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] A roundup of recommended bands from the UK, featuring many up-and-coming acts! (31–40)

Playing FictionROAM

ROAM – Playing Fiction (Official Music Video)

Playing FictionROAM

A newcomer leading the 2010s pop-punk scene alongside Neck Deep.

A track from their second album, released on America’s Hopeless Records.

With quality on par with Yellowcard and Simple Plan, they’re expected to take even bigger steps forward.

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Cosmic GirlJamiroquai

Jamiroquai – Cosmic Girl (Official Video)

Cosmic GirlJamiroquai

A jazz-funk band formed in 1992 and led by Jason Kay.

Jason’s instantly recognizable voice and the irresistibly danceable, overwhelming groove—Jamiroquai is practically a genre unto itself.

This particular track distills the band’s appeal.

The crisply ticking hi-hats and the laid-back, tension-filled bassline leave a strong impression.

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RelaxFrankie Goes To Hollywood

Frankie Goes to Hollywood – Relax (original version)

RelaxFrankie Goes To Hollywood

Frankie Goes to Hollywood, who shot straight to number one on the UK charts with their debut single “Relax,” continued to release powerful, distinctive hits afterward.

This song has been used in commercials and films, so some of you may have heard it, but the band’s musical style is undeniably compelling.

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Here I Go AgainWhitesnake

Whitesnake – Here I Go Again ’87 (Official Music Video)

Here I Go AgainWhitesnake

This is a band formed mainly by vocalist David, who left Deep Purple.

They first released this song in the UK in 1982, but it didn’t become a hit.

When it was released again in 1987, perhaps thanks to the heavy metal boom in the United States, it reached No.

1 and achieved great success.

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Sky Highjigsaw

Sky High / Jigsaw / Lyrics. Actually a heartbreak song: 'Blown it all sky high' ... to blow it up into the sky [shatter it into pieces].

Sky Highjigsaw

It’s a song released in 1975 by the British band Jigsaw.

It was created as the theme song for the film Sky High starring Jimmy Wang, which was released in the same year.

In 1982, it was also used in a commercial for the Toyota LiteAce Wagon.

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