Pastel Blank - from solo project to 6 piece band and touring plans

80 Bands Around the World - ODDfest 2026 special

I attended the second ODDfest (so 2026) in the heart of Helsinki to see how many more bands I could add to the 80 Bands project. I saw 4 bands during the festival: 24 - Valerie June [https://www.instagram.com/thevaleriejune/] - USA 25- NAZVA [https://www.instagram.com/nazva.band/] - Ukraine 26 - Heith [https://www.instagram.com/heith___/] - Italy 27 - Banjo Copilot [https://www.instagram.com/banjocopilot/] - Brazil (interview at 7:40) Come and give 10000 Hours of Indie a ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠follow via your⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠social media of choice⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://linktr.ee/10000hoursofindie]. Alongside the 80 Bands Around the World project, there's regular interviews and more. Go on, give us a follow...please!

Alum Alu - tradition takes a modern twist

Alum Alu [https://www.instagram.com/alumalu_music/] are a nomad folk rock/gypsy punk band from Riga, Latvia. I first saw them play at Tallinn Music Week and they brought a live energy to a cold outdoor show which was exactly what was needed. Starting as a lockdown project, they have spent time in the Latvian charts and are definitely a band worth checking out live too. They just released their latest single, the upbeat tune “Heijā Heijā” in which you can really hear the gypsy punk coming through. Photo: Laura Ellere-Pousson Follow to discover more amazing independent music and give a follow via your ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠social media of choice⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://linktr.ee/10000hoursofindie]. There's so much content coming, don't miss an episode!

The Magic City - the British influence and technical expertise

The Magic City [https://www.themagiccityofficial.com/] are a Boston based 4-piece rock band who released their debut self-titled album last month. Heavily influenced by early Britpop bands (especially Suede), this is a band of veteran musicians making music akin to what they grew up with and it sounds great! Photo: Ken Marcou Follow to discover more amazing independent music and give a follow via your ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠social media of choice⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://linktr.ee/10000hoursofindie]. There's so much content coming, don't miss an episode!

Bloodwoolf - nostalgic influences and songwriting from the heart

Essex 4-piece Bloodwoolf [https://www.instagram.com/bloodwoolfhq/?hl=en] are a brand new band who released their debut self-titled EP in March. Playing something between modern metal and nostalgic 90’s rock, they’ve hit their groove quickly and are already well on the way to their second EP release. I have also known the singer Ben for 30 years, so a challenging edit for this one due to many nostalgic moments creeping in while chatting! Follow to discover more amazing independent music and give a follow via your ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠social media of choice⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://linktr.ee/10000hoursofindie]. There's so much content coming, don't miss an episode!

TAIHR - democracy in numbers and sharing small stages

Cologne based TAIHR [https://taihrmusic.com/]sit somewhere in the field of progressive rock/alternative rock but with a latin twist. Signed to Tonzonen Records, the band have just released their 2nd album “Allicanto”, which has a track to represent each of the 7 members of the band. Photo: Marvin Alexander Laszlo Follow to discover more amazing independent music and give a follow via your ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠social media of choice⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://linktr.ee/10000hoursofindie]. There's so much content coming, don't miss an episode!