There are many, many examples of the fertile inter-relationships between music and higher education over the years, from bands formed at college to legendary gigs in students’ union venues. 

I especially enjoyed this surprising interaction a while back when a University of Nottingham student, who had written his history dissertation on Bruce Springsteen –  “Brilliant Disguises: An Analysis of Masculinity Through the Works and Life of Bruce Springsteen” – managed to get a copy to him on stage at a gig at Murrayfield Stadium. As the Daily Record reported it:

a student who wrote his dissertation on Bruce Springsteen gave a copy to the rocker on stage at his Edinburgh gig. 

Nathan Collet, 22, made his way to the front of the 73-year-old singer’s Murrayfield concert and managed to catch his eye by holding a sign saying: ‘Can I give you a copy of my thesis’.

“Later he was going past again and I held up my dissertation and he took it. He had a look at it on stage and said it was very nice before putting it down near the drum kit.”

I’m sure he read it properly later.

New Talent

Meanwhile our HE A&R team has been scouring university campuses, students’ unions and other small venues up and down the land to find you the very latest in emerging artists on the sector scene. After much deliberation, arguing and not a little attempted bribery (failed – we have a policy you know), we are very proud to present the up and coming new HigherEd sounds of this year. These are the bands we think are really going to make it big in the sector in 2025:

Branch Campus – Been a long time coming but this classy multinational quintet has been growing in popularity after working the circuit hard for many years and may be about to break through.

Voluntary Severance – This dark and unhappy grindcore band has been bubbling under for some time but seems to have really made it big recently.

Academic Freedom – Creative, strident and flamboyant indie pop sextet whose bold pronouncements and catchy tunes have really been making waves. They will surely continue to do so in the year ahead and should really hit the big time.

Behan and the Be-goods – Clean cut pop quartet who’ve been around on the club circuit for ages but have only now started filling those big venues.

Ethical Investment – Worthy and emotive pop pioneers, this group has grown over the years despite its detractors. Hoping to build on their previous success in 2025.

People, Culture & Environment – PCE as they are known to their skittish fans are an experimental West Country folk trio who are reluctant to be pinned down or pigeonholed. Big things are expected of them in the years ahead.

Distressed Institutions – Strongly tipped for the big time in 2025 this catchy psychedelic rock group have been attracting a lot of industry interest in recent months.

Andy Westwood Says – Having had a cult following in the West Midlands for many years these humorous but insightful Slade-chanelling funsters with a charming touch are striking just the right note for success this year.

Turing Scheme – This versatile jazz-funk outfit, formed following the break up of the long-running Erasmus Plus Band, has struggled to make an impact but has now attracted a strong core following who are always demanding more.

Proof of Concept – Curious hyperactive techno pairing who promise to deliver something really big this year after some highly regarded demos.

Encampment – After a major tour last summer and a few unannounced shows over the winter this mysterious punky invasive indie rock group has really got some people on campus talking. Expecting more material this year.

Spam Filter – This rasping nu-metal group has been around for a few years now but has only recently caught the eye on the HE circuit. Mainly because of their name. And their music. But who knows, this might be their year.

Efficiency Taskforce – Sleek mechanical techno hipsters – tipped for real impact in 2025.

Miniature Pony – Formed from the wreckage following the break up of Puppy Room, this tinkly jazz pop combo is really breaking hearts on campuses everywhere.

Still Touring

It has been a few years now since we have presented such a breakthrough list and it is good to note that some of those we have tipped for stardom before are still going strong, or at least are still going:

TEF Will Eat Itself – Hard to fathom and genuinely unpopular English folksters but unaccountably still going.

These Data Futures – Yes, we are all still waiting for the much-anticipated first album from this south west techno trio.

Unexplained Differences – Intelligent and numerate chamber pop.

Graduate Outcomes – Career musicians playing an increasingly long game.

The Degree Apprentices – Alternative indie guitar melodies from hard-working trio – popularity difficult to gauge but certainly still enjoying the media coverage.

The Russell Group – Swaggering, over-confident, privileged ageing southern sextet with a strong musical pedigree and who have had and continue to enjoy extraordinary chart success. The riders they demand at gigs remain legendary.

REF Speedwagon – Guilty pleasures for many – these brainy prog rockers are still churning them out and new material should be emerging in only a few years’ time.

Library Cats – Cute indie pop which is still turning heads.

AI – highly derivative act who really are too clever for their own good.

Climate Emergency – Fully acoustic outfit destined to make a big impact.

HS2 – Futuristic glam rockers with a slimmed down lineup in recent years – everyone is still waiting for their first album release which keeps being delayed.

Four Star – Highly rated cerebral popsters who seem to be able to name their price.

Unconditional Offer – Sluggish alt rock from this southern stoner quartet, surprisingly still going strong.

Two Year Degree – Sharp suited jazz funk quintet who really mean business.

GPA – Earnest US quartet much discussed but yet to persuade many in the UK of their merits.

Cyber Security – This electronic trio have already managed to build a massive online following despite their wholly derivative sound.

Accelerated Degrees – Long-haired, leather-trousered thrash metallers, continually irritated by being mixed up with Two Year Degree.

The Registrars – Impossibly cool, utterly essential indie quartet. Hugely under-rated.

Charter and Statutes – Influential British electronic music production duo.

Presidents of UUK – Classic soul four piece, now getting on a bit but still able to fill a big venue. Notably disloyal and capricious following.

The Buff Dogs – Aggressive but numerate speed-core combo.

PQA – This dogged rock quartet has been tipped for stardom many times before but they just never seem to make the big time. They are still going though.

Dear Departed

The world of HE rock & roll is a tough one though and not everyone can stay the course. Here is a roll call of just some of those acts who are no more who we sadly had to say farewell to recently:

MOOCs – Ultra hip techno duo who somehow failed to cash in on their huge hype or indeed to benefit from all the free downloads they gave away.

Wu Tang UCLan – Legendary Preston-based hip hop collective, now sadly no more following a brutal argument about a name change.

Spiked – Wilful, self-indulgent, contrarian grungecore. Will not be missed by many.

Snowflakes – Teen pop sensations who reacted surprisingly positively to the negative publicity they received but ultimately decided it was just all a bit too difficult.

Rectify the Anomaly – Tedious 70s prog-rock noodlers, perpetually behind the times.

Puppy Room – Fey Glaswegian tinkly pop trio, since transformed into Miniature Pony (see above).

Learning Gain – Progressive Paper Lace derivatives. Famous for strange outfits but sadly no-one cares any more.

Lucky Jim – Ageing solo vocalist from Inverness. Not lucky. Actually called Brian. Now well past it.

New Kids on the Blockchain – Incomprehensible electro burbling from the ageing keyboard twiddlers. No-one was buying their material.

Predatory Journals – Impenetrable exploitative thrash metal with growing sales despite public opprobrium. Very much past sell by date.

Ace of CASE – Internationally popular trendsters for a while – they were in the big money league and decided to quit while ahead.

Admissions Scandal – Shockingly aggressive US rock trio, in and out of prison recently which has ultimately ended their recording career.

Augar Review – Radical folk rock combo – went very quiet after a major launch in 2019. There was much talk of a big tour and a follow up album but this group seems to have largely been forgotten.

Designated Data Body – Hard rock musos who quit the scene for good after some extensive legal arguments.

Chemistry Brothers – Explosive rock duo who ultimately went into meltdown.

London Grammarians – Picky or playful (depending on your perspective) lyrical meanderings from this hard core group of linguistics researchers. The split was inevitable though with all of the members citing theoretical differences.

So, a big loss to the sector I am sure we will all agree. Still, there will be plenty along soon to replace them no doubt and also many more university dissertations written about these great artists.