
Honey I’m Home (Dutch 5-piece playing ‘90s alt)
Jeff Van Dreason’s Picks:
Sex Mask
Sometimes these Australian post-punks channel Gang of Four with their angularity and stream-of-consciousness, beat-poet lyrics. At other times they scratch an Interpol itch. At all times, they have something invitingly abrasive about them.
Ultra Lights
You’ve always wondered what would happen if Stephen Malkmus had been raised in Atlanta and used more CCR hooks. Wonder no more with these Southern college rockers.
Bonus:
We have so much more, so we made you a playlist.
Paid subscribers have access to the playlist on Apple, SoundCloud, Tidal, Qobuz, and YouTube. Just head to the Directory.
Need EVEN more?
Joe Marvilli offered up his own selections from this year’s festival before it happened. I’ll try to be more timely next year!
There’s also an official playlist featuring every band on the roster — be warned, it’s almost 11 hours long!
Next week — another non-definitive genre primer, but nothing like post-punk! Any guesses?
xo
Gabbie
The Cure for Passive Listening
A week ago, a handful of us in the New Bands for Old Heads Discord server found ourselves on a mini-meetup to the New Colossus Festival in New York City. It basically turned out to be anti-streaming exposure therapy — the exact opposite of algorithmic convenience.
Seeing an Our Lady Peace reference made me sit up in my chair. That was a note for what... 5 people? I'm floating.
Did anyone get a chance to see Two-Man Giant Squid? I loved their album from last year.