In this special episode, we’ve teamed up with CloseUp Festival to take you behind the scenes of one of the UK’s most exciting grassroots festivals championing new music.

We sit down with founder Sam Tucker to talk about how the festival came to life, what it takes to build something like this from the ground up, and why creating space for emerging artists has never been more important.

Plus, we catch up with artists from this year’s lineup (Pale Blue Eyes, Only Real, and Lizzie Esau)to talk about their music, their journey so far, and what playing CloseUp means to them.

If you’re into discovering your next favourite artist before they blow up, this one’s for you.

🔗Get your tickets here

In this episode of Heard It Here First, Keira sits down with Dea Matrona ahead of their Sound City Festival appearance.

Fresh off a European tour, the band dive into their upcoming second album ‘Hate That I Care’ (out June 5th), the stories behind the music, and how this new era compares to their debut. They also talk tour highlights, festival season, and what fans can expect from their Sound City set.

Heard It Here First Issue 001 is also out now — featuring emerging artists you need to know. 

We caught up with Heidi Curtis in Manchester during her run supporting Holly Humberstone.

From the meaning behind What Am I Missing? to the build-up to her debut EP, this episode is all about the moments in between growth, uncertainty, and finding your sound.

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At Heard It Here First, it’s all about catching artists before they blow, and Keyside are right on that edge.

The Liverpool band join us to talk their journey to Sound City, the city’s music scene, and a huge run of shows this summer; including supporting The Wombats, touring with The Clause, and playing alongside Red Rum Club.

Don’t say we didn’t warn you.

Finn Forster is having a big year.

From growing up in Middlesbrough to stepping onto stadium stages supporting Stereophonics, his rise has been impossible to ignore, and now he’s heading into his own UK headline tour.

In this episode of Heard It Here First, we caught up with Finn ahead of Sound City Festival to talk about the journey so far, what it’s really like playing to thousands of people, and how it feels stepping into his own era as a headline artist.

We also get into festival season, finding your sound, and what’s coming next.

If you’re into discovering the next wave of UK artists before they blow up, you’re in the right place.

Cherryholt are quickly becoming one of the most exciting emerging bands in the UK right now — and with their latest single “The Bullet” already building serious momentum, it’s easy to see why.

In this episode of Heard It Here First, we sit down with the band to talk about the story behind “The Bullet”, how the track came together, and what it represents for them at this stage in their journey. We dive into their upcoming set at Liverpool Sound City; what to expect, how they approach live shows, and why festivals like this are such a key moment for bands on the rise.

If you’re into discovering new music early, this is a band you’ll want to keep on your radar.

🎧 Listen now and make sure “The Bullet” is in your playlists.

Rising indie artist Lynnie Snow joins Heard It Here First ahead of her appearance at Liverpool Sound City.

We dive into her latest single ‘Streetlight, Save Me’, unpacking the story behind the track, her songwriting process, and the journey leading up to its release. Lynnie also talks about the moment she received support from BBC Radio 6 Music DJ Chris Hawkins, and what that kind of recognition means as an emerging artist.

We also chat about live shows, what to expect from her Sound City set, and what’s next as her momentum continues to grow.

Tickets are still available for Sound City, secure yours before they go! 🎫

Heard It Here First turns one. 🎉

In this special anniversary episode, we’re looking back at some of the best moments from the podcast’s first year, featuring interview highlights with The Clause, The K’s, Arkayla, Andrew Cushin, XL Poncho, Luvcat, Nia Archives, and Seb Lowe, plus many more.

From favourite interviews to standout moments, this episode celebrates a year of discovering and championing new music. 🎙️

In this episode of Heard It Here First, we’re joined by rising indie band Isolation.

The band recently released their latest single “England’s Burning”, and in this conversation we dive into the story behind the track, how Isolation first came together, and what it’s been like building momentum in the UK indie scene.

We also talk about songwriting, the importance of live shows for emerging bands, and what fans can expect when they take to the stage at Indie Ignition at The Ramp.

If you’re looking for your next favourite indie band, this is one you won’t want to miss.

🎶 Listen to Isolation’s latest single: England’s Burning

🎤 Catch them live at Indie Ignition

🎙️ Follow Heard It Here First for more interviews with the best emerging artists.

This week on Heard It Here First, we’re joined by rising indie band Athens following the release of their debut single “Eleanor.” We chat about how the band came together, the story behind the track, and what it’s been like releasing their first music into the world. With plenty of laughs and a look at what’s next for the band, this is definitely one to tune into if you love discovering new artists early.