Off The Beaten Track - Music they don't play on the radio

Chris Whomersley

Off the Beaten Track is a cool, understated dive into the world of indie, rock, and guitar-driven music — the tracks you won’t hear on mainstream radio, but should. Each episode uncovers new artists, hidden gems, deep cuts, and the stories behind the songs. Whether it’s fresh releases, overlooked albums, or timeless riffs that slipped under the radar, this is the place for curious listeners who love discovering something different. If you’re searching for music with character, edge, and heart, step off the beaten path and press play.

Episodes

  1. Ones to watch

    May 27

    Ones to watch

    This week’s episode is all about bands that feel like they’re right on the edge of something bigger. The kind of artists you discover in a tiny venue or late-night playlist and immediately want to tell people about before they blow up. We’ve got shimmering indie from Freight, huge energy from Arkayla, and the cinematic atmosphere of Dakota Avenue. Harvey Jay Dodgson brings pure heart-on-sleeve songwriting with Caroline, while The Public Eye and The Runaway Club deliver the sort of infectious hooks that stay in your head for days. Elsewhere, Bleech 93 crash through with Cannonball, Fog Bandits lean darker and moodier on Vile, and Headwired bring a swirling alt-rock edge with Carousel. Freddie Halkon’s Girl in the Smoking Area feels like a snapshot from a messy night out, while The Assist keep things sharp and anthemic with What’s Best for Me. There’s dreamy colour and late-night neon running through CRUZ’s Disco Coloured Beams, big emotion from The Harbours and Florentenes, and absolute chaos in the best way from Panic Shack’s The Ick. Honey Motel slow things down beautifully with If You Didn’t Exist, before Balancing Act, Shangrlas and The Publics close things out with style, swagger and a serious sense of fun. If you’re into discovering new bands before everyone else catches on, this episode’s packed with names worth keeping an eye on. Indie, alt-pop, post-punk, dreamwave — it’s all here, and every track feels like the start of something.

    1h 14m
  2. Happy

    Apr 23

    Happy

    In this episode of Off The Beaten Track, we bring together a collection of uplifting indie tracks that capture those moments you don’t want to end — late nights, early mornings, and everything in between. It’s not forced positivity or overproduced chart hits… just real music that naturally lifts your mood. From sun-soaked melodies to carefree, danceable rhythms, Happy is built to feel like a good day — the kind that sneaks up on you and stays with you. Featuring artists like The Kasms, Sam Scherdel, The Lilacs, CVC, Vistas, and The Lathums, this episode blends energy, nostalgia, and emotion into one seamless listen. If you’re looking for music that makes you feel something — without hearing the same songs everyone else is playing — you’re in the right place. Music they don’t play on the radio.

    59 min
  3. OTBT Interviews Harvey Jay Dodgson

    Mar 25

    OTBT Interviews Harvey Jay Dodgson

    This week on Off The Beaten Track, I’m joined by the brilliant Harvey Jay Dodgson for an interview you genuinely don’t want to miss. We talk about his journey into music, the reality of being an independent artist, songwriting, gigs, influences, and a load of stories and moments you won’t hear anywhere else. It’s honest, funny, interesting, and a proper look behind the curtain at life as a musician. If you’re into new music, guitar music, discovering artists before everyone else, or you just enjoy a good conversation, this is the episode for you. Go and listen to my interview with Harvey Jay Dodgson now on Off The Beaten Track, available on all podcast platforms.

    44 min

  4. Mar 2

    Heavier

    Episode 5: Heavier This time on Off the Beaten Track, we turn the volume up and the mood darker. Heavier dives into the grit — thicker riffs, pounding drums, raw vocals, and that edge-of-the-stage energy that makes your chest rattle a bit. From hard-hitting indie to full-throttle alternative and post-punk bite, this episode is built around tracks that carry weight. Not just louder — but deeper, darker, and more intense. The kind of songs that don’t just soundtrack your day… they take it over. If you like your guitars snarling, your basslines rumbling, and your choruses shouted rather than sung, this one’s for you. Strap in. It’s getting loud.

    1h 11m
  5. Females

    Feb 5

    Females

    Episode 4 - Females This episode is a full-throttle wander through the global underground: girl-fronted indie, post-punk edges, shout-along choruses, and bands that feel like they should already be headlining your local venue. From Stoke to Sydney, Cardiff to Canberra, Nottingham to New Zealand — this is discovery hour. New favourites, future festival names, and songs that sound better the louder you play them. One band even came via my daughter Emily… and yes, she was right. 🎧 Featured in this episode: Lissy Taylor — Jealous (Stoke-on-Trent)Cody Frost — Violence (Burnley)Spyres — Hated You First (Glasgow)Girlband! — 21st Century Suffragette (Nottingham)Dirty Blonde — Rage (Make Me Feel Pretty) (Manchester)Karen Dio — Cut Your Hair (Brazil/UK)Swim School — Alone With You (Edinburgh)Air Drawn Dagger — You Should Have Known Better (Sheffield)Panic Shack — Girl Band Starter Pack (Cardiff)Ditzy Dog — Volatile (Sydney)Hana Lili — Ur Girlfriend’s a Lawyer (Wales)The Pill — Money Mullet (Isle of Wight)Ally Evenson — Lucky Day (Detroit)Girl Tones — Burnout (Kentucky)The Tivolis — One on One (Rotherham)Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers — Balcony (Canberra)Alt Blk Era — My Drummer’s Girlfriend (Nottingham)The Beths — Straight Line Was a Lie (New Zealand)Martina and the Moons — Emigrate (Dublin)📬 Get involved Got a band I should hear? Send tips, demos, and gig shout-outs to otbtuk@gmail.com Follow along for playlists, clips, and new episodes: 📸 Instagram — @otbt.uk 📘 Facebook — Off the Beaten Track 🔥 About the show Off the Beaten Track is a podcast digging up new and emerging guitar bands from across the UK and beyond — the ones playing small rooms now but not for long. New episodes regularly. Go find a gig.

    1h 7m
  6. Different

    Jan 6

    Different

    Episode 3: Different — Taking the Long Way Round For episode three of Off the Beaten Track, we’re doing things a little… different. This one’s about stepping off the familiar path and seeing where it leads — mixing sounds, moods, and ideas that don’t always sit neatly in one place. Expect curveballs, left turns, and tracks that might take a moment to click, but reward you when they do. Some of these songs bend genres, some blur the edges, and some just refuse to play by the usual rules. It’s music for open ears and curious minds — the kind that grows on you, sticks with you, and feels better the longer you listen. Take your time with this one. Let it unfold.

    52 min
  7. Lighter

    12/04/2025

    Lighter

    Episode 2: Lighter — The Tracks That Lift You Up In this second episode of Off the Beaten Track, we’re shifting gears and easing into a lighter mood. Today’s playlist is built around tracks that brighten the edges — songs with warmth, bounce, and that subtle lift that sneaks up on you. From feel-good indie gems to smooth, melodic standouts, these tunes might not hit as hard as the belters, but they shine just as brightly. Whether you’re looking for something to soundtrack a slow morning, a late-night unwind, or just a moment of escape, this episode brings the kind of music that lets you breathe a little easier. Settle in — it’s time to float for a while.

    43 min
  8. Belters!

    11/19/2025

    Belters!

    Episode 1: Belters — The Ones That Hit You Straight Away In this first episode of Off the Beaten Track, we kick things off with a selection of absolute belters — the kind of tracks that grab you in the first few seconds and don’t let go. From indie heavy-hitters to guitar-led anthems you might have missed, this episode is all about songs with instant punch, unforgettable hooks, and that undeniable “turn it up” feeling. Whether you’re discovering something new or reconnecting with a favourite, these are the tunes built for volume and meant to be felt. Strap in — we’re starting with a bang.

    40 min
  • 8 Episodes

About

Off the Beaten Track is a cool, understated dive into the world of indie, rock, and guitar-driven music — the tracks you won’t hear on mainstream radio, but should. Each episode uncovers new artists, hidden gems, deep cuts, and the stories behind the songs. Whether it’s fresh releases, overlooked albums, or timeless riffs that slipped under the radar, this is the place for curious listeners who love discovering something different. If you’re searching for music with character, edge, and heart, step off the beaten path and press play.

Information