Chet Faker @ Union Transfer - Philadelphia, PA
May 29th 2026: Chet Faker, Beacons, alex vs alex @ Union Transfer - Philadelphia, PA
Chet Faker | Photos Courtesy of: Carolyn Lederach
alex vs alex
BEACON
The Great Escape 2026 @ Brighton, England
May 15th-16th 2026: The Great Escape @ Brighton, England
Photos Courtesy of: Carolyn Lederach
The Photo Ladies made it down to Brighton for this year’s Great Escape Festival. This year’s fest was especially significant, was it’s TGE’s 20th Anniversay! A feat for any festival to maintain itself that long, let alone stick to it’s roots, of being THE festival for new music discovery, which we certain can account for. This year proved to be a bit rainy and cold, but that didn’t stop industry folk, new fans, local supporters, and musicians from flooding the Brighton streets for 4 days.
We made sure to try and have a stop at every venue for a slew of our new favourite artists of 2026. Below you can catch the gallery of what we caught and a playlist to go along with. Happy listening and look forward to sharing more great artists in 2027!
Isak Benjamin
ugly ozo
The Hu @ Diamond Ballroom - Oklahoma City, OK
May 27th 2026: The Hu, Apocalyptica, The Rasmus @ Diamond Ballroom- Oklahoma City, OK
The Hu - Photos Courtesy of: Ally Arens
Of the hundreds of artists that I have had the pleasure of seeing live over the course of my lifetime, few have been quite as uniquely captivating as The Hu. Hailing from Mongolia, the band blends techniques and sounds of traditional Mongolian folk music with modern heavy metal instrumentation to form their own unique genre of music that they have dubbed “Hunnu Rock,” which is truly unlike anything I’ve ever heard before and is best experienced in a live setting without a doubt. As The Hu prepares to release their next album HUN in July, they have embarked on a brief tour of the United States accompanied by Finnish rock artists Apocalyptica and The Rasmus for a string of shows full of amazing music.
Starting off the night was The Rasmus, performing in Oklahoma for the very first time in their 30+ year career and kicking things off with a phenomenally fun amount of energy. Performing songs such as “Break These Chains” and the catchy, anthemic “Creatures of Chaos” from their latest album Weirdo, as well as throwbacks like “Guilty” and “Living in a World Without You,” they absolutely blew me away with their stage presence, and I sincerely hope that it is not another 30 years before they return.
Next up was Apocalyptica, who are veterans of the orchestral rock scene known for their original compositions such as the mid-2000s smash hits “I Don’t Care” featuring Adam Gontier and “I’m Not Jesus” featuring Corey Taylor as well as their reimaginings of several Metallica tracks. Their setlist leaned very heavily on these Metallica tributes, and though I would have loved to see at least one or two of their original tracks sprinkled in, their set was still breathtakingly amazing. The pure spectacle of seeing and hearing the famous solos of tracks such as “Enter Sandman” and “Master of Puppets” played on cellos instead of traditional guitars is absolutely incredible. Coming from someone who is not a huge Metallica fan, though I acknowledge and appreciate their role in the rock music scene at large, I must say that I prefer Apocalyptica’s show-stopping arrangements.
Finally, just after 9 p.m., The Hu emerged and immediately captured all eyes and ears in the Diamond Ballroom as they launched into their newest single “Lost Soul.” Though there was less “singing along” in the traditional sense than I am accustomed to, the crowd was fist-pumping and head-banging along the entire night, especially during tracks such as “Warrior Chant” and other recent single “The Man.” Their music may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but their live show is entrancing nonetheless, and is a must-see for any fan of heavy music, especially anyone looking for something truly unique in the scene.
Apocalyptica
The Rasmus
The Kid LAROI @ Andrew J. Brady Music Center - Cincinnati, OH
May 24th 2026: The Kid LAROI, WiztheMC and Tommy Richman @ Andrew J. Brady Music Center - Cincinnati, OH
The Kid LAROI - Photos Courtesy of: Asia Austin
On May 24, 2026, The Kid LAROI played a sold-out show in Cincinnati, OH, at the Andrew J. Brady Music Center on his ‘A Perfect World Tour’. The show was filled with infectious energy and good vibes from the singer from start to finish. Along with an electrician lab theme and audio technician visuals, Laroi performed many of his hits such as ‘Without You’, ‘Stay’, ‘Nights Like This’ and even some fan favorites from his newest album, which included ‘Rather Be’ and ‘Private’.
Laroi was extremely charismatic and engaged with his crowd, moving confidently across the stage and connecting with everyone in between songs. Even going as far as bringing a fan on stage for the first time during his entire tour. With help from his openers, WiztheMC and Tommy Richman, there was never a dull moment as the crowd prepared for the main show to come. Vocally, Laroi is strong with his melodic hooks and emotional verses while also bringing high energy to his rap-based tracks. Meanwhile, his vulnerability on slower numbers - specifically emotional ballads - lands genuinely.
Overall, it was a high-energy, emotionally honest show that showcased The Kid LAROI’s star power and solidified his ability to headline arenas while keeping the feeling of connection with the crowd intact. Fans were buzzing from beginning to end. There is no doubt that Laroi is a true talent and is here to stay for the long run.t, María walked along the seats during “Ache,” sharing an intimate moment with her fans.
Tour might be over for Not For Radio, but they will be performing at a few festivals in North America over the summer.
WiztheMC and Tommy Richman
Searows @ Union Transfer - Philadelphia, PA
May 8th 2026: Searows @ Union Transfer - Philadelphia, PA
Searows | Photos Courtesy of: Carolyn Lederach
Alec Duckart (otherwise known as Searows) is currently touring the US in support of his second album, Death in the Business of Whaling. The band made a stop in Philly on May 8th, for their largest Philly show to date at the dreamy Union Transfer, the perfect venue to capture Searows’ atmospheric sound and necessary cozy lighting to go along with it. The crowd was super respectful and quiet as they soaked in the perfect performance. Jordan Patterson opened the show.
Setlist
Belly of the Whale
Kill What You Eat
Photograph of a Cyclone
Martingale
Dearly Missed
End of the World
Coming Clean
Dirt
In Violet
Keep the Rain
Roadkill
I have more than enough
Junie
Encore:
House Song
Geese
Jordan Patterson
Molly Tuttle @ Mercury Ballroom - Louisville
May 14th, 2026: Molly Tuttle, Maggie Rose @ Mercury Ballroom - Louisville, KY
California Indie/folk/country artist Molly Tuttle brought her co-headlining tour with Nashville soul/country artist Maggie Rose, a short, 8-show run, to Mercury Ballroom on May 14th to a packed house! Both Rose and Tuttle have amassed large and loyal fan bases over the years and their music compliments each other’s beautifully. Fans filled the floor and balcony this evening, ready for a fun night of music from two amazing artists. Rose took the stage first this evening and really got the crowd moving from the first note. Singing a full set, she and her band performed a nice variety of songs from her catalog, including her newly released single “Red Shoes” and “Half Moon”, a song she wrote right after her son was born last year (under a full moon) and the hopes and dreams she has for him. She will be releasing her new album, Half Moon, in August of this year. She talked a bit about the experience of having her son and about being newly back to performing following her son’s birth. Along with her amazing backing band, Rose seemed at home on stage and showed genuine love for being back on the stage and for her fans in the crowd, thanking everyone for being here this evening. In watching her set, it’s easy to see why this Grammy-nominated artist is so beloved by her fans! Before leaving the stage, she and her band stood side-by-side and gave a bow to cheers and applause!
After a brief intermission, Tuttle took the stage to a roar of applause. Whereas Rose has a more soul/country/rock/r&b sound, Tuttle leans more towards bluegrass/americana/folk/country. She released her fifth studio album, So Long Little Miss Sunshine, in May of last year and performed a few songs this evening from the album along with several older tracks from her days with Golden Highway (her previous backing band). She also performed a fun cover of Jonie Mitchell’s “Big Yellow Taxi” that had the crowd singing along. Tuttle chatted quite a bit with the crowd between songs, telling stories and explaining song meanings, genuinely connecting with the crowd. She and her band engaged with each other frequently throughout the set and made sure the crowd was engaged and having a good time. Having won several awards throughout her career, she put on an incredible show that no doubt had her fans buzzing with energy long after the music stopped. To end the evening, Tuttle performed a 2-song encore of covers, with Rose invited back out on stage, with them performing The Rolling Stone’s “She’s A Rainbow”, as well as The Band’s “Up On Cripple Creek”. It was the perfect end to a delightful evening of music!
Maggie Rose
Biffy Clyro @ Mercury Ballroom - Louisville
April 29th, 2026: Biffy Clyro, Raue @ Mercury Ballroom - Louisville, KY
Biffy Clyro | Photos Courtesy of: Emily May
Scottish rock band Biffy Clyro brought their FUTIQUE TOUR to Mercury Ballroom on April 29th to a modest but incredibly excited room of fans. To be fair, it was Derby week and there was A LOT going on in the city! There was a palpable energy buzzing around the venue this evening, for sure! On September 19th of last year, the band released their tenth studio album Futique, and the band performed several tracks this evening from the album, including “A Little Love”, “Hunting Season”, “Friendshipping”, and “Two People In Love”. They also performed several older fan-favorites such as “Living Is A Problem Because Everything Dies”, “Who’s Got A Match”, “The Captain”, and “That Golden Rule”. Alternating between a platform at the back of the stage and the front of the stage, singer/guitarist Simon Neil gave a high energy performance for the crowd and the crowd matched his energy by singing their hearts out to each song. There were a few moments during the set when Neil would stop singing during certain parts of a song and have the crowd sing for him. They did not disappoint and sang every word in unison. I always find it really special to witness moments like that, when you can feel how special a band is to their fans. I witnessed several fans in the crowd who looked as though they were having the best night of their lives. Like they couldn’t believe they were finally seeing Biffy Clyro live and were ecstatic about it. And Neil had a grin on his face during each of those moments, seeming to bask in the love the band was receiving from their fans. Performing a 21-song set list, 5 of which being a lengthy encore, Biffy Clyro gave their fans a night to remember! Opening the show this evening was San Diego duo Raue, who acknowledged they were there to warm up the crowd and familiarize everyone with their music! At times leaning towards a heavier, more punk rock feel, and other times a softer, more melodic feel, they really got the crowd energized and ready for the evening ahead! I feel like they are really a band to watch so make sure to check them out!
Raue
Hail The Sun @ Mercury Ballroom - Louisville
April 25th, 2026: Hail The Sun, Foxy Shazam, Makari, and Resilia @ Mercury Ballroom - Louisville, KY
Hail the Sun | Photos Courtesy of: Emily May
California post-hardcore band Hail The Sun brought their CUT.TOUR.FADE.BACK US Tour to Mercury Ballroom on April 25th to a packed house! The energy that was buzzing around the venue this evening was full of excitement and anticipation for a fun night ahead, with fans packing out the floor and balcony as more and more filed into the venue throughout the evening. On October 24th of last year, the band released their 7th studio album entitled cut.turn.fade.back, performing several songs from the album this evening, including “The Drooling Class”, “Consumed With You”, “Relapse Is A Love Affair”, and “War Crimes”. With a raised platform that ran along much of the front of the stage this evening, singer/drummer Donovan Melero made good use of it. From the second the band came out on stage, he was a whirlwind of energy, dancing across the stage, throwing his mic around and catching it, and engaging with the crowd, who were matching the band’s energy with their own! Towards the end of the set, their tour drummer Allen Casillas stepped off stage, and Melero hopped behind the drum kit for “Ow! (Splidao!) I Like It, Though” and “MIssed Injections”. With incredible lighting (kudos to whoever does their lighting!) and a high-energy and engaging performance, the band gave their fans 110%, and the fans delivered that energy right back! Opening the show this evening were Florida post-hardcore band Resilia, Florida rock band Makari, and Ohio glam/alternative rock band Foxy Shazam.
Foxy Shazam
Makari
Resilia
