The Grand, along with William Wolstenholme from BBC Introducing have hand-picked the very best emerging talent from Lancashire and Cumbria. 

Join us as we celebrate Independent Venue Week at one of the best medium sized venues in the north. While the super-sized arenas and global stars get all the press, grassroots music is doing the hard work, providing the next generation of artists.

Lineup so far:
– Vacant Weekend
– Morton Betts
– Lois
– Westside Cowboy

Vacant Weekend

Vacant Weekend are an alt-pop trio from Cumbria, currently based in Manchester. The three friends met in year 7 at school and bound together immediately, finding comfort in jamming and performing music together. Vacant in its current layout was formed in 2018, taking inspiration from disco and motown as well as noughties indie-rock like Two Door Cinema Club and The Wombats. Now they’ve carved out their own niche that can loosely be described as funk inspired, groove focused, cathartic indie rock.

The band has enjoyed two very fun summers of festivals, with returning appearances at Kendal Calling, Bluedot and Solfest, as well as first time appearances at the picturesque Eskfest in Cumbria and Victorious festival in Portsmouth, and plan to get in front of as many new faces in 2024. Vacant brings with them 3 phenomenal session players to make up a 6-piece live band, pushing their onstage chemistry and musicality to the next level. The band landed places on Spotify editorial playlists ‘New Music Friday’ and ‘Fresh Finds UK/IE’ with ‘Do I Don’t You’ and off the back of this success played a four-date single-launch tour around the release of their single ‘My Addictions’.

Morton Betts

Reasonably loud and suitably energetic, Morton Betts put a fresh spin on music that sits somewhere between rock, punk, and generally alternative.

Lancaster-based duo Jack Taylor and Niall Graham are the creative driving force behind the band, brought to life on stage through the addition of crashing drums with Liam Santon and funky basslines with Joe Lewis.

This has helped to create a unique sound fuelled by an amalgamation of post-punk, rock ‘n’ roll and progressive inspirations. The sort of fellas you’d write home about.

Lois

With her emotionally resonant brand of alt-pop placed at the forefront, Lois has quickly established herself as a refreshing voice amongst the next wave of Northern artists. Blending elements of pop, soul, and alternative rock, the Morecambe-born, Leeds-based songwriter captures the emotions and experiences that often go unspoken through her strikingly honest storytelling. Now entering a new chapter in her journey, Lois is embracing the chaos, power, and euphoria of self-discovery as an independent artist. 

Drawing inspiration from the likes of Olivia Dean, The Japanese House, and Self Esteem, Lois’ music flickers between the lines of genres, tied together by thought-provoking lyricism. In 2023, her debut EP ‘Strange Men’ navigated topics ranging from grief and trauma to self-exploration and identity, receiving support from Radio 1 and BBC Introducing, as well as the appraise of Wonderland, Clash, Notion, and EARMILK.

Having secured support slots alongside The Lottery Winners, Etta Marcus, SOFY, and Pixey, headlined Jodie Bryant’s Discover Live, and sold out her own show at Hyde Park Book Club, the 23-year-old has made a name for herself both in the local music scene and beyond. With further slots at Live At Leeds, The Great Escape, Liverpool Sound City and more, Lois is going from strength to strength in the run-up to her sophomore EP.

Westside Cowboy

Born from late-night jams in drummer Paddy Murphy’s bedroom, Westside Cowboy started as an inside joke but has quickly turned into something much bigger. Their lo-fi sound combines the melodic finesse of Teenage Fanclub and the slacker cool of Pavement, crashing headfirst into a mix of country, trad, and harmony-drenched rock ‘n’ roll—what they call Britainicana.

Freshly signed to Nice Swan Records (Chalk, Sports Team), and with Mercury Prize-winning producer Lewis Whiting (English Teacher) at the helm, their debut single ‘I’ve Never Met Anyone I Thought I Could Really Love (Until I Met You)’ bursts with raw energy. Cracking drums, fiery guitars, and Aoife Anson O’Connell’s standout vocals make for a flag-planting moment.

Westside Cowboy’s raw energy and genre-bending sound promise to bring the house down. Prepare for a performance that is equal parts thrilling and unpredictable—a true celebration of Independent Venue Week.