Album out now: Westside Cowboy "It Goes On"
It Goes On arrives hot on the heels of three brilliantly received singles ‘Kick Stones (The Boys)’, ‘Pin Up Boys’ (A-Listed at BBC 6 Music and C-Listed at BBC Radio 1) and slacker-rock indebted groover ‘Dobro’, as well as an already iconic Later... With Jools Holland performance (one of the most viewed of the current series). Defiant and resistant focus track ‘Worried Age’ lands with the release, it’s a steadily escalating sonic offering marshalled by its raucous, screaming crescendo. In poignant release day timing, they take to the main stage at Green Man this afternoon for a set which promises to be a celebratory full-circle moment.
Speaking ahead of their debut LP’s arrival, Westside Cowboy explained:"Put simply, we wanted to make an album for our younger selves, one that reminds us of all the bodies of work that made us fall in love with music. We wanted the music to be instant, concise, and honest to us as people today. There will be plenty of time in the future for the sprawling triple album with horns and string sections but for now, it’s young music made by some young(ish) people. We want to make songs that are lean and imperfect. We’re really proud of it and we hope that you enjoy it.”
It Goes On was produced by Loren Humphrey (Geese, Cameron Winter, Wunderhorse) at Greenmount Studios in Leeds. Big feelings are at the heart of the matter: these are songs that aim to distill the confusion, desperation and blind hope of youth into eleven stirring tracks.
Westside Cowboy have always tried to focus on what unites people. Early on in the group’s life, they co-created No Band Is An Island: a Manchester-based collective putting on fundraising nights to spotlight both local artists and important issues via speakers from charities and direct action groups, and the video for the album’s lead single ‘Kick Stones (The Boys)’ was shot in collaboration with activist football club FC United of Manchester.
The quartet will be supporting the album release with their biggest headline tour to date this autumn/winter, with all UK dates now sold-out - including London’s O2 Forum Kentish Town and Manchester’s Albert Hall (full dates below). They have already packed out tents at Tramlines, Latitude and TRUCK this summer - and will also appear at Reading and Leeds later this month, as well as a run of limited record store shows around the LP’s release including a special sold out hometown show at New Century Hall with Piccadilly Records.
ABOUT WESTSIDE COWBOY
Described as “thrilling” by The Guardian, “reshaping UK indie” by DAZED, and “one of the UK’s most exciting forces” in an NME Cover feature, Westside Cowboy’s output so far showcases a band blessed with a telepathic synergy, and unafraid to take this coalescent magic outside their comfort zone.
The quartet recently came to mainstream attention with an instantly iconic Later... With Jools Holland performance, becoming one of the most talked about appearances of the series. This follows winning audiences over with their unrelenting energy, melodies and wistful guitars whilst supporting Brooklyn icons Geese, as well as a fully sold-out headline UK run in January/February, debut US dates in late 2025, and a tour with Black Country, New Road last October.
The group’s electric live shows have slingshotted them towards 1000 cap venues even before any mention of a debut album. This is establishing an immersive mythos, replete with ‘I was there’ credentials, and if-you-know-you-know moments. Last summer’s packed-out festival stages including at Glastonbury, Green Man and End of The Road are evidence of an outfit striking the core of the scene.
The band’s two EPs so far - So Much Country ‘Till We Get There (Jan ‘26 / Adventure Recordings) and This Better Be Something Great (August ‘25 / Heist or Hit), spawned singles which landed on BBC 6 Music’s playlist and saw support on BBC Radio 1 from Greg James, Sian Eleri, Alyx Holcombe, and more.
Westside Cowboy is Reuben Haycocks (guitar, vocals), James (Jimmy) Bradbury (guitar, vocals), Aoife Anson O’Connell (bass guitar, vocals), Paddy Murphy (drums, vocals)
It Goes On Artwork
It Goes On Tracklisting
2. Paperchains
3. Dobro
4. Well Done Kid, You Did It
5. Worried Age
6. Big Wheels
7. Pin Up Boys
8. Coyote
9. Patchwork
10. Take My Leaving As I Love You
11. You Could Have Died There On The Dancefloor
LIVE DATES
- 21.08 - Green Man, Wales, UK
- 28.08 - Leeds Festival, Leeds, UK
- 29.08 - Rock N Roll Circus, Sheffield UK
- 30.08 - Reading Festival, Reading, UK
- 24.09 - Whelan’s, Dublin, Ireland (Sold-Out)
- 28.10 - Doornroosje, Nijmegen, Netherlands (Sold Out)
- 29.10 - Paradiso THT, Amsterdam, Netherlands (Sold Out)
- 30.10 - Helios37, Cologne, Germany
- 01.11 - Voxhall, Aarhus, Denmark
- 02.11 - John Dee, Oslo, Norway
- 03.11 - Debaser, Stockholm, Sweden
- 05.11 - Lille Vega, Copenhagen, Denmark
- 06.11 - Lido, Berlin, Germany
- 07.11 - Bike Jesus, Prague, Czechia
- 09.11 - Arci Bellezza, Milan, Italy
- 10.11 - Exil, Zurich, Switzerland
- 12.11 - Botanique (Museum), Brussels, Belgium (Sold Out)
- 13.11 - Petit Bain, Paris, France (Sold Out)
- 14.11 - Aeronef, Lille, France
- 24.11 - St Lukes, Glasgow, United Kingdom (Sold Out)
- 25.11 - NUSU, Newcastle, United Kingdom (Sold Out)
- 26.11 - Crookes Social Club, Sheffield, United Kingdom (Sold Out)
- 27.11 - Irish Centre, Leeds, United Kingdom (Sold Out)
- 29.11 - XOYO, Birmingham, United Kingdom (Sold Out)
- 30.11 - 1865, Southampton, United Kingdom (sold Out)
- 01.12 - Chalk, Brighton, United Kingdom (Sold Out)
- 02.12 - O2 Forum Kentish Town, London, United Kingdom (Sold Out)
- 04.12 - Electric Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom (Sold Out)
- 05.12 - Albert Hall, Manchester, United Kingdom (Sold Out)
