THE FRONT ROW

Welcome back to our ongoing 250 Artists That Will Break Out by 2028 series. This time we’re diving into the letter H, shining a spotlight on ten artists whose sounds and stories demand attention right now. From the gritty post-hardcore intensity of Hidden Mothers to the surf-pop charm of Hunny Buzz, this batch covers a wide spectrum of styles and regions, but what unites them is an undeniable momentum and a readiness to break out. Whether it’s the raw energy of Hearts, the soulful songwriting of Harriet Rose, or the boundary-pushing sonic worlds of Hydra Fashion Week, these artists are shaping the next wave of music to watch.

Hidden Mothers

Hidden Mothers don’t so much write songs as they sculpt emotional landscapes, vast, unflinching, and unafraid of darkness. Emerging from Sheffield’s underground, they quickly set themselves apart with a sound that draws on post-black metal’s widescreen intensity and screamo’s raw catharsis. There’s the crushing weight of Amenra, the shimmering melancholy of Alcest, the jagged urgency of Converge, but stitched together with their own sense of narrative flow, where every track feels like a journey through light and shadow.

Their 2024 album Erosion / Avulsion showcased that vision in full. Across its sprawling tracks, they lean into dynamic extremes: fragile, almost ambient passages bloom into towering walls of distortion before collapsing back into moments of aching stillness. It’s a record best experienced in one sitting, allowing the push and pull to wash over you. Live, that same balance of tension and release hits even harder. The band’s performances are physical, visceral experiences, not in the sense of chaos for chaos’ sake, but in a way that draws every ounce of emotion from both audience and band.

Hidden Mothers prove that heavy music can be brutal without losing its beauty, and beautiful without softening its punch. They’re a rare example of a band who can satisfy genre purists while still opening the door to those curious enough to step into the storm.

FFO: Deafheaven, Oathbreaker, Holy Fawn
Start With: Erosion / Avulsion

Heavy Weather

In less than two years, Heavy Weather have gone from fresh-faced newcomers to one of Scotland’s most talked-about rising acts. Formed in 2023, they wasted no time in building momentum, selling out shows at King Tut’s, La Belle Angele, Nice n’ Sleazy, and headlining a packed Sneaky Pete’s. Their sound draws from Kasabian’s swagger, Fontaines D.C.’s grit, and Radiohead’s atmospheric depth, but the magic lies in how they blend those influences into something distinctly theirs.

Debut EP And Now The Weather, released in April 2025, captures the balance they’ve perfected live, moody, slow-burn verses breaking into anthemic, fist-in-the-air choruses built for festival crowds. Each track feels like a slice of the live experience, from the basslines that rumble in your chest to the hooks that lodge themselves in your head for days.

The past year has been a statement of intent. BBC Introducing Scotland have already given them playlist love, This Feeling named them as part of their “Big in ’25” list, and they’ve stepped onto major festival stages, including a debut at the Isle of Wight. Yet for all their upward momentum, there’s still a rawness to Heavy Weather, a refusal to sand down the edges that makes them unpredictable in the best way.

Catch them now and you’ll get the thrill of seeing a band at full sprint, chasing something big and already halfway there.

FFO: Kasabian, Fontaines D.C., Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
Start With: And Now The Weather

Harriet Rose

Some artists grow into the stage; Harriet Rose was born on it. Gigging since the age of 12, she’s spent more than a decade shaping her craft, and it shows in every note she sings. Her voice, warm yet powerful, capable of turning a whisper into a roar, is paired with sharp guitar hooks and lyrics that blend personal storytelling with universal relatability. Whether playing in a tiny bar or under festival lights, she has that rare ability to make the space feel intimate.

Her sound draws as much from the records her dad raised her on, The Smiths, Fairground Attraction, Beautiful South, as from the modern indie acts she discovered herself. The result is a style that feels timeless: the melodic sensibility of vintage pop married to the emotional honesty of contemporary singer-songwriters.

Recent years have been a blur of highlights. She’s toured with names like Peter Doherty, Andrew Cushin, and The Lottery Winners, played major slots at Tramlines and Rock N Roll Circus, and been in the studio with Ed Cosens of Reverend And The Makers. But Harriet’s artistry runs deeper than the songs, she’s a self-managed, “360” artist who takes charge of every creative and strategic decision. That DIY ethic gives her music a grounded authenticity, even when she’s delivering the kind of choruses that could fill far bigger rooms.

With momentum building, Harriet Rose feels like one of those rare artists you’ll brag about seeing early, before everyone else caught on.

FFO: The Smiths, First Aid Kit, Lucy Rose
Start With: Love Me Like That

Hearts

Some bands take years to find their footing; Hearts were sprinting from the first note. Born from a chance meeting in Gothenburg, the trio of Jesper Jansson, Rob Hall, and Johan Reiman quickly realised they shared a love for guitar-driven music that thrives on urgency. With members split between the UK and Sweden, their early sessions were built on a mutual respect for the grit and energy of the 2000s indie rock boom,The Strokes, Arctic Monkeys, The Libertines, but injected with the rawer edges of punk and the melodic bite of modern indie.

Their decision to record live wasn’t just aesthetic, it’s a commitment to bottling the lightning of their stage presence. Tracks crackle with the imperfections that make great bands feel human, capturing the chemistry between players who know how to push each other higher. Debuting across both the Swedish and UK scenes in 2023, they quickly gained a reputation for shows that leave no one standing still, tight, infectious, and charged with an almost reckless sense of fun.

With their third EP set to land in 2025, Hearts are already planning a run of gigs designed to pull in new audiences while keeping loyal fans close. If the early signs are anything to go by, it’ll be a year of bigger crowds, louder rooms, and the kind of moments that turn first-time listeners into lifers.

FFO: The Strokes, The Libertines, The Vaccines
Start With: In Over Our Heads

Hannah Mazey

Hannah Mazey’s rise has been quietly unstoppable. In just a couple of years, the Wigan-born singer-songwriter has gone from local favourite to a name championed by BBC Radio, XS Manchester, and Fresh on the Net, with her latest single Little Boys adding to a growing catalogue that’s racked up more than 70,000 streams. It’s not hard to see why, her songs fuse sharp Northern wit with a melodic instinct that makes every chorus stick.

Her influences are as varied as her setlists, spanning the confessional lyricism of Nieve Ella, the harmonies of Boygenius, and the playful bite of Lily Allen. That blend makes for music that can shift from soulful balladry to driving indie-pop without losing its voice, all anchored by her distinctively Northern delivery.

2024 saw her step further into the spotlight, making her live radio debut on BBC Merseyside with Dave Monks and announcing a BBC Introducing slot at Liverpool’s legendary Cavern Club. She’s already spent the past two years cutting her teeth in venues across London, Liverpool, and Manchester, where every gig adds another layer of polish to a live show that thrives on connection.

With new singles planned for release in 2025, including Rent Free which dropped last month, Hannah Mazey isn’t just gathering momentum, she’s shaping into an artist with the potential to cross from cult favourite to mainstream name without losing the intimacy that got her noticed.

FFO: Nieve Ella, Boygenius, Lily Allen
Start With: Rent Free

Honeycub

Honeycub have been part of the new wave of heavy guitar bands proving that the North’s alt-rock heart is beating as hard as ever. Formed in Leeds in 2018 by Ollie Wilson (vocals/guitar), Eddie Dawson (bass) and Charlie Lord (drums), they channel the raw power of ‘90s alternative and grunge, layering it with modern alt textures that keep things fresh. The riffs are thick, the choruses huge, and the energy unrelenting, a melting (honey) pot of influences that nod to the past while locking eyes on the future.

They’ve quickly built a reputation on the live circuit, supporting scene favourites and earning their place through tight, sweat-soaked sets that match precision with pure volume. Singles like Waking Up have shown they can bring the hooks in the studio too, landing on multiple Spotify editorial playlists and clocking up over 70,000 streams. Key tastemakers such as Emily Pilbeam (BBC Introducing Yorkshire) and Elise Cobain (Amazon Music) have championed their work, giving them a foothold in both grassroots and digital spaces.

Now armed with a batch of tracks written during the pandemic and produced by Alex Loring (Arcane Roots, Milk Teeth, Dream State), Honeycub are stepping into their next phase. The new material is leaner, louder, and built to carry them onto bigger stages, and with the current appetite for unapologetically guitar-driven music, the timing couldn’t be better.

FFO: Arcane Roots, Biffy Clyro, Nirvana
Start With: Thank God

Harri Larkin

In Sheffield’s thriving music scene, Harri Larkin has carved out her own lane, one built on eclectic influences, big-hearted songwriting, and a fearlessly authentic voice. Fronting a band made up of drummer Danton Laromani, backing vocalist Abi Middleton, guitarist Tom Wylie and bassist Millie Hampson, Harri blends the funk-tinged groove of Red Hot Chili Peppers, the punky bite of Paramore, and the soulfulness of Corinne Bailey Rae into something entirely her own.

An openly LGBTQ+ artist, she folds personal truth into every song, which makes her live performances feel both intimate and electric. That connection with audiences helped her win John Kennedy’s (Radio X) pick for Tramlines’ “Apply to Play” competition in 2023, earning a headline set on the Library Stage. Festival slots at Truck, Victorious, Isle of Wight, and Sheffield’s Rock N Roll Circus followed, the latter alongside Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds.
Her debut album Beach City turned heads in 2022, with every track championed on BBC Introducing Sheffield and even an invitation to open Tramlines Main Stage. Now, 2025 brings a new chapter with the Slowburn EP, led by singles The Old Days and Too Close To The Sun, both picking up “Track of the Week” on BBC Introducing Sheffield and Leeds, alongside spins on Radio X.

With more festivals in 2025 including, Y-Not, On The Meadow, and Out Out Festival, Harri Larkin is proving that honest songwriting and an unshakable live presence can take you far, and she’s only just getting started.

FFO: Paramore, Corinne Bailey Rae, Beabadoobee
Start With: Too Close To The Sun

Hunny Buzz

Hunny Buzz are the sound of sunshine with shadows, a band who balance shimmering indie-pop hooks with lyrical honesty that isn’t afraid to sting. Led by vocalist Lyd Read, whose delivery can pivot from breezy to bruised in a heartbeat, they’ve built their identity on exploring the push-and-pull of love, loss, and the relief that comes from finally letting go. Their breakout single Now I Can Get Over You encapsulates that blend perfectly, a surf-pop chorus riding atop bittersweet verses, capturing the moment two people drift apart and accept it’s over.

BBC Introducing’s James Threlfall quickly championed the track, and the band have since attracted the ears of BBC Radio 1’s Gemma Bradley, while also landing a spot on Channel 4’s Made In Chelsea. It’s a testament to their ability to write songs that resonate in headphones and on festival fields alike. That live energy has been honed through support slots with Vistas, Sofy, and Overpass, plus appearances at Truck, 2000Trees, and Dot to Dot.

Their debut EP Welcome to Our Garden arrived in 2024, showing a band unafraid to expand their palette without losing the immediacy that makes them so addictive. With only a handful of releases to their name, Hunny Buzz have already been called “one of the best indie bands in Bristol” (Clunk Magazine), and it’s hard to disagree. They’re proof that you don’t need a huge catalogue to make a big impact, just the right songs and the conviction to play them like you mean it.

FFO: Alvvays, The Beths, Billy Nomates
Start With: Now I Can Get Over You

Hydra Fashion Week

Hydra Fashion Week don’t just play gigs, they create worlds. This Melbourne collective, led by Charlie Teitelbaum (Huntly), fold together a dizzying range of styles into what they call “spiritual hyper-punk,” a label that feels both oddly specific and gloriously open-ended. With bandmates Matt Roche (Soft Power), Jasper Evans (Eaglemont), and Em Chen (Cry Club, Erin Will Be Mad), they channel the chaos of no-wave, the improvisational rush of free jazz, the neon rush of hyper-pop, and the propulsive intensity of drum & bass, often all within the same song.

Their live shows have become the stuff of local legend, described by themusic.com.au as “indescribable and unbelievable” and singled out by Triple J’s Abby Butler as “one of the most exciting live acts in the Melbourne scene.” That reputation has landed them support slots for Full Flower Moon Band, Cry Club, and Party Dozen, and in 2024, their debut album Serpent Season One pushed their artistry further still.

The record isn’t just a collection of tracks, it’s a fully-fledged universe, built through layered sonic textures, cryptic lyrical narratives, and a fearless approach to genre. Recognition has poured in: Independent Artist of the Week titles from both FBi and SYN FM, features in The Guardian, NME, and Pilerats, playlisting across Spotify and Apple Music, and spins as far afield as Seattle’s iconic KEXP. A sold-out album launch and a run of shows at Long Jetty Festival, Bigsound, and SXSW Sydney cemented their status as one of Australia’s most adventurous new acts.

FFO: Black Country, New Road; Cry Club; The Garden
Start With: Don’t Stop

Hot Joy

St. Louis might not always be the first place people name when talking about America’s indie-rock hotbeds, but Hot Joy are making a convincing case for changing that. Formed by vocalist/guitarist Austin McCutchen, bassist Nicole Bonura, guitarist Curt Oschner, and drummer Wil McCarthy, the four-piece are as tight-knit as they are explosive. They channel the energy of college rock’s golden age while keeping a modern alt-rock sensibility, weaving together catchy vocal hooks, taut rhythms, and the kind of guitar interplay that makes you instinctively nod along.

Their debut single Fingers On My Side is a sharp introduction, equal parts melody and muscle. It’s got that driving pulse that feels built for sweaty small venues and late-night festival slots, with McCutchen’s vocal delivery alternating between raw urgency and anthemic clarity. The band’s sound nods to the likes of The Replacements and R.E.M., but there’s a freshness here that plants them firmly in the present Midwest scene rather than trapped in nostalgia.

Hot Joy’s live shows are quickly becoming the stuff of local legend, blending sheer energy with a precision that makes every chorus land harder. They’re the kind of band you can imagine watching from the barrier one year, then catching on a much bigger stage the next. With the songwriting chops already on display and a debut EP in the works, they’re on the cusp of breaking beyond the city limits.

FFO: The Replacements, R.E.M., The Hold Steady
Start With: Quality Control

That’s your full dose of H for this chapter of 250 Artists That Will Break Out by 2028. As these artists continue to grow their audiences and hone their craft, they’re proof that 2025 and beyond will be bursting with fresh talent ready to make waves. Stay tuned for the next instalment where we’ll jump into the letter I and introduce another ten names poised for breakout success. Keep your ears open, the future is loud, and it’s coming fast.