We’re past the halfway mark of the year, summer is in full swing, and new faces are taking the stage. And alternative music feels more exciting than it has in years.
At the beginning of 2026, we introduced seven alternative acts to watch, including Butch Kassidy, Blessing Jolie, and Concrete Vehicles. Now, as those projects continue to grow, so does the wave of avant-garde and experimental artists pushing alternative music into new territory.
From jazz-infused rock to post-hardcore and electronic experimentation, check out the bands turning heads and stealing the spotlight so far.
1000 Rabbits
Jazz-infused alternative rock is so back. 1000 Rabbits is a London-based five-piece reviving the late 2010s obsession with avant-garde rock worldbuilding. Currently touring the UK and Europe, the group is swiftly building momentum around a sound that balances blissful melancholy with flashes of chaos. On May 22, the band dropped a video of their electric show at The Windmill in London, offering a glimpse into the feverish energy that has made their live shows an engaging talking point. If there’s one song you should check out, make it “White Horse.”
For Fans Of: Sorry, Jockstrap, Goat Girl
Burglar
Embodying a lazy rock swagger, Burglar builds a sonically devastating sound anchored by joyous hooks. The duo creates music suited for late Sunday afternoons, when things start to feel a bit too real. Formed in 2021 by Willow and Eduardo, the pair have recently begun gaining attention, thanks to their blissful harmonies.
For Fans Of: Sonic Youth, Sorry, Pavement
GUIDES
For a band still early in their career, GUIDES has already shown they have a lot to offer. Blending chesty fry screams with infectious, melodically-driven hooks, they occupy multiple lanes. As a result, they appeal to the more commercial side of rock and metal, while also venturing into heavier subgenres. Overall, it’s clear they’ve got plenty of layers. And in many ways, 2026 is just the beginning of uncovering those.
For Fans Of: The Used (Circa 2020), Don Broco, Beartooth
Shark School
Mixing everything from sludge rock to punk and indie, Shark School is an emerging trio from Ireland. Bursting into the scene in 2023, the group has been making steady movements since. But this year marks an exciting chapter for them as they begin to attract attention from mainstream music platforms. Musically, their energy is what you’d expect: outspoken, DIY and politically motivated.
For Fans Of: CLT DRP, Lambrini Girls, Witch Fever
Solitone
Post-hardcore is thriving right now, and Solitone is the new French quartet worth noting. While they sit on the softer side of the subgenre, they also draw from indie rock influences. Creating a sound that moves between styles with ease, their music leans into thrashing guitars and gut-punching vocals, balanced by the roaring energy of post-punk. After playing in and around Bordeaux, their home city, Solitone has recently started to break through in the UK.
For Fans Of: KEG, Thank, Pigs, Pigs, Pigs, Pigs, Pigs, Pigs, Pigs
Sunday Best
DIY emo revival and post-hardcore quartet, Sunday Best are another incredible act building momentum right now. They’ve played independent festivals championing emerging artists alongside Takedown and Decolonise, and have secured upcoming tours with Pinkshift and BEX. So, it’s clear they are on the radar of key music bookers. It’s just a matter of time before the industry as a whole takes notice. Not only does the energy they bring on stage match the vocal delivery on record, it’s also just too epic to miss.
For Fans Of: Bloc Party. A Day To Remember, Paramore
TATYANA JANE
Tatyana Jane hails from the depths of South France’s underground scene. Although she’s an artist people are just now becoming familiar with, the rising star already has her branding down to a T. Whether it’s the techno-colored production, old school samples, or liquid basslines, Tatyana Jane is onto something extremely special.
For Fans Of: FKA Twiggs, TAALIHAH, SOPHIE
UNIVERSITY
In a way, UNIVERSITY’s sound is easy to place. It resurfaces early-2000s indie with a splash of emo revival–at least on paper. But sonically, it feels otherworldly. The soaring guitars bleed into indie nostalgia. The vocals deliver punches harder on the punk side. Meanwhile, the band rarely stays in one lane for long. Each track bursts into experimental directions. And perhaps, that movement is where the magic sits.
For Fans Of: The Moldy Peaches, The Arctic Monkeys (Circa 2007), Black Midi