You might’ve caught them warming up the stage for Ed Sheeran, or maybe tearing it up alongside The K’s—but now, it’s time to meet AFTERDRIVE on their terms. The Ipswich-based alt-pop four-piece have just dropped Necklace, a new single that lands like a gut-punch wrapped in glitter.
Brimming with raw emotion and unapologetic intent, Necklace feels like a leap forward. It’s heavier, moodier, and somehow even more addictive than their previous releases, a track that balances late-night vulnerability with the sort of soaring, hook-laden alt-pop that belongs in the middle of a festival set or soundtracking your messiest coming-of-age moments.
The band themselves say it best: “It’s more driven, more physical, more intimate.” And it shows. There’s a certain heat to this one, an urgency that crackles beneath the surface without ever losing that clean, melodic edge AFTERDRIVE have become known for. It’s still got that shimmer, but now there’s smoke.
This isn’t just a one-off, either. Necklace is the first taste of what’s set to be a run of fresh new material, with an EP due in 2026 that promises to push their sound even further. If this track is the marker, we’re in for something special.
It’s been a whirlwind year for the band, rising from local favourites to supporting Sheeran at his sold-out hometown stadium show (no pressure), getting spins on BBC Radio 1, and selling out rooms alongside alt-indie favourites The K’s. Now, they’re stepping into the spotlight with a headline show at Norwich’s Waterfront Studio on 31 January as part of Independent Venue Week, a big hometown moment for a band that’s clearly gearing up for even bigger stages. Tickets are available here.
Built on the bond of brothers Ben (vocals) and Joe Watts (drums), and powered by their long-time mates Ed Ruff (bass) and Luke Ellis (guitar), AFTERDRIVE aren’t just a band, they’re a proper unit. There’s chemistry here, and it spills into every note they play.
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