[2026] A roundup of the best UK bands, featuring many up-and-coming acts!
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!
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[2026] A roundup of recommended UK bands: plenty of emerging acts too! (21–30)
PompeiiBastille
Bastille captivates with a distinctive musicality that blends indie pop with cinematic elements.
Centered around Dan Smith—who was influenced by film director David Lynch—the band formed in London in 2010.
Their 2013 debut album, Bad Blood, topped the UK Albums Chart and quickly drew widespread attention.
Known for extensive sampling from films and television, their innovative sound transcends genres, spanning indie pop, synth-pop, and electropop.
They won the British Breakthrough Act at the 2014 BRIT Awards and were also nominated for a Grammy the same year.
Combining cinematic grandeur with refined pop sensibilities, their music is perfect for listeners who seek lyrical melodies and deep, narrative-rich storytelling.
Bohemian RhapsodyQueen
A song released in 1975 by the British rock band Queen.
In their home country of the UK, it spent nine consecutive weeks at number one and is regarded as the best-selling song in the UK.
It is also famous as the first song in the world to have a promotional video produced.
Considered an iconic track for Queen, it was listed in the Guinness Book of Records in 2002 as the “Greatest Single of All Time” in the UK.
CreepRadiohead
They’re a British alternative rock band that’s a regular at Summer Sonic and Fuji Rock in Japan, and their vocalist Thom Yorke once studied Japanese.
Known for their experimental sound, they dramatically change their style with each album.
This is an early classic and one of their most pop-leaning songs.
FuckaboutDrenge
The British three-piece band Drenge made major waves when a Labour MP recommended them as a “brilliant band” in his resignation letter.
They began around 2010 as a brother duo, unleashing a nihilistic, ferocious sound that fuses grunge and garage rock.
Their 2013 single “Bloodsports” was used in a commercial for the UK TV drama Misfits, helping to raise their profile.
At the end of that year, they won Best New Band at the NME Awards.
Initially, their appeal lay in the thunderous combination of just guitar and drums, but from 2015 onward they added bass, evolving into a heavier, more groove-driven sound.
Their dark aesthetic, carrying the DNA of ’90s grunge, combined with the raw urgency of contemporary garage punk, is sure to captivate anyone craving heavy rock.
How Soon Is Now?The Smiths
Fronted by vocalist Morrissey, The Smiths produced numerous hits in the UK and are known for their distinctive voice.
Although they debuted in 1981 and disbanded after only six years, Morrissey has continued his solo career, and more recently he handled the soundtrack for the Leonardo DiCaprio–starring film Inception.
AlwaysThe Snuts
The Snuts are a four-piece indie rock band formed in 2015 in West Lothian, Scotland.
Made up of friends from their school days, they released their debut album, W.L., in April 2021.
It reached No.
1 on the UK Albums Chart, marking the first debut album by a Scottish band to do so in 14 years.
Their anthemic and sometimes edgy sound deftly blends pop/rock with indie rock.
In September 2022, their second album, Burn the Empire, also charted highly, reaching No.
3, steadily growing their popularity.
Their music, which resonates with young listeners, is recommended for anyone who wants to know what UK rock sounds like right now.
Can’t Kick Up The RootsNeck Deep
A pop-punk band formed in 2012.
They also performed at Warped Tour, one of the largest rock festivals in the United States.
With their worldwide activity, they are one of the bands that represent the pop-punk scene.
A classic track from the album “Life’s Not Out To Get You.”