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Record Stores' Ones To Watch 2026

January 15, 2026

Record shops know what’s coming next. So we asked them.

UK independent record stores were invited to nominate the local artists they believe are ones to watch for 2026. No hype. No algorithms. Just genuine recommendations from the people closest to the music.

Together with Jack Daniel's and Metropolis Studios, we’ve collated and curated five standout artists tipped by record shops across the UK; a snapshot of what’s next, according to those who live and breathe vinyl every day.

#5 RIP MAGIC

Record store nomination: Flashback Records

RIP Magic operate as a multidisciplinary unit of DJs, sound designers, visual artists and photographers, creating a tightly unified output that feels fresh, contemporary and experimentally minded. Their “blend of electronica, European cold-wave and a post-rock instinct for building slow, mesmerising tension has made them one of the most talked-about acts in the UK underground.”


#4 ICHABOD WOLF

Record store nomination: Tallbird Records

Kieran Smith aka Ichabod Wolf is a local legend on the Chesterfield music scene, who “plays a mean acoustic guitar, sings about death and heartbreak and other bleak subjects with laugh-out-loud wit and poetry."


#3 SCARLETT FAE

Record store nomination: Capsule Records

Scarlett Fae is a Brighton-based artist blending ethereal soul, spoken word, and intimate storytelling. Her music is soft yet searching, exploring identity, grief, pleasure, and connection. Founder of SUNFAE and creator of the short film Black Molasses, she is “an independent artist who knows no boundaries to her creativity…” As her current era, Of Sex and Nature, draws to a close, Scarlett is now completing her debut album - shaped by years of community-led practice, live performance and deep ties to the city she calls home.


#2 KAI REESU

Record store nomination: Second Line Records

2025 Scottish Album of The Year award winners, Kai Reesu are a freshly formed nu-jazz band from Glasgow, “blending elements of hip-hop, neo-soul, psychedelic rock & old skool fusion.” At its core is the trio interplay of Paul Copeland on keys, Robert McArthur on bass, & Matt Jim Sim on drums. At its most expanded Kai boasts a heavyweight horn section (Michael Butcher, Adam Jackson & Harry Weir) and abstract percussive colours from Alex Palmer on aux drums. A MUST to check out...

#1 VOKA GENTLE 

Record store nomination: Sound Records

Consisting of Imogen Mason, Ellie Mason and William J. Stokes, Voka Gentle are a trio of songwriters, producers and multi-instrumentalists tearing up the rulebook with their unique blend of earthy psychedelia, motorik beats, collaged soundscapes and harmonised vocals who “perfectly hold the ground between melody and mayhem”.

Notable Mentions:

Bona Rays


Record store nomination: Flashback Records


Bona Rays are a London post-punk four-piece, first formed in the late ’70s and fronted by Chas Hines, one of the UK’s first Black punk vocalists. Now reborn with Mark, Kevin, and Bob, the band deliver raw UK punk energy rooted in lived experience rather than nostalgia.


"Bona Rays are a story of rebirth done right. Their return celebrates second chances, punk as resistance, and music as a space where identity and solidarity matter."

CHIG


Record store nomination: Black Star Records


5-piece from the South Coast combining Shoegaze, Nu-Metal, and Goth-Rock. They have been recording their first album and playing gigs around the south.


"We're passionate about CHIG; they’re some of the loveliest guys going."

Evy Frearson


Record store nomination: Hey Joe Music & Coffee


Indie artist blending raw emotion, dreamlike vocals, and power. Supported James, won NMG Solo Artist of the Year, released EP Waiting Room on vinyl.


"Evy's EP Waiting Room was already set to make our end of year favourites list, but after performing in our shop last month Evy showed an incredible ability to change her sound into something even more haunting & etherial...she made us forget we were even at work."

Flat Moon


Record store nomination: The Vinyl Whistle


Crash-landing somewhere between funk and punk, Flat Moon are a bizarre 6-piece collective that create and perform high- energy groove-centred music. Flat Moon are known for their electrifying live shows that induce their audiences into a state of genre-fluid delirium.


"They play with great energy and  are a lot of fun. Everyone walks away from their gigs with a big smile on their faces. A great tonic for the world around us!"

Flash Cassette 


Record store nomination:  The Record Cafe


Electronic music somewhere between Funkadelic and Sega Megadrive.


"A really nice chap who's been plugging away on the local scene for a while and recently contributed to the latest Saint Etienne LP."

Hoof 


Record store nomination: The Rock Box 


Three-piece alternative/math rock/indie pop band with catchy melodies.


"Blew me away seeing them live, and even better we had them live instore on Record Store Day to a packed house. They deserve all the attention and more."

Lemon and Lime


Record store nomination: Dead Wax Vinyl


5-piece rock band from Southend, formed in January 2024. Played 50+ gigs and finalists in multiple competitions.


"They are a lovely talented group of boys who are very talented and exceed my expectations at every gig of theirs i go to... They also have incredible stage presence and crowd control and i always see people having the best time the moment they hit the stage."

ME and DEBOE


Record store nomination: Loafers Vinyl


Duo of Mercy Elise and Sarah Deboe, accomplished singer-songwriters.


"ME and DEBOE have created uplifting, soulful, Gutsy, Intricate, percussive, raw music, delivering an energetic and power- packed performance every time they play. At a recent performance for us you could hear a pin drop in the audience with how mesmerised they were by the duo."

Orange River Remedy


Record store nomination: Loafers Vinyl


Band based in Stratford-on-Avon with 60s/70s-inspired sound, touring the UK and Europe.


"Orange River Remedy recently joined us to put together our amazing annual gig 'The Celebration of The Travelling Wilbury's' and absolutely nailed...They're young and enthusiastic with a great live stage presence."

Rosie H. Sullivan 


Record store nomination: Thorne Records


Born and raised on the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides but now based in Edinburgh, Sullivan crafts deeply personal and emotive indie folk.


"At 22 years of age, Rosie stands apart in today's musical landscape through her exceptional lyrical craftsmanship, delivering depth and nuance that transcends the observational writing common among her contemporaries."

Rosie Hollins


Record store nomination: Heathen Chemistry Records


With an effortlessly powerful voice, Rosie sings jazz, soul, and blues-influenced songs that she writes herself. Performing live since age seven at venues including The O2 Indigo, London Palladium, The Jazz Cafe, and Victorious Festival, she is now joined by her talented band, all of whom met at ACM Music College.


"Rosie proves that great things truly do come in small packages, consistently delivering unique, compelling performances across London and the South Coast."

The Ovines


Record store nomination: The Record Store


Hailing from the south east across London and Kent, The Ovines have been tearing up the UK scene. The band blends classic rock with punk, adding a modern twist to create a ferocious, high-energy sound.


"They are exciting and different from everything else."

Test Plan 


Record store nomination: Flashback Records


Test Plan are a London based trio making scuzzy, high energy punk that thrives on urgency and grit. Made up of Rory (Bass, Vox), Mike (Guitar) and Max (Drums, Vox), they channel a DIY attitude into sharp, no nonsense songs.


"They feel genuinely uncompromising. Test Plan are doing their own thing, building momentum through unbridled energy and conviction, and earning serious attention for it, including high praise from Anthony Fantano."

Theo Lear


Record store nomination: Far Land Records


Cornish singer-songwriter Theo Lear channels his acoustic roots and a deep connection to the coast through the vivid lens of the modern world. 


"Theo’s songwriting blends sharp lyrical insight with melodic sophistication, creating pop music that feels both immediate and enduring."

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