Music of a wonderful world

[2026] A roundup of the best UK bands, featuring many up-and-coming acts!

Active club DJkento
Active club DJ. With over five years on the front lines of the club scene, they freely cross over from dance music to US hip-hop and Japanese rap. Blending in their own edits with assured mixing, they craft a unique groove that captivates the floor.
music writerKOH-1
Started working as a music writer as a side job while employed at a record shop, and for over 18 years I’ve contributed to music magazines, disc guide books, mooks, and web media. As a writer my main field is Western music, but as a listener for over 35 years, I always try to keep my curiosity alive with the motto “I like what I like.” I have experience playing in bands, where I was a bassist who handled songwriting and composition. Instruments I’ve played include bass, guitar, and piano. I began studying English in my mid-40s and continue to do so today.

In Japan, both now and in the past, bands from the UK have been especially popular among Western music.

As fellow island nations, there’s a shared sensibility—those slightly damp, melancholic melodies and lyricism resonate perfectly with Japanese tastes, and many people are also drawn to the distinctly European worldview.

In this article, we’ve researched recommended UK bands.

The first half spotlights up-and-coming and new artists you should watch to understand the “now” of Britain, while the second half takes a broader look—centered on rock—at veterans and mid-career acts you ought to know.

It features plenty of bands that are great for beginners to UK rock and Western music alike, so be sure to check it out!

[2026] The Best British Bands: A Roundup. Plenty of up-and-coming acts too! (111–120)

Stuck Between A Rock & A White FaceOne Minute Silence

One Minute Silence – Stuck Between A Rock & A White Face

Stuck Between A Rock & A White FaceOne Minute Silence

A four-piece nu metal band formed in 1995.

They have cited influences from Rage Against The Machine, Pantera, Black Sabbath, and Tool, and their sound is essentially like a blend right down the middle of those bands.

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[2026] A roundup of recommended UK bands, featuring many emerging artists! (121–130)

Best YearsPRAYING MANTIS

Praying Mantis – “Best Years”

Best YearsPRAYING MANTIS

An HR/HM band led by brothers Tino and Chris Troy.

This track is included on their fifth album, “Forever In Time,” released in 1998.

The album was produced with a new vocalist on board.

The band is known for its melancholic melodies and dramatic, wistful song structures.

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Get it OnT-REX

T. Rex – (Bang A Gong) Get It On [1971] Video

Get it OnT-REX

Since their debut in 1967, they had as many as 11 songs make the top 10 in the UK.

They apparently were active in the same generation as the Beatles in the UK and were constantly compared to them, but in 1977 the band lost momentum when their vocalist, Mark, died in a traffic accident.

Mark was 29 at the time, making their activity span a mere 10 years—an extremely unfortunate turn of events.

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LovesongThe Cure

The Cure – Lovesong (Official Music Video)

LovesongThe Cure

The Cure have a long history, and even as their lineup has changed little by little, they’ve kept creating songs across a variety of genres—one of the band’s charms is that they never let their fans get bored.

This song reached as high as No.

2 in the U.S.

and was also used in the film “Love Song.”

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When The Laughter StopsYard Act

Yard Act – When the Laughter Stops ft. Katy J Pearson

When The Laughter StopsYard Act

Yard Act, formed in Leeds, UK in 2019, is a rock band known for combining post-punk minimalism with dry wit.

Their debut album, The Overload, released in January 2022, reached No.

2 on the UK Albums Chart.

The band is characterized by jagged, 1980s-style post-punk guitars and lyrics that offer a distinctive perspective on contemporary British society.

During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, they gained prominent fans including Elton John.

They have won multiple awards, such as the Reeperbahn Festival International Music Award.

Recommended for listeners who resonate with lyrics that cast a critical eye on modern society.

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Lived A LieYou Me At Six

You Me At Six – Lived A Lie

Lived A LieYou Me At Six

The works they’ve released frequently enter the charts, and in their home country of the UK they are an overwhelmingly popular five-piece rock band.

From stadium anthems characteristic of bands accustomed to large-scale stages to exhilarating rock tunes and danceable tracks, they possess a flexible range of expressive styles.

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Damaged GoodsGang Of Four

Gang of Four – Damaged Goods (Entertainment! album version)

Damaged GoodsGang Of Four

Formed in Leeds, England in 1976, Gang of Four are a post-punk band known for their distinctive sound influenced by social critique and punk.

Their 1978 debut single “Damaged Goods” reached No.

1 on the indie chart.

In 1981, they released their second album, Solid Gold, cementing a fusion of danceable rock and funk.

The band’s songs tackle social themes and were even banned from broadcast on the BBC at times.

Marked by political awareness, distinctive guitar work, and rhythmically driven basslines, they have had a major impact on the post-punk scene.

Highly recommended for fans of socially conscious rock.

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