BBC 6 Music’s Chris Hawkins is launching a new live music showcase with one goal in mind: find the next wave of main stage stars, before everyone else does. Set to debut on Saturday 17th January 2026 at Manchester’s Deaf Institute, Awesome Friends is a curated night of fresh energy, future headliners and the rawest, loudest proof that indie isn’t dead, it’s just warming up.
The inaugural lineup is a triple threat of rising talent: Florentenes, Cherryholt, and The North, three names you’ll want to brag about discovering early. The Deaf Institute has hosted some iconic names in their breakout years, The 1975, Charli XCX, Florence + The Machine, so when Hawkins says these acts are ones to watch, history suggests you should listen.
“Awesome Friends is all about discovering the best new acts and supporting them on their journey to main stages,” Hawkins says. “It’s a massive thrill to introduce the next generation on stage, and Manchester’s music scene is in fantastic shape. This night is about falling in love with your next favourite band—before they blow up.”
Let’s talk about that lineup.
Florentenes are a Manchester-based powerhouse who’ve already supported Jamie Webster and The Royston Club, with a sound that nods to early Arctic Monkeys grit, Pink Floyd’s depth, and The Kooks’ indie cool. Their live shows are loud, emotional, and magnetic, frontman William Smith leads with charisma and sharp lyrical insight, backed by guitarist Luke Holding, bassist Harry Stubbs, and drummer Liam Fiddy. With a new EP on the way produced by Dave Eringa (Manic Street Preachers) and major festival slots incoming, 2025 is already shaping up to be their breakthrough year.
Cherryholt come straight out of Stamford via Leeds, bringing early-2000s indie nostalgia wrapped in punchy, experimental-rock chaos. Think The La’s if they’d been raised on alt TikTok. Formed in 2024 by twins and school mates, they blew up online with viral single irresistible, and haven’t stopped since. Their sound is a mash-up of indie-pop, rock ballads and explosive live energy, and with nearly 20K fans already watching, they’re ones to catch before the next viral moment drops.
Then there’s The North, raw, scrappy, emotionally charged and hard to pin down. Blending indie with Midwest emo vibes and flashes of Title Fight and Dinosaur Jr., their sound hits you right in the teenage bedroom nostalgia. Live, they’re chaotic in the best way, equal parts heartfelt and unhinged, like the start of a series you already know you’re binging to the end.
Tickets go on sale Friday 31st October at 10am via gigsandtours.com, with more dates and locations set to be announced soon.
0 Comments