Music
Support Act: the summer edition
Don't miss these top acts opening for your favourite band in the coming weeks
We’ve all been guilty of it, the mental gymnastics of working how long you’ll have to rush to the venue after work, cram a Pret a Manger down you for dinner and meet your friend for a drink or two before getting into the venue just before the headliner walks on at nine.
But there’s a lot to be said for getting down to your next show early. Forget the stress of carving your way through crowds to find some sort of view of the singer. Get a lay of lands so you know your bars from your toilets and cloakrooms. Above all, catch the support act. It’s often one handpicked by the headliner you’re here to see, or a local act you never know existed, one that’ll likely be a headliner of their own in a year or two.
With a summer of outdoor concerts already kicking off with a heatwave, here are just a few of our highly recommended support acts opening your favourite artist in the coming weeks.
Cherryholt
Supporting Bastille & The Wombats at Crystal Palace Bowl on Thursday 13 August – find tickets here
There’s an easy confidence to Cherryholt’s nostalgic indie rock that makes them feel like a band on the cusp. Blending driving guitars with introspective songwriting, the Lincolnshire band strike a sweet spot between heart-on-sleeve emotion and festival-ready hooks. Lead vocalist Reuben Baskerville’s falsetto sounds especially gorgeous on latest single ‘flies’. Based on their growing live reputation, don’t expect them to be playing support slots for long.
Tyler Ballgame
For all the lush, lived-in charm of Tyler Ballgame’s recordings, there’s a heartwarming sweetness to this soul that needs to be experienced live – especially outdoors in all the glory of summer. His debut album For The First Time, Again was released at the start of the year and introduced the world to a voice that soars high above 70s-inspired, life-affirming folk rock tunes like ‘I Believe In Love’.
Jimothy Lacoste
Jimothy Lacoste has been quite the enigma for some time now, his understated and quirky manner and lo-fi take on bedroom pop leading the Guardian to ask in 2019: “Is rapper Jimothy Lacoste for real?” The fact the North London artist is still thriving proves his deadpan lyricism, off-kilter humour and deceptively catchy DIY production are far more than a novelty.
Katy J Pearson
With her melodic and sun-soaked country pop singalongs, it’s hard to think of a better support act for CMAT this summer than her good pal Katy J Pearson. The Bristol-based artist has a knack for songs that gently build with driving drums and dreamy atmospherics to big, cathartic choruses.
Los Bitchos
Supporting Wet Leg at Alexandra Palace Park on Monday 10 July – find tickets here
Featuring members from Sweden, Australia, Uruguay and the UK, Los Bitchos are as unpredictable as they are international. Their latest singe ‘Is This Real’ sees the all-female group take on a tech-house direction, though most of their music centres around cumbia and surf rock with a playful and psychedelic edge.
Florence Road
Supporting Wolf Alice at Finsbury Park on Sunday 5 July – find tickets here
Florence Road were one of the buzziest acts at The Great Escape festival last year, which is why they made our Ticketmaster Fresh list for 2026. The Irish four-piece seem to be just as happy writing a shimmering, stadium-filling pop ballad (‘Miss’) as they are a punchy alt. rock anthem (‘Hanging Out To Dry’). Whatever the song, be prepared to sing it back at full volume.
The Big Moon
Supporting Alanis Morissette at Scarborough Open Air Theatre on Sunday 5 July – find tickets here
The Big Moon have spent the last decade proving themselves as one of the UK’s most reliable indie bands, pairing infectious riffs with sharp songwriting and irresistible harmonies. Nominated for the Mercury Prize back in 2017, their sound has evolved from punchy guitar anthems into something richer and more expansive, without losing the energy that makes them such a brilliant live act.
