Leicester’s indie scene has a new name gathering serious momentum.
After a string of BBC Introducing plays and a standout live session at Nottingham’s Metronome, The Shotts – a five-piece outfit fronted by songwriter Josh Taylor have been tipped as a BBC Introducing “One to Watch” for 2026 – a recognition that could mark the start of something special for the city.
Picture credit: The Shotts
“It means the world,” says Taylor. “It means we’re getting recognised for the songs we write.
“BBC Introducing have given us a real platform, and we’re so grateful for that.”
The endorsement follows consistent radio support across the Midlands, with almost every single the band have released earning airtime. Their breakout moment came with Lucky Lad, the track that pushed them firmly onto the BBC Introducing radar. Taylor reveals he wrote seven different versions before settling on the final cut – the first time he had ever reworked a song so extensively.
“I’ve never done that before,” he admits. “Usually I write a song and that’s it. But with that one, I kept exploring it. I’m glad I did.”
That willingness to refine and evolve has become central to the band’s identity. While Taylor lays the foundations – lyrics and melody – the rest of the group build the sound collaboratively, layering guitars, rhythms and harmonies into something bigger than the sum of its parts.
The band’s origins feel almost fated. Taylor first met bassist Josh “Fretts” Fretter at a Stone Roses tribute gig. They lost touch, only to reconnect a year later through lead guitarist Luke (Troake) while both were in Rome watching Leicester City. A jam session followed, and what began as chance encounters soon solidified into a unified creative force. Now completed by drummer Caleb and 18-year-old Riley, the group describe themselves as ambitious, driven and tightly bonded.
Live performance has accelerated their rise. Their BBC Introducing session at the Metronome in April 2025 – complete with multiple TV cameras and a livestream audience – was, Taylor says, a dream come true. “I didn’t want it to end.” They have since supported the Antarctic Monkeys in Derby and played a series of festival slots, with their sights firmly set on bigger stages in 2026.
Musically, the band draw inspiration from The Beatles, Oasis, The Stone Roses and Arctic Monkeys – a lineage of melodic British guitar music rooted in hooks and optimism. Recent single Phantom Punks Café delivered a punchy, infectious indie anthem, while upcoming release Racing the Night Away promises jangling guitars, layered harmonies and high-energy momentum.
“There’s no pressure,” Taylor insists. “We just feel the need to keep growing and getting better.”
With BBC backing, a growing catalogue of radio-ready singles and an unmistakable belief in their trajectory, Leicester may just have found its next breakout indie success story. For 2026, they are firmly one to watch.
Follow them at: www.instagram.com/theshottsband
