A Reading indie rock band tipped by BBC Introducing has released its first new music of 2026.
Bone-Idle have unveiled Liquorice, a grunge-inspired single the band says explores frustration, anxiety and the pressures of everyday life.
The trio, made up of vocalist and guitarist Braidan Casey, lead guitarist and keyboard player Alfie Cook, and bassist Jake Finkel, formed in Reading and released their debut single, Sunburn Cider, in 2023.
Frontman Casey said the new track was inspired by the small irritations that can build into something bigger.
“Liquorice is a song, or actually more of a letter to all the things I can’t deal with and have little patience for,” he said.
“It’s like stubbing your toe and wanting to beat the life out of the side of your bed, or slow walkers on a high street when you need to catch a train.
“It’s about all the annoying little things in life that infuriate me, but the anger is always coming from something more complicated. Some people and things aren’t the way I’d like them to be – this song just reflects on my difficulty to accept that they never will be.”
The single was recorded with producer Michael Smith and marks the band’s first release since 2025.
Bone-Idle cite influences including The Smashing Pumpkins, The Amazons and Sam Fender, combining indie rock with grunge-inspired guitars and atmospheric melodies.
The band released its debut EP, Superficial, after a series of singles and has built a following through live performances across the region.
In 2025, the group received support from BBC Introducing in Oxfordshire and Berkshire and won Radio Wigwam’s Best Breakthrough Artist award, earning a recording session for Liquorice.
The band said they hoped the new release would mark the next step in their development as they continue to grow their audience.
