About
Strictly Underground Promotions returns with another huge night of original live music, bringing one of Manchester’s most exciting underground bands to the Black Country alongside a carefully curated lineup of rising acts from across the UK alternative scene.
Headlining the night are Manchester’s rising underground force Holly Head. Blending post punk urgency with groove driven rhythms and sharp, angular guitars, the band create a sound that feels both raw and danceable. Drawing influence from afrobeat, funk, hip hop and shoegaze, their music pushes beyond traditional guitar band territory while still delivering the intensity and energy that makes their live shows so powerful.
Built around relentless bass lines, razor sharp guitar work and socially aware lyricism, Holly Head have been building a strong reputation across the UK underground circuit. Their electrifying live performances and growing catalogue of releases have placed them firmly on the radar as one of the most exciting emerging bands coming out of Manchester right now.
Joining them are Grrace, a five piece delivering a hazy and immersive blend of shoegaze, post rock and slowcore. Coarse, swirling guitars sit beneath haunting vocals as the band move between moments of fragile calm and explosive walls of sound. Their live sets shift effortlessly between atmospheric quiet and intense chaos, pulling the audience deep into their layered soundscapes.
Grrace have already begun making waves on the underground circuit with appearances at standout DIY shows including the DIY x BRITs event in The Pink Room, as well as sold out nights alongside artists connected to Manchester tastemakers New Cult and Now Wave. Their growing reputation marks them out as one of the most exciting emerging acts from the city’s alternative scene.
Also on the bill are Sweet Gene, whose melodic guitar driven sound sits somewhere between the emotional depth of Radiohead and the swagger of The Stone Roses. Fronted by francophone Irish brothers Freddie and Matt, the band’s journey has taken them from Wexford through Paris and London before eventually settling in Manchester’s thriving underground music community.
Drawn to the city’s rich musical culture, they quickly found themselves writing and creating alongside friends who have since gone on to form some of Manchester’s most talked about new acts including Dove Ellis and Westside Cowboy. With a tight rhythm section and a growing reputation for strong songwriting, Sweet Gene are a band that feel destined to start drawing serious crowds.
Opening the night are Bleaker, a four piece emerging from the thriving grassroots scenes of Birmingham and Manchester. Built around pulsing guitars, tight driving drums and powerful bass lines, the band create a sound that feels immediate, gritty and completely captivating in a live setting.
Their music moves between hypnotic grooves and bursts of full throttle energy, pairing raw lyricism with big melodic hooks that stay with you long after the final chord fades. After making their live debut within Manchester’s buzzing independent scene, the band went on to perform at YES Basement opening for Courds on what proved to be an incredible night packed with energy and anticipation.
Strictly Underground Promotions was created to celebrate original music and support the next generation of bands pushing the UK underground forward. This lineup captures exactly what those nights are all about.
Discover new music. Support grassroots venues. Bring your mates and be part of it.
Tickets available now.