From Chester’s rehearsal rooms to Wrexham’s rising stages, the Northwest keeps proving that its sound is alive, restless, and impossible to pin down. This week, Circl8 tunes into three stories that capture the scene’s shifting energy:
You’ll read how The Zangwills turned a last‑minute studio decision into a single brimming with urgency and desire. You’ll step into the Golden Eagle as Little Beat Combo prepare for their farewell show, closing a chapter with honesty and groove. And you’ll feel the lift of Hollows’ Blood, a track that begins tender and heartfelt before erupting into big choruses built for festival fields.
Together, these stories sketch a scene in motion: bands evolving, bowing out, and breaking through… Each reminding us why the Northwest’s music matters.
The Zangwills Unveil New Single ‘Drawing From Memory’
The Zangwills return with ‘Drawing From Memory’, an upbeat, fast‑paced and energetic release that captures the band at their most instinctive.
Written just a week before they were due to head into the studio, the track came together so quickly and with such conviction that it replaced one of the songs originally planned for the session. That last‑minute decision has paid off…The single brims with urgency and intent, exploring vivid memories, love and desire through lyrics that linger like imprinted visions, so clear they feel almost present.
Produced by Mark Winterburn, whose credits include 5 Seconds of Summer, The Script, Plan B, James Arthur and Don Broco, Drawing From Memory pushes The Zangwills further into the spotlight with a sound that sits comfortably alongside Sam Fender, Inhaler, Pulp and Florence and the Machine.
Released on November 28, 2025, the track signals a band confident in their evolution, ready to surprise listeners and expand their reach as they move into the new year.
FOLLOW THE ZANGWILLS:
Little Beat Combo Announce Final Gig Before Hiatus
Chester’s own Little Beat Combo are preparing to take the stage at the Golden Eagle on December the 19th, 2025…A night that will mark their last performance before going on indefinite hiatus.
Known for their infectious blend of groove, melody, and guitar‑driven energy, the band have long been a fixture of Chester’s grassroots scene, lighting up venues from Telford’s Warehouse to St Mary’s Creative Space.
The Golden Eagle show promises to be a fitting farewell: a set that swings between driving originals and playful covers, and an atmosphere charged with the band’s trademark energy.
Their decision to step back comes without drama, as they explained: “No big drama. It just feels like this one has run its natural course and everyone’s mutually agreed to move on.”
For Chester audiences, the gig is both a celebration and a goodbye.
A chance to honour a band that kept the city’s live circuit buzzing, and to witness the closing of a chapter in the local scene.
In true grassroots fashion, Little Beat Combo’s farewell is less about endings than about making space for the next wave of voices ready to step forward.
FOLLOW LITTLE BEAT COMBO:
Hollows Release New Single ‘Blood’
Manchester’s Hollows have unveiled ‘Blood’, a track that begins with a heartfelt intimacy before erupting into a full‑blown indie anthem.
Though based in Manchester, Hollows have strong ties to North Wales, with BBC Introducing support across the region and appearances at Wrexham’s FOCUS Wales festival and other local gigs.
Opening with tender vocals and restrained instrumentation, the song draws listeners into its emotional core, a moment of vulnerability that feels almost confessional.
But halfway through, the restraint gives way to urgency: guitars surge, drums drive harder, and the melody lifts into something expansive, defiant, and cathartic.
It’s this duality that makes ‘Blood’ so compelling.
Hollows capture the fragility of memory and emotion, then twist it into a communal release, the kind of chorus built for festival fields and late‑night singalongs.
The track sits comfortably alongside contemporaries like Sam Fender and Inhaler, yet it carries Hollows’ own regional edge…A reminder that our scene is producing music with both heart and bite.
With ‘Blood’, Hollows prove they’re not just writing songs; they’re writing moments that shift from private reflection to collective anthem, and in doing so, they’ve delivered one of their most powerful releases to date.
FOLLOW HOLLOWS:
INCOMING:
Tuesday 2nd: Radcliffe & Co – Storyhouse
Thursday 4th: Restless Bear Presents: Deh-Yey & Anti-Honey – Alexanders
Saturday 6th: The Electric Blues Factory – The Carlton Tavern
Saturday 6th: Jackie Oates & John Spiers – St Mary’s Creative Space
Friday 12th: Jesca Hoop – St Mary’s Creative Space
From last‑minute studio sparks to farewell gigs and fresh anthems, this edition has carried us through the full cycle of a scene in motion. The Zangwills reminded us how instinct can shape a song into something urgent and unforgettable. Little Beat Combo prepared to bow out with candour and rhythm, leaving behind nights that will echo long after their Golden Eagle farewell. And Hollows showed how vulnerability can erupt into big choruses, proving that the region’s sound is ready to roar.
Together, these stories remind us that the Northwest thrives on change — endings, beginnings, and the moments in between. Circl8 will keep tuning in, catching the pulse, and celebrating the voices that make this region’s music more than just sound: it’s memory, community, and momentum.
