A chance to check out the buzzeriffic Westside Cowboy in the intimate surroundings of Oxford’s Bullingdon on February the 8th.
If you got everyone to list the most hotly tipped and hyped young bands in the UK and Ireland right now – The Orchestra For Now, Morn, BLEECH 9:3, Cliffords, Florence Road, South Arcade and Westside Cowboy would be on most of them.
Despite having less than 30 minutes of recorded music to listen to Manchester’s Westside Cowboy have clocked up over 290,000 monthly listeners on Spotify. They have been supporting Black Country, New Road and will be going out on tour around Europe with Geese this Spring. They have pulled off the holy radio Trinity of getting played on BBC Radio One, Two and Six. 2025’s This Better Be Something Great highlights their tongue in cheek attitude to getting noticed so early on. It was a decent start. The new EP released January 16th, So Much Country ‘Till We Get There, was a massive step up, really showcasing why so much excitement has been swirling around them.
They describe themselves as ‘Britainicana,’ a British take on Americana. A British band doing songs in an American style is generally a recipe for disaster. They don’t overdo it though. There are hints there. The gentle introduction of Strange Taxidermy lilts towards country and western and folk, however it equally feels like it leans into The Windrush Scene. Black Country New Road and caroline would both adore a track that good as one of their own. This headline tour highlights their growth, sold out venues all over, including Scala in London, where the tour kicked off.
Holly Head
Tonights support comes from another Manchester band, Holly Head. They are another one to watch. A more outspoken, politically edged band than Westside Cowboy. There is a big waft of funk, of danceable guitar underpinning everything they do – however, they can cut lose with a proper rock out when they want to. There are three tracks on Spotify right now that most strongly recalled The Rapture to my mind, with a slightly more abrasive frontman. ‘No Gain’ is already something of a cult classic.
It is a thoroughly decent set. ‘No Country Is An Island’ is very much a statement on the current state of political discourse.
Westside Cowboy
The strengths of Westside Cowboy are quickly made clear. All four members contribute to the vocals, getting moments to take the lead and each has a slightly different quality. Reuben Haycocks and Aoife Anson O’Connell do the heavy lifting. James Bradbury gets a moment to shine on ‘Alright Alright Alright.’
Their songs are well constructed. Moments of gentle quiet give way to intense bursts of energy. When all four band-members are giving it 100% you cannot help but be impressed by their practised levels of skill.
Drummer Paddy Murphy is a proper drumming unit, bashing away and singing without a single slip out of time. Reuben Haycocks vanishes quickly off of the stage at one point. He feels compelled to own up as to why. “I was absolutely desperate. It wouldn’t be very good for the image if I’d wet myself in front of a full crowd.”
There is a thrilling energy to their best moments. ‘Can’t See’ is utterly captivating. They play a couple of new tracks that suggest a band rapidly finding their feet and growing in confidence.
The run in is particularly fine. ‘The Wahs’ is a properly uplifting anthemic track with its hook laden melodies. Up next on the setlist is ‘Old Billy,’ or rather ‘Strange Taxidermy’ to you and me. Old Billy being the horse that the song references. The final track of this mini-headline tour is ‘In The Morning.’ Rather beautifully, all four band members gather around a single microphone at the front of the stage and harmonise it together. This is a band only just getting started, but already delivering on a huge amount of promise. Seek them out in small venues while you can.
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