Nish Goyal is an indie-folk singer-songwriter from Chester. He graduated in Law and worked briefly as a legal advisor before moving to Frankfurt to take up a stockbroking job. However, music has always been a huge part of his life. His first instrument was the piano though these days he is drawn more to the guitar and bass. Early 2011 saw him walk away from his day job and immerse himself in his music. He released a studio album called A Little Validation and a project called The Hedonist EP.

Nish recorded and released an eight track EP called The Rage EP in January 2015. He has recently signed a one album deal with a small indie label in Portsmouth called Coffee Jingle Records and a new album is scheduled for release early this year. He will be releasing the first single titled “In Our Parent’s Eyes” on March 11. Have a listen to some other tracks via soundcloud.

Nish is a regular on Liverpool’s lively music scene, gigging regularly at places like The Jacaranda, The Cavern and Bier as well as open mic nights in Manchester and London.

“In Our Parent’s Eyes” by Nish Goyal

Based in the South Wales Valleys, The Minerals are Colenso Jones and Jodie Gibson, a couple who began writing and performing together in the Summer of 2014. Merging elements of Country, Electro and Psychedelia, the duo’s influences range from The Vaselines and Leadbelly to Mogwai and Nick Drake.

The Minerals’ writing process involves the merging of individual ideas which are then worked on throughout the night and recorded by morning, by which point they normally have something in place they are both happy with. ‘Ball of String’ and B-side ‘Lo-Fi’ were among several tracks written in a barn in the South of France last winter, where the band were unexpectedly snowed in for a week. A plentiful supply of wine and cheese kept them going until the thaw. They returned home having written a complete album.

Ball Of String will be released on February 26, 2016 via Staylittle Music.

“Lo-Fi” by The Minerals

Back in the mid- to late-eighties The Train Set emerged from the Crewe/Winsford indie music scene to make an impact on the Manchester and Liverpool gig circuit. The band released two 12″ singles which both broke the Indie Chart and performed at venues across the country. Clive Jones (vocals), Andy Boote (guitars) and Mark Shaw (Bass) met at school. They recruited Adam Halford (drums) from Winsford and Dave Hassall (keyboards) from Chester.

The new compilation album Never California was released on Firestation Records on September 7. It features The Train Set’s highly sought after singles including “She’s Gone” which was the title track of the band’s first record. This compiliation also contains previously unreleased tracks. The original members have come together to oversee the release of this retrospective album, providing a vital listening experience and an opportunity to discover their material again, or perhaps for the first time.

“She’s Gone” by The Train Set

Indie-pop trio, Wilhelm Tell Me released the single “Growing Younger” via Nordpolrecords on September 7. Bandmates hailing from Hamburg and Copenhagen include Henning Sommer (vocals, guitars, keys), Matthias Kranz (bass, backing vocals) and Paul Kaiser (Drums).

Last May in Los Angeles, Sommer met with Lars Stalfors, producer and key player for The Mars Volta. The two decided to work together to release this and four other songs on an EP titled A Short Story For the Road.

“Crashing Planes” is another track found on that EP. You may view its official video via YouTube. And, you may stream songs from WTM via SoundCloud.

“Growing Younger” by Wilhelm Tell Me

Modest yet ambitious studio project, The Pinstripe Pigeon Band, is a seven-strong pop force credited with the release of five well-received EPs throughout 2013 and 2014.

The band’s latest material showcases intelligent sophisti-pop, electronica, funkadelia and anthemic rock. The lyrics lovingly articulate personal experiences. The vocals hark back to Aretha at her most bombastic and Dusty at her most delicate. Collectively, the band soak up songcraft and live influences from Fleetwood Mac, The Band, The Beatles, Ryan Adams, Motown, Chic, John Coltrane, The E Street Band and Ben Harper.

The band has the benefit of two keyboardists, one melodically inventive Stevie Wonder, Oscar Peterson-esqe pianist and another more classical, akin to Ludvico Einaudi. They compliment each other perfectly.

2015 will see the pop collective spreading its wings and headlining Manchester’s The Castle and Liverpool’s Lomax.

Have a listen to the track “Never Be Apart” from the EP titled Sound Asleep, released on August 3. Watch the video for the track via Youtube.

“Never Be Apart” by The Pinstripe Pigeon Band

Inspired by 50s and 60s bands such as Creedence Clearwater Revival, The Band, The Rolling Stones and The Beatles, as well as rock ’n roll legends like Elvis, Buddy Holly and Johnny Cash, Bourbon Street Beat is influenced in technique and style. Reinterpreted with an indie edge, their new singles “Crossing On A Bend” and b-sed “She’s His Woman” showcase their sound perfectly.

Iain Hammond (vocals and guitar), Joe Morrison-Hay (bass) and Andy Mackenzie (drums) met at university and formed the band in 2012. Their last EP Knuckles Of Brass earned them a strong following in Manchester.

“Crossing On A Bend” by Bourbon Street Beat

The Newcastle four piece outfit, Street Party In Soho, released their critically acclaimed debut single Take Your Time in 2012. In the summer of 2013, the band played Brighton’s Great Escape Festival sharing a bill with the likes of The 1975 and Bastille. On June 29, 2015, they will release their newest single “17.”

With three members who are eighteen years old and a drummer who is just seventeen, Street Party In Soho personify teenage energy but possess a talent for songwriting and musicianship that belies their youth, channeling influences like The Maccabees, Glass Animals and Bombay Bicycle Club. The band consists of Ryan Young (lead vocals, guitar), Jackson Vert (backing vocals, guitar), Harry Webb (bass, sample pad) and Nathan Hogg (drums).

Steam the new single below or via Soundcloud.

“17” by Street Party In Soho

Sonic-soul, electro-funk collective, The Winachi Tribe, will release the single “Time For Love” on July 20 via A1M Records. Horns come courtesy of Tim Hutton (Ian Brown). The tracks were mixed by LC Coleman, produced by The Winachi Tribe and mastered at Abbey Road by Geoff Pesche.

The b-side, “Plant The Seed,” to the Time For Love EP has been chosen to feature in an upcoming documentary about legendary night club The Hacienda, titled Do You Own The Dancefloor?

The Winachi Tribe’s influences are as diverse as their own musical output. Sly & The Family Stone sit alongside The Happy Mondays, Primal Scream, The Rolling Stones and The Beatles, creating a melting pot of references.

“Time For Love” by The Winachi Tribe

Folk singer-songwriter, Ella Squirrell, grew up surrounded by creativity in the beautiful town of Bridport in Dorset. She has recently spent six months living and working in London, and has returned to Dorset with a wealth of experience.

Squirrell picked up her first instrument aged 10. She copied folk songs on an Irish penny whistle, before moving on to the guitar when she was 11. Her dad is a professional musician, playing mandolin in a trio folk band. Her mom, a poet, taught Squirrell to be brave with words, combining senses and placing the listener in the atmosphere and experience of the writer.

Song-writing is a cathartic process for Squirrell. She sees it as the best outlet for strong emotions, whether she is feeling down or feeling really happy. Allowing herself to be honest in her song-writing is the key to her creativity. Squirrell hopes to add the piano to her instrumental repertoire, which already includes the guitar and the drums. For now, she continues to write songs by playing her guitar, humming the melody, and singing along. Have a listen below to “Quiet Fire” from Squirrell’s Loop EP released via Gospel Oak Records on May 18.

This Fourth of July weekend, Squirrell will be playing the Big Mix Music Festival in Lyme Regis, Dorset.

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“Quiet Fire” by Ella Squirrell

Born in Volda, Norway, Aleksander Raftevold (aka. Aleks Grey) was introduced to music through classical piano lessons. He was soon drawn to blues, soul and rock and roll. By the age of ten he was writing his own songs and by twelve he had become an accomplished guitarist. Grey has also landed leading roles in a number of successful musicals (Rent, West Side Story, Les Miserables, Fame). Released on May 15, the single “Feel Alive” is a feel-good, anthemic pop track and perfect listening for summer sunshine.

At sixteen Grey founded his band The Last Province with a group of friends. They played several festivals and had their first single “Lullaby” playlisted on Norway’s national radio station NRK P1. In 2013, Grey recorded his first singles “Starlight” and “Born” at Urban Sound Studios in Oslo.

A move to Liverpool in 2013 allowed Grey to connect with his current backing band including himself (vocal/piano/synth/guitar), Reece Cairns (drums/pad), Eline Brun (bv/piano/synth), Andreas Oxholm (bv/bass), and Andreas Skuggen (guitar). In May 2014, Grey and his new band played The First Look Festival at Paul McCartney’s performing arts school. In December of 2014, he embarked on his first tour of Norway performing six gigs in the Western Part of the country.

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“Feel Alive” by Aleks Grey