Full Breakdown
Westside Cowboy’s Debut Album “It Goes On” Hits the Indie Scene
8/24/2026, 8:53:40 PM
Release and Core Details
Manchester-based indie quartet Westside Cowboy released their debut album It Goes On in August 2026. The four-piece—Jimmy Bradbury (vocals, guitar), Reuben Haycocks (vocals, guitar), Aoife Anson-O’Connell (vocals, bass) and Paddy Murphy (vocals, drums)—formed in 2023 while studying at the Royal Northern College of Music. By 2025 they had won Glastonbury’s Emerging Talent competition, supported the American band Geese on a UK-Ireland tour, and signed to a major label. The album follows two well-received EPs and three pre-release singles: “Kick Stones (The Boys)”, “Pin Up Boys” and “Dobro”.
Background & Context
Westside Cowboy’s sound is self-described as “Britainicana,” a blend of American-style country-folk mythos with raw British punk and indie rock. Their early demos, released on the EP *This Better Be Something Great*, attracted label interest and set the stage for their Glastonbury win. The band’s ethos emphasizes analogue habits—brick phones, cassette decks and MP3 players—and a deliberate reduction of screen time, a stance voiced by members as a way to “free up headspace” and avoid digital addiction.
Data & Statistics
- Formed: 2023
- Emerging Talent win (Glastonbury): 2025
- Debut album release: August 2026
- Critical scores: four-star to five-star reviews from Rolling Stone UK, NME, Clash, DIY, Far Out and Stereogum (as reported by the band’s press).
- Tour highlights: performances at Tramlines (Sheffield), Later… With Jools Holland, and a headline slot at New Century Hall.
Official Statements & Responses
Band members stress a low-pressure approach to the record. Anson-O’Connell described constant screen exposure as “stifling creatively and personally isolating,” reinforcing the group’s analogue preference.
The band also runs a charity night, No Band Is an Island, featuring left-wing speakers and raising funds for Medical Aid for Palestine.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Reviews differ on the impact of the mid-album track “Big Wheels.” BeatsPerMinute calls it a “mis-step” that disrupts momentum, while The IndieScene praises its “serene guitars” and likens Bradbury’s performance to “late John Lennon.” No consensus emerges on whether the track weakens or enriches the album’s flow.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Nerves are just your mind telling you that you’re about to do something extraordinary,” — Simon Le Bon
What’s Next
Westside Cowboy has announced a forthcoming UK tour supporting the album, with dates to be confirmed later in 2026. They also plan to expand the No Band Is an Island series to additional venues, continuing fundraising for Palestinian medical aid.
