Five Artists To Watch: The Musicians Making Waves
Updated: 6 days ago
From our early days with Playing With Sound back in 2016, a sub-label created to champion some of the North West’s best emerging talent, to our more recent work with artists from across the UK under Ameritz Radar, discovering and working with bands has always been a big part of what we love to do.
Through Playing With Sound, we worked with and distributed music from artists including No Hot Ashes, Native Kings, Hester and Holly Rose, Demons of Ruby Mae and Gold Jacks to name just a few.
From Playing With Sound to Ameritz Radar
After years of working with emerging artists and professionally recording their upcoming music, exploring the live session world felt like a natural next step. That’s where Ameritz Radar came in.
The idea was simple, discover exciting new artists, give them access to a professional studio environment, and let them showcase what they could really do live. Radar initially focused on artists from the North West, but it quickly grew. Word spread through the bands themselves, their friends, social media and, of course, the music and videos we were producing for them. Before long, artists from outside the North West were getting in touch to ask for the opportunity to stop by our studio.
From Liverpool’s GONDOLAS, the first artists through the doors, to London’s Parlay, who brought our 2025 sessions to a close, we welcomed around 30 bands and solo artists from across the UK into our studio.
Some artists that we've worked with on their new music this year came from the Ameritz Radar sessions and are already building serious momentum in the industry, so we thought we’d pick out five artists we think you really need to hear about.
1) GONDOLAS
GONDOLAS, the five-piece garage indie rock band based in Liverpool, have been making serious waves across the local music scene.
From packed out local stages and countless live performances to building a growing following through their social media, hilarious skits and music videos, the band have quickly developed an identity that feels completely their own.
There’s a real sense of personality running through everything GONDOLAS does. Their music has the energy you'd expect from a garage indie rock band, but it's matched by a sense of fun and creativity that comes across on their recorded tracks just as strongly as it does when on stage.
They're a band that understand how important it is to connect with people, whether that's through their songs, their live shows or the content they share online, and that connection has helped them build quite a dedicated following.
Their growing momentum has also started to make its way onto the airwaves, with GONDOLAS featuring not once, but twice as the closing track on two BBC Merseyside Introducing shows. Their summer 2025 single Sharpshooter has also become their first track to reach over 260,000 streams on Spotify alone.
After seeing their potential firsthand during our Ameritz Radar live sessions, we knew we wanted to take things a step further. That led to GONDOLAS returning to work with us on their brand new EP, Brace Brace, which is now available to stream everywhere.
And if there’s one thing that really sets GONDOLAS apart, it's their live performances. These guys absolutely own the stage, from smaller intimate settings at Liverpool's Tunnel to the O2 Academy Liverpool. Their energy, confidence and stage presence are something you don't always see, even with massive artists. Put simply, if you get the chance to see GONDOLAS live, don't be surprised if you leave wanting to see more!
We've loved being part of their journey so far, from welcoming them into the studio for that very first Ameritz Radar session to helping bring Brace Brace to fans everywhere.
Make sure you're following GONDOLAS on Instagram and Facebook to keep up to date with their latest gigs and music.
Listen to their new EP, Brace Brace, on all streaming platforms today.
2) The Ambersons
Next up, we have The Mighty Ambersons, as they’re affectionately known by their ever-growing fanbase.
Hailing from Warrington, this six-piece have become almost synonymous with the town’s music scene, having spent the last 20 years building a reputation for their music, unmistakable style and, most importantly, their energetic live performances. They’re a band you’ll find at pretty much every major festival in Warrington and in the North West, and it’s safe to say that The Ambersons are a much-loved and instantly recognisable part of the local music scene.
For many of our team, The Ambersons are a band we’ve known for years, so welcoming them to Ameritz after signing them at the end of last year was a real privilege. With two decades of experience behind them, the band have now reached another exciting milestone with the release of their studio album Maps, available worldwide across all major streaming platforms from Friday 4th September.
The band built anticipation for the album with the release of four singles, Funny Ways, (I Don’t Hear You) Call My Name, Flicker and Tin Hat Crown, with both Funny Ways and Flicker receiving airplay from Dave Monks on BBC Introducing Merseyside, alongside support from other regional radio stations. Their summer has been just as busy, with performances at Warrington Music Festival, Newton Music Festival and St Ann’s By the Sea Music Festival, as well as the opportunity to open for Starsailor at their homecoming live show.
And much like GONDOLAS, The Ambersons really come alive on stage, bringing an energy and presence that quickly takes hold of the room and commands the crowd. Whether playing to a festival audience or a packed hometown venue like Warrington's Brickhaus, they have the kind of live presence that reminds you why they've built such a strong reputation over the years.
Make sure you're following The Ambersons on Instagram and Facebook to keep up to date with their latest gigs and music.
You can stream their album Maps everywhere now!
3) Luna Drift
Another name firmly on the radar is Luna Drift, the North West project founded by Connor Hamilton in early 2025. Despite being a relatively new name on the scene, Luna Drift wasted no time making an impression, earning festival slots at Deva Fest and Tramlines Fringe in their very first year. Their early momentum quickly caught our attention, and by the end of 2025, Luna Drift had officially joined the Ameritz family.
Now, the project is entering an exciting new chapter with the release of their self-titled debut album this September. Capturing the atmospheric, raw emotion at the heart of Luna Drift’s post-punk sound, the album feels as much about its environment as it does the music itself. Recorded during the depths of winter 2026 inside an atmospheric old Victorian brewery in Cheshire, the unique surroundings have left their mark on the record, giving the album an unmistakable sense of character and weight.
The journey to the album has already seen Luna Drift pick up some impressive early attention. Following the release of Lost in the Echoes, their second single Yesterday landed on Apple Music’s New in Rock playlist on release day, before their latest single, Never Enough, continued to build momentum and establish Luna Drift as an artist worth keeping a very close eye on.
With their debut album just around the corner, this feels like only the beginning for Luna Drift. Make sure you’re listening from Friday 11th September 2026, when the self-titled album lands across all major streaming platforms, because we think this is a name you’re going to be hearing a lot more of.
Make sure you're following Luna Drift on Instagram and Facebook to keep up to date with their latest gigs and music.
4) The Lower Angel Band
The Lower Angel Band: Warrington Roots, Folk-Rock Spirit and an “All In” Approach
Hailing from Warrington and affectionately named after the pub where the five members officially came together as a band, their roots are firmly planted in the Warrington music scene.
At the heart of the band is vocalist Vicky Williams, an influential figure across Warrington’s live music community. Alongside performing, Vicky has hosted and organised numerous open mic nights and festivals, helping to create opportunities for emerging musicians and giving local talent a worthy stage to perform on.
Musically, The Lower Angel Band bring together elements of folk, blues and rock, creating catchy, melodic songs underpinned by introspective and thought provoking lyrics. Both Vicky Williams and keyboardist Chris Manasseh contribute to the band's songwriting, exploring themes that reflect on life, personal experiences and spiritual development.
Their sound effortlessly blends folk-rock and pop influences, with traditional instrumentation providing the foundations for Vicky's unmistakable folk and blues-inspired vocals.
It was in January 2026 that The Lower Angel Band sold out the Warrington Irish Club, welcoming more than 150 people to celebrate the launch of their debut album, All In. The special evening was made even more memorable with the addition of live strings, bringing those special elements of their album recorded in our studio to life in front of a live crowd.
The album launch was soon followed by Live at the Irish Club, a collection of live recordings captured during that special night. The live album gave those who couldn't make it to the sold-out show the chance to experience the atmosphere and energy of the evening for themselves, while also showcasing the band's ability to deliver their songs perfectly live on stage. It was a strong reminder that The Lower Angel Band are not only talented songwriters and recording artists, but a band that is truly destined for the stage.
Since then, the band have taken their music on the road, touring venues across the country and continuing to build their following. Later this year, they'll make their London debut before bringing a hectic 2026 to a close in the venue where their journey began, the Warrington Irish Club, with a special Christmas show.
Make sure you're following The Lower Angel Band on Instagram and Facebook to keep up to date with their latest gigs and music.
Check out their debut album, All In, on all major streaming services now.
5) George Gallagher
A modern-day crooner with a timeless voice, George Gallagher brings together the elegance and charm with the passion, energy and character of a contemporary performer. His approach to music breathes new life into classic songs, while his distinctive style continues to establish a sound that is unmistakably his own.
George's impressive vocals were recently showcased to a national audience, featuring prominently in the 2025 BBC crime drama This City Is Ours. His versions of The House of Bamboo and Can't Take My Eyes Off You became instant hits, with The House of Bamboo performing exceptionally well on streaming services.
Born and raised in Liverpool, George first captured attention in 2015 when he won Frank Sinatra: Our Way on BBC One. That achievement alone marked the beginning of a journey that has seen him perform on some impressive stages and alongside some of the UK's most respected musical names.
Since then, George has performed with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and shared the stage with Michael Ball at Sinatra's UK Centenary Concert. Alongside these major performances, he has continued to build a loyal audience through his incredible live shows, where his wide ranging vocals and natural stage presence truly come into their own.
While George has established himself as a performer with a clear appreciation for the classics, his latest musical chapter sees him step into the spotlight as a recording artist in his own right.
With George, we released his debut album, Going Home, a deeply personal collection featuring original songs written and dedicated to his family alongside a selection of carefully reworked covers of classics. While the album offers a more intimate insight into George's songwriting and personal experiences, it's his exceptional vocals that truly bring the record to life, giving both the original material and familiar favourites a distinctive character that feels uniquely George Gallagher.
Going Home, whilst named after the track we released with George as a single, also feels like a fitting title for an album that remains closely connected to his Liverpool roots. From his early success performing the music of one of the world's greatest icons to establishing himself as an artist in his own right, George has developed a style that brings together the timeless sounds of the past with his own distinctive style. Whether he's putting his own stamp on a classic or performing one of his original songs, George's exceptional vocals and natural ability to make each track his own are what really set him apart.
Make sure you're following George Gallagher on Instagram and Facebook to keep up to date with his latest gigs and music.
You can stream George Gallagher's debut album, Going Home, on all major streaming platforms now.
