100 bands you need to know

Jesse Jo Stark has released her latest single, “cry on me.” Alternative Press and Stark are bringing you a look at the new track! “cry on me” continues to build Stark’s unique sonic world. Many of her songs reflect a unique musical language, born of a broad range of influences, including punk, country, soul and […]

For over 10 years, the 100 Bands You Need To Know issue marked one of the biggest issues of the year. Year after year, it highlighted the biggest and most promising bands in the scene. Showcasing artists such as the Summer Set, the Rocket Summer, Mikey Way’s Electric Century and more, a lot of time […]

Dating back to the top of the aughts, year after year the Alternative Press staff would put their blood, sweat and tears into curating the almighty 100 Bands You Need To Know issue. To put it delicately, if you put a bunch of music enthusiasts into a small office space to select 100 artists, there […]

Photo: Amy Buck It's no secret that Crystalyne have become AP regulars with their pop-rock from the T Dot. We've been there for the band's EP-fueled growth spurts, many music videos and named them one of our 100 Bands You Need To Know. Naturally, we're stoked to welcome them back with a brand new single, “Air I Breathe.” Stream […]

Photographer: Lindsey Byrnes, Graham Fielder, Bryan Sheffield, Phil Mucci, Chapman Baehler, Marina Chavez, Ryan Bakerink, Roberto Chamorro, Your daily dose of previously unseen photography featuring your favorite bands and photographers.  Like what you see here? Check out additional work from your featured photographers:  Jonathan Weiner Graham Fielder Mitch Strangman Drew Reynolds Chapman Baehler Marina Chavez Sean […]

Every year, the editors of AP gather around one computer with excellent speakers, listen to hundreds of bands and sometimes have sword fights and/or shouting matches to curate 100 bands we really, really think you need to put on your radar. It all culminates in one giant printed feature profiling those 100 artists. This year’s 100 Bands […]

Nothing More, one of our 100 Bands You Need To Know this year, tell the very personal story of “Jenny” from their latest self-titled album in this APTV-exclusive video. Frontman Jonny Hawkins tells the story of his aunt Jenny who is schizophrenic and his sister Jenna who struggles with bipolar disorder and addiction. The band […]

Marmozets, one of the 100 bands you need to know this year, are teaming up with AP to bring you the premiere of their new video for “Captivate You.” The track is taken from the band’s latest self-titled EP, which is out now via Roadrunner Records. Check out the video, and let us know what […]

Photographer: Kara Smarsh Photographer Kara Smarsh recently hit the road with PUP, one of our 100 bands you need to know this year, on their current tour opening for the Menzingers, and captured the whole thing in this new photo diary.  You can catch the tour, which also includes Lemuria and Cayetana this summer through early July […]

We described U.K. harmony architects LostAlone as “meant for nothing less than stadium-level glory” in our 100 Bands You Need To Know in 2013 issue—and that was before we heard their massive new album Shapes Of Screams, which they released today via Graphite Records in the U.K..  While the band have no plans for a U.S. release just yet (their 2012 album I'm A UFO […]

“Taking Back Sunday saved my life,” Spencer Chamberlain tells AP, perhaps with more conviction than anyone who has ever spoken that phrase. In this APTV exclusive interview, the Sleepwave frontman revisits his first ever cover story with Underoath and talks about the journey and struggle to the present—where he has a whole new band and is on […]

APTV Nashville correspondent Philip Obenschain (@pobenschain) takes AP #309 (100 Bands You Need To Know) cover star Jeremy Bolm (Touché Amoré) on a tour of some of Nashville's best record stores! Videography by Mary-Beth Blankenship.

Groove trio Strawberry Girls (featuring former Dance Gavin Dance guitarist Zachary Garren) demonstrate their chops in a public restroom in the video for their new single “Egypt.” Stay tuned to the end for a behind-the-scenes glimpse at possible complications this video could have faced! Learn more about Strawberry Girls and what their plans are for this year (hint: two full-lengths this […]

Our April 2014 issue, AP 309, is loaded with plenty of reading, as is always the case in our annual 100 Bands You Need To Know issue, featuring must-read cover stories on the likes of Issues, Sleepwave, Twin Forks, Electric Century, Real Friends and Touché Amoré. With the playlist below, you can listen along as you read […]

Industrial-tinged metal quintet KUZA, one of our 100 Bands You Need To Know this year, are set to release their new EP Venom & Sorrow next week. Check out the bloody evil video for “Bound By Oath” from the EP exclusively on APTV. Venom & Sorrow, which follows up the band's first EP, 2013's From Hell and Hate, will be available via […]

Fearless Vampire Killers recently spent time in studio recording their new album with William Control as producer. We sat the band and Wil down for a chat to get to know FVK–who were among our 100 Bands You Need To Know last year–and to see what they have in store for 2014.

The Venetia Fair, who are among our 100 Bands You Need To Know this year, have released a lyric video for “The Day I Set Them Free” from their new album, Every Sick, Disgusting Thought We've Got In Our Brain. Watch the video, below, or via PropertyOfZack.

Today on AltPress… AP LOOKS BACK: With our 13th annual “100 Bands You Need To Know” issue onsale now, AltPress decided to revisit the very first 100 Bands issue, from 2001, to see where they ended up. A massive list featuring Bright Eyes, Coldplay, At The Drive-In, Good Charlotte and more. THE SUMMER SET perform “Maybe […]