We’ve reached the Top Ten in our countdown, and today we’ve numbers ten through to six:

10. Rose Io / Autumn Automaton (from Autumn Automaton LP)
Rose Io isn’t really like anyone else on our list. Most bands out there aren’t sitting down and writing songs about robots or wizards or death that sound like nursery rhymes or lost folk songs. Despite this, Rose’s album Autumn Automaton was one of our favourites this year, unashamedly weird and uncompromising in its vision

9. Opal Mag / Wasting (single)
Opal Mag has released a number of singles in 2025, each building on the last. Her live sets have brought to the fore how much she’s developed, not just in terms of being a front person in her band, but also in the material yet to be released and the breadth of styles that now covers. With a fair wind and a bit of luck 2026 could just be her year

8. Hutch / Rustle (single)
Just the one single from Hutch this year, although there is an album in the pipeline (they played a fundraiser for it in October). There’s been plenty of gigs and plenty of side projects going on too so as they don’t lose their spot as one of Brighton’s most loved bands, packing them in in December with slots at Flip Top Head’s Rolling Sixes night, Mumfest, Folklore Room’s Christmas Christmas Party, and from what I can see, multiple gigs on New Year’s eve

7. Trip Westerns / Showdown Shadow (from Post Hunk EP)
Trip Western’s Post Hunk EP was one of this year’s highlights, their first release since 2023’s eponymous EP. On paper Spaghetti Western themed surf psych could feel like a novelty, but Trip Western’s commitment to the cause – all the way down to Stetsons and facial hari – combined with fantastic songs and thrilling live performances – mean that they’re anything but

6. ELLiS·D / Homecoming Queen (from Spill EP)
One of the big music sites put Ellis D as their live act of the year, and I’m in firm agreement. 2025 has been the year when literally years of hard work have started to pay dividends. We included an early demo of Homecoming Queen on the blog all the way back in 2019 and since then it’s grown to become one of the highlights of their live sets – if you haven’t got a ticket for their gig at the Prince Albert on 5th Feb, then get on it, because it’ll sell out sooner rather than later