Somehow, we’ve made it to Issue 99. One away from the big three digits, the centenary, the big 100 – and instead of slowing down and getting all misty-eyed and reflective, we’ve decided to go absolutely full tilt. Because what better way to prepare for a milestone than by packing in five cover stars, a mountain of future icons, and more bangers than your average bank holiday BBQ?
Up front, we’ve got Aitch and AJ Tracey – two giants of UK music with wildly different approaches but the same don’t-look-back energy. Aitch is in full celebratory mode, strutting into a new era with wit and swagger to spare, while AJ delivers his most personal album yet – political, poetic, and powerful in all the ways that matter. They’re not here to coast. They’re here to change the game. Again.
And then there’s The Maccabees. Yes, those Maccabees. We thought we’d never get them back, but here they are, returning to the stage this summer to headline All Points East and make a generation of indie fans sob into their pint cans. Our long-overdue catch-up reminds us exactly why they mattered so much – and why they still do.
But we’ve always got one eye on what’s next, too. Florence Road are fast becoming the band we all wish we’d started in school, somehow managing to be chaotic, tender, hilarious and low-key devastating all at once. It's not often we'll get out the full orchestra of buzz for an act with only a couple of songs out, but this lot are something special - so special we shipped out to an Irish wood for their first big cover feature. Meanwhile, RIIZE are rewriting the K-pop rulebook with a warm, grounded approach that puts personality front and centre – a full-screen reminder that charisma can be low-key as well as loud.
Elsewhere, we catch up with Spill Tab, Miso Extra, Shura, Jessica Winter, The Amazons, The Mary Wallopers, Spacey Jane, The Callous Daoboys, Arm’s Length, and loads more. It’s a stacked month – from the noisy to the heartfelt, the hype to the heavy, and everything in between.
Speaking of Hype, this month’s picks are as varied and exciting as ever: Cliffords are flying the flag for Cork’s DIY scene, Westside Cowboy have found brilliance in their bedroom jams, Green Star are bringing warehouse weirdness into focus, and DBA! are emerging from the literal drains of Liverpool to deliver something raw, honest and oddly romantic. Throw in reviews of Sports Team, Chloe Qisha, and Little Simz, plus James Marriott taking on Any Other Questions, and you’ve got a front-to-back beast of a mag. Next stop: Issue 100. But for now, we’re still sprinting full speed into the future. Join us, yeah?
You can order the June 2025 issue of Dork now, and it'll be dispatched by 6th June, 2025.