Music Republic Magazine: Our “Best Of 2025” is here… Just a few days ahead of our ninth birthday on 15/12/25 and with yet another year of music soon on its way out, we announce our “Best Of 2025” round-up. For new music, live music, established bands/artists and exciting new finds, we think it has been a pretty decent year.
Music Republic Magazine’s contributors – a great bunch of talented writers and photographers spread across the UK and overseas – each came up with a definitive list of their personal “Best Of 2025”, before the editor’s own choices and the final list was decided upon…
The categories are: Best Album, Best EP, Best Live Act, Best Festival, Best Male Artist, Best Female Artist, Best Band, Best New Band, Best New Artist, Best Live Album, Best Guitarist, Best Acoustic Artist, Best Book, Best Music Video, Best Producer, Best Song/Songwriters. Plus our “Lifetime Achievement” accolade…
BEST ALBUM
SMITH & LIDDLE: SONGS FOR THE DESERT
Smith & Liddle: “Songs For The Desert” is a real surprise precious diamond sparkling in the sand. The original songs. The to-die-for lush close harmonies. The guitar work. The production.
This is a rare gem and when you hear it, you will think of the very best in 1970s West Coast soul and AOR; an unashamedly bucket full of nostalgia harking back to legendary stars of Laurel Canyon; to Fleetwood Mac and to the likes of America, The Doobie Brothers and Crosby, Stills and Nash. But these gifted guys are not from across the pond at all; nope. UK duo Smith and Liddle are Billy Smith and Elizabeth Liddle from the Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire area>
They worked with producer Josh Ingledew [big props to you, sir!] to record nine self-penned songs that blend soft rock, West Coast soul and 60s/70s beats for their debut album “Songs For The Desert” – which dropped in October 2025 via Germany’s Légère Recordings. It really is a gorgeous piece of work. Our well deserved “Album Of The Year” 2025.
BEST EP
LEWIS CAPALDI: “SURVIVE”
He’s back and in fine form with the EP “Survive” – out in November this year. The Scottish global star Lewis Capaldi has spent two years away from the music business until his recent critically acclaimed return to touring – 17 sold-out UK arenas – and now he drops some of the best work of his career including the raw, cathartic, and unflinchingly honest emotional anthem, “The Day That I Die”, which has quickly became a standout moment of his live set, moving fans and Capaldi himself, to tears.
Written about a time when, in his own words onstage, “I didn’t think I would be here anymore,” the song captures Capaldi at his most vulnerable. “On the day that I die, tell my mother I was smiling ‘cause I know that she’ll be crying,” he sings, in a gut-wrenching depiction. The EP “Survive” features all four tracks he has released this year. Post-breakup anthem, “Almost,” soul-stirring “Something In The Heavens,” title track “Survive”, and the astounding “The Day That I Die”.
Lewis will return stateside for his biggest North American headline tour to date set to launch April 15th, 2026. He also announces his biggest UK and Ireland headline shows to date. Kicking off next summer at Dublin’s Marlay Park, eight outdoor headline shows including London’s BST Hyde Park on July 11th and 12th. He will also return to the festival stage and is set to headline Isle Of Wight and Latitude, before headlining Glasgow’s TRNSMT.
BEST MALE ARTIST
YUNGBLUD
“Two number one albums are the cherry on top of a f**king crazy, emotional rollercoaster of a year. Bring on 2026!” So says the amazing 28-year-old Yorkshire lad Dominic Richard Harrison, aka pop-punk phenomenon Yungblud.
What a year 2025 has been for him. You can read about a few of his slew of achievements and accolades on the artwork below. And our crystal ball tells us he will sweep the boards at the 2026 BRIT awards next year, on the 28th February – to be held at Manchester’s Co Op Live Arena, the first time the ceremony will be hosted outside of London. Our shoo-in for Male Artist of The Year 2025.
BEST FEMALE ARTIST
BEA AND HER BUSINESS
B is for brilliant. B is for Bea and her Business. This gifted and unique artist is our big tip to become a superstar arena-filler; if the size of her talent as a songwriter and singer are any barometer. She is inspired by Lilly Allen as a songwriter.
Bea Wheeler rose to prominence in 2023 with her single “Born to Be Alive”, which reached more than 38 million Spotify streams as of November 2025. The 21-year-old posted videos of covers to Tik Tok when she was 16, and at 19 she signed a major record deal with Warner Music UK.
From Buckinghamshire, the daughter of parents who are both founders of successful retail businesses, Bea was nominated as ‘Rising Star’ at the very prestigious Ivor Novello Awards in May 2025, which was won by Lola Young. Bea has released two EPs: “Introverted Extrovert” in 2023 and 2024’s “Me vs. Me”, plus 11 singles, including current track “Rich” and the stunning “We Are Not The Same”.
Her 2024 song “Safety Net” video really is a stunning piece of work. She headlined a European tour in 2024, and this year she supported US country star Maren Morris on “The Dreamsicle Tour”, and also The Wombats across Australia. She is a shooting star for sure and destined for HUGE things in the future. Bet on it!
BEST BAND
BETTY TAYLOR
This quartet of Australian women and ace musicians / songwriters delivered some of the hottest live shows on these shores this years, and blew the roof off of London’s The Grace when we caught them in the act on the opening night of their 10-date tour of the UK and Ireland in November.
The young indie-pop band – Lead singer and guitarist Sophie Patrick, harmonies and guitar from Kayla Smart (AKA Dorah Jacson), Claire Chittick on bass, and Katie Ishaque on drums – have every chance of breaking through to mainstream success in 2026.
We love their fabulous recent single, “Sucker Punch”; which sounds to us like a global hit waiting to happen. No contest as to whom we name as our “Best Band” of 2025; and we are excited for their future too…
BEST NEW BAND
SMITH & LIDDLE
Smith & Liddle and their wonderful debut album “Songs For The Desert” are an exciting discovery for us this year – and we bloody love ’em. Hence why they get the nod for “Album Of The Year” and as our “Best New Band” of 2025. Billy Smith and Elizabeth Liddle from the Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire area of the UK first met in 2020, when Billy was searching for a vocalist for his previous band.
They formed Smith & Liddle in 2024 and aimed to blend vintage styles with modern production techniques, using real instruments and analogue snyths. The pair have a classy full band for live shows and recording. They deliver unashamed nostalgia, harking back to legendary stars of Laurel Canyon; to Fleetwood Mac and to the likes of America, The Doobie Brothers and Crosby, Stills and Nash.
Formidable songwriters, vocalists and musicians; astounding spine-tingling close harmonies and Billy’s sublime guitar work is given icing on the cake by producer Josh Ingledew on the debut album “Songs For The Desert”. Released at the end of October via Germany’s Légère Recordings. We are really revved up for more tracks from them in 2026 and cannot wait to catch them on stage as soon as possible. A big future ahead…
BEST NEW ARTIST
LEPANI
A really exiting discovery for us this year; alt-pop/r&b singer, songwriter and producer Lepani, whom we first featured in March in our “Undiscovered Zone”, and then again in November with an in-depth interview and exclusive photo shoot around the release of his latest track/video/animation: “Never Meet Your Dreams”. Based on these shores for a year now, Lepani was born in Fiji, brought up in New Zealand and moved here in 2024.
Coming from a musical family, 30-year-old Lepani has a wide range of inspirations from Ed Sheeran, Daft Punk, Elvis, Jon Bellion, Lauv and Khalid, plus many more. Choosing to live in a city synonymous with famous music stars and a hot bed of red hot rising talent: Manchester, Lepani is a full time songwriter, producer and singer, releasing his own music. Signed to a major music publisher back in New Zealand, writing songs for other artists and for sync’ projects. This year he has also released a well received covers EP of pop-rock renditions of some of his favourite songs.
“Never Meet Your Dreams” was premiered by BBC Introducing in November 2025, and was written and produced in London and Manchester by Lepani, Dublin/London-based Liam Geddes [multi-platinum, #1 Billboard] and George Gleeson. In recent months, Lepani has collaborated with artists from South Korea, the U.S., New Zealand, and Australia. In late 2026, there will be an EP of originals and a full album is planned for 2027.
Check out our recent interview with Lepani, via the link below.
Lepani: From Fiji Via New Zealand To A New UK Home – Still Dreaming…
BEST LIVE ACT
THE MOLOTOVS
Excuse the pun, but The Molotovs live really are incendiary. Forget solar panels or wind turbines; get this band playing in your back garden and you’ll likely power the whole flipping street for a year! The core of the band, brother and sister Mathew (17) and Issey Cartlidge (19), learned their trade by playing more than 600 gigs since they formed in lockdown.
On 30th January 2025, The Molotovs will release their debut album, “Wasted On Youth” via Marshall Records, following three top-10 hit singles: “More More More”, “Today’s Gonna Be Our Day” and “Rhythm Of Yourself”. They’ve shared stages with the likes of The Libertines, Sex Pistols, Blondie, Iggy Pop and The Damned – as well as being shouted out by Green Day and Paul Weller.
Music Republic Magazine tipped them way back in 2021, when Matt was just 13 and his sister was 15. We hailed them as future stars and we were bang on. In October this year they sold out London’s famed Electric Ballroom – their biggest headline gig yet – as they aimed for a third consecutive UK # 1 single. The Molotovs will be playing grassroots venues around the country in January. 2026 will be a big year for them…
BEST LIVE ALBUM
GARY NUMAN: “1,000: LIVE AT THE ELECTRIC BALLROOM”
Legend. Pioneer. Icon. Labels bandied about willy-nilly all the time, but with Gary Numan there really is no need for hype or exaggeration. It is simply fact. His triumphant 45-year touring career is celebrated on the superb live album, “Numan 1,000: Live At The Electric Ballroom”, released in November and deservedly chosen as our “Best Live Album” of 2025.
The album captures the entire career-spanning performance at the famed London venue in Camden, recorded two years ago.
BEST FESTIVAL
LATITUDE
Latitude Festival in Henham Park, Suffolk is just one of the more than two dozen we covered in 2025, but it gets our vote as “Best Festival Of The Year”; for its top end eclectic line-up – including Sting, Basement Jaxx, Snow Patrol, FatBoy Slim, Elbow and Mika – and its well run, friendly vibe.
Twenty years ago, Latitude dared to be different. Said to be the first festival to mix philosophy with performance, poetry with punk, theatre with music, dance with discovery, it created a space where legends share stages with newcomers, comedy collides with culture, science sparks curiosity, and every corner offers something unexpected.
Marking its 20th anniversary in 2026, it brings together “artists who shaped its past, stars defining its present, and trailblazers who will lead its future”. David Byrne in a UK festival exclusive, Lewis Capaldi, and Teddy Swims headline a boundary-pushing line-up; alongside The Flaming Lips, The Last Dinner Party, Self Esteem, Billy Ocean, Alex James, and more. See you there…
BEST GUITARIST
DEREK TRUCKS
There are said to be seven “wonders of the world.” Rome’s The Colosseum, The Great Wall of China, India’s Taj Mahal, Peru’s Machu Picchu, Brazil’s Christ The Redeemer, Jordan’s Petra and Mexico’s Chichen Itza.
We name the eighth: US guitarist Derek Trucks! Probably the best slide player on the planet right now, bar none. His licks are otherworldly and together with his musical partner (and wife) Susan Tedeschi, since 2010 they make a glorious noise under the guise of The Tedeschi Trucks Band. Susan is also a fab guitarist and with a spine-tingling soulful voice.
The Grammy-winning band released a new live album “Mad Dogs & Englishmen Revisited (Live at Lockn’) with Leon Russell”, in September 2025. They have five studio albums; the most recent, 2022’s “I Am The Moon” and are currently preparing a new studio album for release in 2026.
BEST ACOUSTIC ARTIST/BAND
ERIC BIBB
Three-time Grammy-nominated blues icon Eric Bibb returns with forthcoming album “One Mississippi” (out 30th January 2026 via Repute Records), ahead of a worldwide tour in spring 2026. One of the best tracks of 2025 is the album’s lead single “This One Don’t”.
“One Mississippi” continues Eric Bibb’s late-career renaissance – with 13 original songs written by Bibb or co-written with his Grammy-nominated producer Glen Scott – plus a cover of “One Mississippi”, written by Janis Ian whom Bibb has known since they were at high school together in New York in the ’60s – and Fred Koller.
The album was recorded and mixed at Glen Scott’s studio in Uppsala, Sweden, and features a stellar cast of musicians including UK based guitar virtuoso McIntosh (Paul McCartney, John Mayer). Eric Bibb’s 2023 album “Ridin’ “, earned a 2024 Grammy nomination. His most recent album, “In the Real World”, was recorded at Peter Gabriel’s Real World Studios and again produced by Glen Scott.
Eric (74) will undertake an extensive UK tour in March 2026 in support of the album, after two nights at London’s 229 venue on January 5th and 6th.
BEST BOOK
GUITAR: EARL SLICK
y Tracing the last 50 years of rock history, from David Bowie’s longest serving lead guitarist. David said: “Earl is a legendary guitar star. His playing is earth, timeless and never less than stellar”.
Earl Slick was barely out of his teens when David Bowie hired him to play guitar on the ground-breaking 1974 “Diamond Dogs” tour. It marked the beginning of a relationship that would endure through thick and thin for the next forty years. Gracing classic albums such as “Young Americans”, “Station to Station” and the 2013 comeback, “The Next Day”, Slick played on the tour that followed Bowie’s smash hit “Let’s Dance” album and was at his side for the epic Glastonbury show in 2000.
Earl was in John Lennon’s band at the time of the former Beatle’s tragic murder. Other collaborations read like a roll call of rock ‘n’ roll royalty including Mick Jagger, The Cure, George Harrison, Ringo Starr, Joe Cocker, Buddy Guy, Ian Hunter, David Coverdale and Eric Clapton. And in the ‘80s he became an MTV star in his own right with the success of Phantom, Rocker and Slick.
BEST MUSIC VIDEO
ALLIE SHERLOCK: “I DON’T NEED SAVING” – DIRECTED BY OSCAR J RYAN
The song. The vocal. The video. Wow. Just wow! Young Irish singer Allie Sherlock was a child star, discovered busking in the streets of Cork and Dublin and at the tender age of 12, she went viral with a YouTube video of an Ed Sheeran cover attracting millions of views. This resulted in an invite to America to appear and perform on the Ellen De Generes show in 2018.
Allie’s YouTube channel has more than six million subscribers, with more than one and a half billion views, three million Instagram followers and almost four million Facebook followers. Allie (20) now performs her own songs and recently completed a sold out major debut headline tour across several countries. We caught her in action in London at the end of October and she was excellent.
In 2011, Allie signed a five-year record deal with Patriot Records, the label owned by OneRepublic’s Ryan Tedder. She has released three singles in 2025 and the latest, “I Don’t Need Saving” is an astounding and outstanding piece of work. Her vocal is world class, uber-powerful and emotionally-charged.
The accompanying video is a truly wonderful (and clever) job by gifted director (and photographer) Oscar J Ryan . The camera loves Allie! Big things in store for Allie Sherlock in 2026 and beyond as her career blossoms and she becomes a superstar, if there is any justice. [She is still busking in Dublin, too!]
BEST FILM OR TV SERIES [Music-related]
“DELIVER ME FROM NOWHERE” – BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN BIOPIC
“Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere”, the biographical musical drama film starring Jeremy Allen White as Bruce Springsteen, was wrritten and directed by Scott Cooper, and based on the 2023 book “Deliver Me from Nowhere” by Warren Zanes, as well as some elements from Springsteen’s autobiography “Born to Run”. It was released to cinemas in October 2025. British actor Stephen Graham plays Springsteen’s father in the film.
BEST PRODUCER
JOEY EIGHTY FOR “I DON’T NEED SAVING”: ALLIE SHERLOCK
A terrific job from producer Joey Eighty, who also co-wrote this amazing track. Allie Sherlock delivers a truly stunning vocal performance in the vein of the likes of Mariah Carey, Adele and Leona Lewis – and a heavy-handed producer may well have ruined this vocal take.
But Joey was a pair of VERY safe hands on this recording and we predict he will become a sought-after producer for some big names in the wake of this exemplary job.
BEST SONG & SONG WRITERS
“I DON’T NEED SAVING” BY ALLIE SHERLOCK – WRITTEN BY JOSHUA CARRUTHERS & JOEY EIGHTY
This very special track sweeps the boards in our end of year “Best Of” round-up for 2025; with the nod for “Best Video”, “Best Producer” and “Best Song/Songwriters”.
Writers Joshua Carruthers and Joey Eighty did a magnificent job here, and crafted a song that will live on and we predict will generate many covers over the years to come. A world class piece of work with a gob-smacking vocal to match. Joey smashing it as producer, too. Bravo!
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT RECOGNITION
GARTH BROOKS
This legendary singer and songwriter is the biggest selling country artist ever, and made the genre globally commercial and a stadium-filler. Some 28 years since his last shows on these shores in 1998, he’s coming to the UK in the summer of 2026 for a huge concert in London’s Hyde Park. In 2,000 he retired from the music industry to bring up his children, returning in 2014 with his comeback album, “Man Against Machine”.
Garth Brooks has received every accolade that a singer, songwriter, recording artist and entertainer can receive. He is the #1-selling solo album artist in U.S. history, certified with 162 million album sales. The first and only artist in history to receive nine RIAA Diamond Awards for nine albums certified at more than 10 million sales. He is the only seven-time recipient of the CMA Entertainer of the Year award.
In March 2025, Brooks completed an extraordinary 72-show residency, Garth Brooks/Plus ONE, at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. Selling 99% of all available tickets. In 2022, Garth completed the three and a half year long Stadium Tour. It drew an average of more than 95 thousand people in each city it played and was seen by a cumulative audience of nearly three-million people. The tour ended that September when Garth played the fifth sold-out concert at Dublin, Ireland’s Croke Park. The five concerts were seen by over 400,000 people.
In 2017, Garth finished the three-and-a-half-year long Garth Brooks World Tour with (his wife) country star Trisha Yearwood. The tour sold more than six million tickets, making it the biggest North American tour in history and the biggest American tour in the world. In the Autumn of 2024, Garth released “The Anthology Part IV: Going Home.” This Spring, he released “The Anthology Part V: The Comeback, The First Five Years.”
BEST COMEDY
ANDREW SCHULZ: “LIFE” Netflix Special [4th March 2025]
Brilliantly funny. If easily offended, this is not for you. In this razor-sharp yet heartfelt special, Andrew Schulz unpacks the wildest moment of his life: becoming a father. This 42-year-old New Yorker stand-up comedian, film and TV actor, and podcaster delivers his second Netflix special.
Our big thanks to the many music publicists / PRs, record labels, music management, concert and festival promoters; and the bands and artists themselves who help us to to bring you the latest news, gig and festival reviews and photographs, interviews, album and EP reviews, music videos…with the stars and the future stars…
Big thanks also to all of the talented writers and photographers who contribute their considerable talents – and of course, to our readers worldwide…
We will be back on the case in 2026, eager to bring you yet more FREE and FRESH news, reviews, big exclusives and much more.
Make sure you Stay in the Zone!
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Check out our 15 [as chosen by the editor] “Best Live Photos Of The Year” – all of which which we published in 2025:
PHOTO CREDITS:
Liam Battersby: Allie Sherlock x 2, Latitude Festival images x 2.
Manja Williams: The Molotovs, Gary Numan.
Mike Gray: Lewis Capaldi, Bea and her Business.
Alex Asprey: Betty Taylor.
Eddy Maynard: Smith & Liddle.
Simon Redley: Lepani, Eric Bibb, Derek Trucks.
Other images: Supplied.
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