Heard It Here First - #44 CloseUp Festival Special

Heard It Here First - #45 With Kate Couriel

This week on Heard It Here First, we’re joined by Manchester alternative-indie artist Kate Couriel. Blending raw storytelling with her classical background as a violinist, Kate’s music explores themes of feminine rage, social injustice and navigating the world as a young artist today. With tracks like ‘Patriarchy’s Dead’ gaining serious momentum online, she’s quickly becoming one of the most exciting emerging voices in the UK alternative scene. In this episode, we talk about political songwriting, social media, anger in music, the realities of being an independent artist in 2026 and everything she has coming next. Listen now and make sure to follow the podcast for more conversations with the best new artists around. 🎟️ HIHF Presents: The Next Wave, 15th July at Band on the Wall. Tickets.

Heard It Here First - #44 CloseUp Festival Special

In this special episode, we’ve teamed up with CloseUp Festival to take you behind the scenes of one of the UK’s most exciting grassroots festivals championing new music. We sit down with founder Sam Tucker to talk about how the festival came to life, what it takes to build something like this from the ground up, and why creating space for emerging artists has never been more important. Plus, we catch up with artists from this year’s lineup (Pale Blue Eyes, Only Real, and Lizzie Esau)to talk about their music, their journey so far, and what playing CloseUp means to them. If you’re into discovering your next favourite artist before they blow up, this one’s for you. 🔗Get your tickets here

Heard It Here First - #43 With Dea Matrona

In this episode of Heard It Here First, Keira sits down with Dea Matrona ahead of their Sound City Festival appearance. Fresh off a European tour, the band dive into their upcoming second album ‘Hate That I Care’ (out June 5th), the stories behind the music, and how this new era compares to their debut. They also talk tour highlights, festival season, and what fans can expect from their Sound City set. Heard It Here First Issue 001  [https://heard-it-here-first-2.myshopify.com/collections/all]is also out now — featuring emerging artists you need to know.

Heard It Here First - #42 With Heidi Curtis

We caught up with Heidi Curtis in Manchester during her run supporting Holly Humberstone. From the meaning behind What Am I Missing? to the build-up to her debut EP, this episode is all about the moments in between growth, uncertainty, and finding your sound. Follow HIHF ✨ ~ Instagram: @hearditherefirstpod ~ Tiktok: @hearditherefirstpod ~ Youtube: @hearditherefirstpod

Heard It Here First - #41 With Keyside

At Heard It Here First, it’s all about catching artists before they blow, and Keyside are right on that edge. The Liverpool band join us to talk their journey to Sound City, the city’s music scene, and a huge run of shows this summer; including supporting The Wombats, touring with The Clause, and playing alongside Red Rum Club. Don’t say we didn’t warn you.