10000 Hours of Indie

I attended the second ODDfest (so 2026) in the heart of Helsinki to see how many more bands I could add to the 80 Bands project. I saw 4 bands during the festival:24 - Valerie June - USA25- NAZVA - Ukraine26 - Heith - Italy27 - Banjo Copilot - Brazil (interview at 7:40)Come and give 10000 Hours of Indie a ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠follow via your⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠social media of choice⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Alongside the 80 Bands Around the World project, there's regular interviews and more. Go on, give us a follow...please!

Alum Alu are a nomad folk rock/gypsy punk band from Riga, Latvia. I first saw them play at Tallinn Music Week and they brought a live energy to a cold outdoor show which was exactly what was needed. Starting as a lockdown project, they have spent time in the Latvian charts and are definitely a band worth checking out live too. They just released their latest single, the upbeat tune “Heijā Heijā” in which you can really hear the gypsy punk coming through.Photo: Laura Ellere-PoussonFollow to discover more amazing independent music and give a follow via your ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠social media of choice⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. There's so much content coming, don't miss an episode!

The Magic City are a Boston based 4-piece rock band who released their debut self-titled album last month. Heavily influenced by early Britpop bands (especially Suede), this is a band of veteran musicians making music akin to what they grew up with and it sounds great!Photo: Ken MarcouFollow to discover more amazing independent music and give a follow via your ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠social media of choice⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. There's so much content coming, don't miss an episode!

Essex 4-piece Bloodwoolf are a brand new band who released their debut self-titled EP in March. Playing something between modern metal and nostalgic 90’s rock, they’ve hit their groove quickly and are already well on the way to their second EP release. I have also known the singer Ben for 30 years, so a challenging edit for this one due to many nostalgic moments creeping in while chatting!Follow to discover more amazing independent music and give a follow via your ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠social media of choice⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. There's so much content coming, don't miss an episode!

Cologne based TAIHR sit somewhere in the field of progressive rock/alternative rock but with a latin twist. Signed to Tonzonen Records, the band have just released their 2nd album “Allicanto”, which has a track to represent each of the 7 members of the band.Photo: Marvin Alexander LaszloFollow to discover more amazing independent music and give a follow via your ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠social media of choice⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. There's so much content coming, don't miss an episode!

Ghosts on TV are a six-piece post-rock band from Helsinki. With three guitars they create a sonic wall of sound while remaining minimalistic and allowing the subtle nuances of the music to shine through. Founded when the members were still at school, they have just released their 3rd studio album “Iridescent” on May 15th, which is fantastic.Photo: Aapo SoulantoFollow to discover more amazing independent music and give a follow via your ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠social media of choice⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. There's so much content coming, don't miss an episode!

Madre Vaca is the brainchild of Benjamin Shorstein, a Florida-based composer who works with a long-standing collective of collaborators to create something between prog rock, jazz and classical compositions. The latest Madre Vaca release is the 69 minute “Tunnel to the Moon”, inspired by and based on poems written by Charlie Shuck almost 2 decades ago. This is an epic album filled with huge tunes and crosses so many genres I couldn’t help but want to find out more…Photo: Charlie ShuckFollow to discover more amazing independent music and give a follow via your ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠social media of choice⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. There's so much content coming, don't miss an episode!

Pastel Blank is the brainchild of Angus Watt and features a revolving door of members from the Vancouver area in which he is based. The debut album “Unmade In Minutes” was released on April 24th and dips its musical toes into pop, funk, disco and way more, somewhere it says this is art rock, I guess that works too! It certainly doesn’t sound like a debut album and I’m loving it. I spoke with Angus about the project, the album and much more…Photo: Kenza VandenbroeckFollow to discover more amazing independent music and give a follow via your ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠social media of choice⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. There's so much content coming, don't miss an episode!

August Gladstone is a singer/songwriter from California who takes influence from the folk revival of the 60’s and 70’s. A little bit country, a little Bob Dylan etc., August released his debut album “The Golden West” on 16th of May and it’s certainly an interesting journey of an album.Photo: Clare LarsenFollow to discover more amazing independent music and give a follow via your ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠social media of choice⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. There's so much content coming, don't miss an episode!

The World Village Fair in Helsinki is my destination for this episode, a festival celebrating cultural diversity and music from around the globe.I saw 5 bands over the weekend:19 - Aizhan Sultan - Kazakhstan20 - Ëda Diaz - Columbia21 - Kizaba - Democratic Republic of Congo (interview at 6:29)22 - Vodou Fusion - Benin23 - Jamila & The Other Heroes - PalestineApologies for the sound quality, not sure what I did wrong but I will do my best to rectify it as soon as I can!Come and give 10000 Hours of Indie a ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠follow via your⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠social media of choice⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Alongside the 80 Bands Around the World project, there's regular interviews and more. Go on, give us a follow...please!

Trio Civil Villains hail from Oxford and play alt-rock/post-hardcore. Forming in 2015 they released their debut EP “Snake Oil” in 2019 and their debut album ‘Motion Sick’ in 2023. A band with a strong DIY ethic, they have shared the stage with bands like Mould and Sparta, while making appearances at festivals such as Portals and The Alternative Escape, also touring in the US and Canada.The bands’ second album ‘A Sleeper, Underneath’ was released on May 8th and I wanted to find out more about it…Click follow to discover more amazing independent music and give a follow via your ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠social media of choice⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. There's so much content coming, don't miss an episode!

In this 80 Bands special I visited April Jazz, a renowned festival held in Espoo and Helsinki featuring both domestic and international artists.In this episode I have added 2 more bands to my total, Tigran Hamasyan from Armenia and the French guitarist Wilfried Wilde from Quite Vivian.Come and give 10000 Hours of Indie a ⁠⁠⁠⁠follow via your⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠social media of choice⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Alongside the 80 Bands Around the World project, there's regular interviews and more. Go on, give us a follow...please!

Dez Dare is Darren Smallman, label owner, music marketing guru, audio visual artist, booking agent and for this interview indie rock musician. Darren grew up in Australia and being heavily influenced by the 90’s punk scene during which time he was heavily involved in bands. He found his way to Brighton in the early 2020’s, setting up a studio and producing music and videos. He has just released his latest album, “These Days Are Wild & Blind” and I thought it was time to delve into his over-stimulated mind…Photo: Michiel de WildeClick follow to discover more amazing independent music and give a follow via your ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠social media of choice⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. There's so much content coming, don't miss an episode!

Another 5 bands in the second part of the Tallinn Music Week special.In this episode I briefly review and speak with the following artists:12. ⁠Hajda Banda (Belarus) - 1:4713. ⁠Kanazoé Orkestra (Burkina Faso) - 10:2714. ⁠Alum Alu (Latvia) - 22:5115. ⁠Sketchbook Quartet⁠ (Austria) - 29:1316. Worm Man (Serbia) - 35:11Come and give 10000 Hours of Indie a ⁠⁠⁠follow via your⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠social media of choice⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Alongside the 80 Bands Around the World project, there's regular interviews and more. Go on, give us a follow...please!

Tilly Vickers Willis is a Naarm/Melbourne-based singer-songwriter with haunting, smoky vocals and beautiful melodies who has just released her debut “Silver Halide Film”. I can hear a blend of folk, trip-hop, some jazz trumpets and much more in the album and wanted to delve a little deeper into the world of the artist…Photo: Steph ReidClick follow to discover more amazing independent music and give a follow via your ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠social media of choice⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. There's so much content coming, don't miss an episode!

A whopping 4 more bands in this first part of my Tallinn Music Week special.In this episode I briefly review and speak with the following artists:08. Merry (Denmark) - 3:0509. JATHB (Tunisia) - 7:5410. Sheebaba (Luxembourg) - 14:0111. Olev Muska (Australia) - 19:43Come and give 10000 Hours of Indie a ⁠⁠follow via your⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠social media of choice⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Alongside the 80 Bands Around the World project, there's regular interviews and more. Go on, give us a follow...please!

The Last Vinci are a Cork-based alternative rock/stoner trio led by Alex Vinci, who have just released their amazing 3rd album “15 Minutes at a Time” on Narrow Door Records. This album is slightly different to their previous work as it has a more personal theme for Alex. After my first listen I thought the album was a beautiful dark master-piece and I had to talk about it further…Click follow to discover more amazing independent music and give a follow via your ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠social media of choice⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. There's so much content coming, don't miss an episode!

Atsuko Chiba are a Montréal 5-piece creating exciting layers of what has been defined as experimental rock. The band have said that keeping things simple has been their focus and that much of the upcoming self-titled 4th album started as free jams. Whatever it is they’ve done, this album is amazing…Photo: Anthony PiazzaClick follow to discover more amazing independent music and give a follow via your ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠social media of choice⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. There's so much content coming, don't miss an episode!

Picky Livers are a slow electro duo comprising Richard E and Shane Talada. They describe themselves as “A subterranean duo of sorts, bred within despicable poetry brothels and sordid dives, from the dark alcoves of leathery booths and within the sweetness of truffling hives”. I’m really enjoying the debut EP “Doppelgang” and it seemed like a good time to find out more about the duo…Click follow to discover more amazing independent music and give a follow via your ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠social media of choice⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. There's so much content coming, don't miss an episode!

Sans Froid are a Bristol based art rock 4-piece. Formed originally as a duo in 2019, they grew into their current form quickly and have played festivals including ArcTanGent and Strangeforms, had BBC radio airplay and have so far released an album and EP and several singles too. They recently released news of their 2nd album “Back Into The Womb”, due for release in June and the first single from it “The Exploiter of Art” is great.Photo: Laura JonesClick follow to discover more amazing independent music and give a follow via your ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠social media of choice⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. There's so much content coming, don't miss an episode!

As their Bandcamp page claims, Sky Valley Mistress are a rock and roll Duel-Drumming Duo from Blackburn, Lancashire featuring Kayley "Hell Kitten" Davies and Max "Leather Messiah" Newsome.Signed to New Heavy Sounds, the duo released their second full-length “Luna Mausoleum” back in January. I was a little late to the party, but now that I’ve found their music I wanted to find out more…Photo: Derren Lee PooleClick follow to discover more amazing independent music and give a follow via your ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠social media of choice⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. There's so much content coming, don't miss an episode!

Headphone Jacks are a Finnish band based in Helsinki. Although they are an alternative rock band, their influences are multi-genre, everything from desert rock to 70’s prog and grunge, you get the idea.Writing winding and intricate songs, the 4-piece released their debut album - Discipline - in April last year and have already followed up with a new single The Emperor which came out at the end of February. Click follow to discover more amazing independent music and give a follow via your ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠social media of choice⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. There's so much content coming, don't miss an episode!

Ten years into their time together, math rock duo Bicurious are still proving their name is apt. Having released 2 albums (the first almost solely instrumental math rock and the second filled with vocal hooks to entice listeners further), they are about to release an EP - Afterthoughts - which includes 3 songs which didn’t fit their last album and 4 acoustic versions of tracks which were on that album!Photo: Fela FilmsClick follow to discover more amazing independent music and give a follow via your ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠social media of choice⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. There's so much content coming, don't miss an episode!

In this episode I’m speaking to Henrik Schmidt, the composer behind Norwegian band  bladverk. Plugged as lightly proggish soundscapes meets silk-soft double vocals, their debut album “Monumental Thrill, Monumental Chill” has just been released and I’m really enjoying it.Photo: Emilie SandbergClick follow to discover more amazing independent music and give a follow via your ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠social media of choice⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. There's so much content coming, don't miss an episode!

2 more bands in the 80 Bands Around the World project, and continuing my trawl through London, this time in Camden.An amazing all day music festival with bands from Ireland (God Alone.) and Portugal (dUAS sEMIcOLCHEIAS iNVERTIDAS). This episode is part of the 2026 Podcastathon, the world’s largest podcast charity initiative, bringing together podcasters globally to raise awareness for charitable causes.My charity is the music related, Musicares, which offers support to musicians and people working in the industry from mental health & addiction recovery services to support for basic living expenses.Come and give 10000 Hours of Indie a ⁠follow via your⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠social media of choice⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Alongside the 80 Bands Around the World project, there's regular interviews and more. Go on, give us a follow...please!

Bristol based Sugar Horse are an experimental rock band who venture from soft riffs to an all out assault on the ears in seconds! Made up of Ashley Tubb (vocals, guitar), Chris Howarth (bass), Jake Healy (baritone guitar, keyboards), and Martin Savage (drums), the band are due to release their third album “Not A Sound In Heaven” on 10th April and I wanted to find out more…Click follow to discover more amazing independent music and give a follow via your ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠social media of choice⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. There's so much content coming, don't miss an episode!

After a month I’m back on the 80 Bands Around the World project, and this time I was headed to London for a couple of nights and found Soviet Underground from Russia.The episode includes a review of the show and an interview with some members of Soviet Underground. I would also like to give a nod to the opening band Epileptic Lizards, a band I’m sure you’ll hear more from.Come and give 10000 Hours of Indie a follow via your⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠social media of choice⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Alongside the 80 Bands Around the World project, there's regular interviews and more. Go on, give us a follow...please!

What can I say about Dodgy? A band that was very much one of the major players during Britpop and went platinum in the UK with their third album “Free Peace Sweet”. There have been a few line-up changes through the years, but Dodgy are still with us and are just about to release their 7th album 'Hello Beautiful', due on 1st May.Click follow to discover more amazing independent music and give a follow via your ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠social media of choice⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. There's so much content coming, don't miss an episode!

The Neurophonic Temple are a heavy psychedelic noise rock trio from Osnabrück, Germany consisting of David (drums/vocals), Marcus (guitar/vocals), and Peter (bass). Formed in 2023, they released an EP the following year and have just released the first single “Nuance of Bizarre" from their upcoming debut album, “Transgressive Sonic Stimuli” due for release in April. It’s pretty epic, so I wanted to find out more…Click follow to discover more amazing independent music and give a follow via your ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠social media of choice⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. There's so much content coming, don't miss an episode!

The Deadmans are a London based band playing alternative pop. Comprised of Harry Deadman (British/Australian musician and filmmaker), LaurenSage Browning (American playwright and artist), Nikki DeParis (American singer and actress) and Jake Black (drums) they have just released the second song “If Arizona Didn’t Exist” taken from their debut self-titled album, The Deadmans, which is due for release on 24th April.Photo: Maximilian McKayClick follow to discover more amazing independent music and give a follow via your ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠social media of choice⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. There's so much content coming, don't miss an episode!

Leto Grand is Carl Davies, a London-based independent funk-pop artist and multi-instrumentalist. Performing as a 7-piece band, Leto Grand fuses funk, indie, house, and ska, creating a sound reminiscent of Talking Heads and Ian Dury.After 6 years, the debut album is ready for release, and with the current single Lovely Walk Grace Edit released earlier in the month I wanted to quiz the brain behind the music…Photo: Mark WalkerClick follow to discover more amazing independent music and give a follow via your ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠social media of choice⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. There's so much content coming, don't miss an episode!

Kaleidobolt are a Finnish power trio who blend proto-metal, psychedelic rock, and progressive rock.Consisting of Sampo Kääriäinen (guitar/vocals), Marco Menestrina (bass/vocals/keys), and Mårten Gustafsson (drums), the band formed in 2014 and are just about to release their 5th studio album “Karakuchi”.Click follow to discover more amazing independent music and give a follow via your ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠social media of choice⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. There's so much content coming, don't miss an episode!

BAMBEES are an alternative rock/punk band from Merthyr Tydfil, Wales formed in 2022. The band consists of Rhys Davies (vocals), Ainslee Ree (lead guitar), Jamie Thomas (rhythm guitar), Sofia Reffell (bass), and Owen Evans (drums) and have been consistently releasing and playing shows since they formed.Last Friday saw the release of their first tune this year, the riff driven, in your face “NOEYES//NOLOVE”...Photo: Bradley ScottClick follow to discover more amazing independent music and give a follow via your ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠social media of choice⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. There's so much content coming, don't miss an episode!

Another country has been ticked off of the 80 Bands Around the World project and this time it's Ivo Dimchev from Bulgaria.This time was a little different as it was a film and live show as part of a film festival and no interview, but still a memorable show as you'll hear...Come and give 10000 Hours of Indie a follow via your ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠social media of choice⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Alongside the 80 Bands Around the World project, there's regular interviews and so much more coming up. Go on, give us a follow...please!

Greg Weeks is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer based in Philadelphia, known as a leading figure in the psychedelic folk scene. His work is a blend of folk, acoustic, and experimental, often featuring intricate acoustic guitar and at times, chamber-pop arrangements with cello and mellotron.Aside from his solo work, he is also known for his work with the bands Espers, The Valerie Project and Grass.January 23rd saw the release of his latest solo album “If The Sun Dies”, a beautiful and moving 11 tracks released on his own label, Language of Stone.Photo: Courtney Brooke HallClick follow to discover more amazing independent music and give a follow via your ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠social media of choice⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. There's so much content coming, don't miss an episode!

I'm back and this episode of the 80 Bands Around the World project features two African artists from the Helsinki afrojazz scene, Baraka Issabu and Dickson Uthui.A review of what was a great show and interviews with both artists continues my journey on the quest to find bands and artists from 80 countries...Come and give 10000 Hours of Indie a follow via your ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠social media of choice⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Alongside the 80 Bands Around the World project, there's regular interviews and so much more coming up this year. Go on, give us a follow...please!

Rifle are a proper punk band. The 5-piece hail from London, and their press release quite rightly states: “Rifle is the sound of revenge yelled by the damned sons of London's borderlands.”The self-titled debut album came out on January the 16th and it’s a real in-your-face statement of intent which Kerrang! magazine has compared to Gallows and said “This is very much an album for our times…”.Photo: Jack Taylor-GotchClick follow to discover more amazing independent music and give a follow via your ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠social media of choice⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. There's so much content coming during 2026, you won't want to miss out!

Flesh Cherub is Melbourne based Liam McVay whose new 6-track EP “Drowning in the Expanse of Looking Up” was released on January 16th.As the press release states “In the same manner that personal history haunts and loops, the songs are ghostly, cyclical lamentations…” and partly for that reason it’s hard to define a genre. The emotion within the songs seems to define if the track is punk, folk, country or some blend of these.I was instantly drawn to this EP as it’s striving to look forward by learning from the past, plus the vocals are almost otherworldly.Photo: Wil NormyleClick follow to discover more amazing independent music and give a follow via your ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠social media of choice⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. There's so much content coming during 2026, you won't want to miss out!

Truckfighters are a 2-man fuzzy stoner rock band from Örebro, Sweden. Comprising Oskar "Ozo" Cedermalm and Niklas "Dango" Källgren, and currently Joel "Jolo" Alex on drums, the bands’ best known song “Desert Cruiser” has streamed over 15 million times on Spotify alone.This is a band that epitomises the independent ethic that I’m such a fan of, self-releasing, booking tours and hosting their own festival, they even made a band movie!After 10 years, the band is back with a new album in April and the first single taken from it will hit fans' ears on the 2nd February. It’s a great tune, so I pounced on the chance to have a chat and delve into the Truckfighters world.Photo: Andreas HylthenCome and give 10000 Hours of Indie a follow via your ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠social media of choice⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. There's so much content coming during 2026, you won't want to miss out! Give us a follow.

Tram 92 are a new jazz/world duo based in Brussels. Comprising Chris Bestwick, a guitarist from the UK and Anthony Barilla, an accordion player originally from the US, the duo have created something quite unique.Their Bandcamp says “When mixing this EP, we couldn’t find any reference tracks with the same instrumentation in a similar style. This means there must be a lucrative gap in the market for slow and melancholic accordion and guitar music with beats”. It’s certainly not a combination I’ve come across before.Photo: Tram 92Come and give 10000 Hours of Indie a follow via your ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠social media of choice⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. There's so much content coming during 2026, you won't want to miss out! Give us a follow.

Founded in 2005, The Grownup Noise are a 4 piece indie folk band from Boston, Massachusetts. Their music has appeared on NPR, MTV, Netflix and in independent films, and the band have shared a stage with Counting Crows and Aimee Mann amongst others.Comprising of Paul Hansen on lead vocals, guitar & keyboards, Adam Sankowski on bass and backing vocals, Katie Franich on cello and backing vocals and Kyle Crane on drums, they are due to release their 6th album - “No Straight Line in the Universe” - on February 6th, which also marks a return to the original line-up.It’s a great album which I’ve been enjoying listening to and I wanted to find out more.Photo: The Grownup NoiseCome and give 10000 Hours of Indie a follow via your ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠social media of choice⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. There's so much content coming during 2026, you won't want to miss out! Give us a follow.

YOU GUITARPRAYER are a Cologne-based psychedelic noise rock trio. Soheyl Nassary: guitar and vocals, Spiro Kotsomitopoulos: drums & percussion and Scharco: bass - make up the band - who make a much bigger sound than their 3 instruments would suggest!They released their 2nd album “I Am The Light, The Light I Am“ on Worst Bassist Records in October and claim it delves deeper than noise rock, touching on neo-psych meets noise, shoegazey drones and cinematic chaos.Photo: Kostas LiliopoulosCome and give 10000 Hours of Indie a follow via your ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠social media of choice⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. There's so much content coming during 2026, you won't want to miss out! Give us a follow.

And so it begins. The 80 Bands Around the World project kicks off with a show featuring Swedish veteran indie-rockers Slim Loris.A brief review and an interview with Slim Loris singer Mattias Cederstam kicks off a journey to goodness knows where in the quest to find bands from 80 countries...Come and give 10000 Hours of Indie a follow via your ⁠⁠⁠⁠social media of choice⁠⁠⁠⁠. Alongside the 80 Bands Around the World project, there's regular interviews and so much more coming up this year. Go on, give us a follow...please!

Zoe Hayter is a half Czech, half English singer songwriter who has lived in Czechia, France and Ireland. Beginning her musical journey at a very young age, she busked to raise the money to make her first album “Only Breathing” when she was just 14 years old.I spoke to Zoe last year, shortly after the release of her single “Je te veux” and with the release of her latest single, “Hope is the One” on 2nd January, it seemed like time for a catchup.Photo: Emilija JefremovaCome and give 10000 Hours of Indie a follow via your ⁠⁠⁠social media of choice⁠⁠⁠, so much content coming up this year, you wouldn't want to miss it!

Keoma are a Helsinki based Finnish hybrid metal 6-piece formed in 2008 whom I’ve known for many, many years. Blending heavy riffs, soaring vocals, catchy melodies and synths they create dark yet hopeful anthems.They have released 4 EP’s and 3 albums to date, with the latest - the “Mind Coaster” EP - released last month.Photo: Mikko Keski-VähäläCome and give 10000 Hours of Indie a follow via your ⁠⁠social media of choice⁠⁠, so much content coming up this year, you wouldn't want to miss it!

2025 has been an excellent first year for the 10000 Hours of Indie podcast, so I thought I'd give a little rundown on my favourite albums of the year, the passing of 2 highly influential musicians and my 3 favourite shows of the year.Also a few details of what to expect in 2026, a BIG new project and more...Come and give 10000 Hours of Indie a follow via your ⁠social media of choice⁠, 2026 is going to be bigger, better and have even more content...

Destrends are a 4-piece Australian post punk/garage rock band consisting of Matt Savage (vocals) and Angus Ingram (bass), Liam Burgan (drums), and Billy Watts (guitar). I’ve been following the band since their EP “Wasteland” back in 2020 which got loads of airplay on my radio show!The band released their second single of the year, the anthemic “Hearts in the Smokers” at the end of last month, so what better time to have a chat with the band?!Photo - Sarah FindlayCome and give 10000 Hours of Indie a follow via your social media of choice, 2026 is going to be bigger, better and have even more content...

Wooden Tape is Tim Maycox, a UK artist who creates haunting, ambient folk music. The second album “Wool” has just been released and is “...a sonic photo album of childhood memories of Liverpool in the 1970's”.Despite being a little outside of my usual musical ballpark I really like this album and reached out to Tim to find out more.Follow on you social media of choice. Join me in the quest to explore independent music around the world and send me your new material too, I'll always take a listen. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠10000 Hours of Indie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Son Iris are a Finnish indie rock duo consisting of Sam Weckman on vocals and guitar and Mikko Kaakkuriniemi on drums. In October the duo released their first album, “I”, which crosses genres and musical boundaries with ease, so I wanted to find out a little more about them.Photo - Lauri KoivusaloFollow on you social media of choice. Join me in the quest to explore independent music around the world and send me your new material too, I'll always take a listen. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠10000 Hours of Indie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Ed Harcourt is a Mercury Music Prize nominated singer/songwriter/pianist who has just released his 12th solo album. He has written and/or produced for numerous artists including Sophie Ellis-Bexter, Paloma Faith and previous 10000 Hours podcast guest Hannah Rose-Platt to name just a few. He is also a member of Loup GarouX, a side project trio who are currently mixing their 2nd album.In this episode we talk about the new album “Orphic”, an album which sees Ed play a lot more guitar…Picture : Steve GullickFollow on you social media of choice. Join me in the quest to explore independent music around the world and send me your new material too, I'll always take a listen. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠10000 Hours of Indie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠