Westside Cowboy are an English rock band formed in Manchester in 2023. The band members are Jimmy Bradbury (vocals, guitar), Reuben Haycocks (vocals, guitar), Aoife Anson O'Connell (vocals, bass) and Paddy Murphy (drums).
Westside Cowboy | |
|---|---|
 Westside Cowboy performing in 2025 | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Manchester, England |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 2023–present |
| Labels |
|
| Members | Jimmy Bradbury Reuben Haycocks Aoife Anson O'Connell Paddy Murphy |
| Website | westsidecowboy |
The band won Glastonbury's Emerging Talent Competition in 2025.[1]
History
editThe band formed after meeting at The University of Manchester.[2] After playing in other bands - Haycocks and Murphy in a noise pop group named DieKaiDie, and Murphy and Bradbury as part of Katz, a 'three-piece surf-punk band that played so fast it ceased to exist' - they formed Westside Cowboy with O'Connell.
Bradbury chose the band's name, inspired by the early industrial revolution in New York. He told NME, "the locals didn't know what trains were, and people were getting hit by them, so to control the speed of the trains, they would have guys ride slowly on horseback in front of them, and they became known as the Westside Cowboys."[1]
I've Never Met Anyone I Thought I Could Really Love (Until I Met You), the band's debut single, was released on 7 November 2024, followed by Shells, Alright, Alright, Alright, and Drunk Surfer. Their debut EP, This Better Be Something Great was released on 8 August 2025 by Nice Swan Records and Heist or Hit.[3][4]
They released their second extended play, So Much Country 'Till We Get There on 16 January 2026.[5]
In 2026 Westside Cowboy supported Geese on the European leg of the Getting Killed Tour.[6]
In May 2026 the band announced that their debut album It Goes On would be released by Island Records on 21 August and shared its first single Kick Stones (The Boys).[7]
Discography
editAlbums
editExtended plays
edit| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| This Better Be Something Great |
|
| So Much Country 'Till We Get There |
|
Singles
edit| Title | Year | Album |
|---|---|---|
| "I've Never Met Anyone I Thought I Could Really Love (Until I Met You)" | 2024 | This Better Be Something Great |
| "Shells" | 2025 | |
| "Alright Alright Alright" | ||
| "Drunk Surfer" | ||
| "Don't Throw Rocks" | So Much Country 'Till We Get There | |
| "Can't See" | ||
| "Kick Stones (The Boys)" | 2026 | It Goes On |
References
edit- 1 2 Goggins, Joe (2025-06-25). "Westside Cowboy: the band bringing 'Britainicana' to Glastonbury". NME. Retrieved 2025-11-22.
- ↑ "Westside Cowboy: "This wasn't the plan at all!" | Interview". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 2025-11-22.
- ↑ Richards, Will (2025-06-18). "Westside Cowboy detail debut EP 'This Better Be Something Great'". Rolling Stone UK. Retrieved 2026-01-20.
- ↑ Taylor, Sarah (8 Aug 2025). "Westside Cowboy - This Better Be Something Great". DIY Magazine. Retrieved 9 Jun 2026.
- ↑ Murray, Robin (2026-01-19). "Westside Cowboy Release New 'So Much Country 'Till We Get There' EP". Clash Magazine. Retrieved 2026-01-20.
- ↑ "Westside Cowboy Share New Song "Can't See": Listen". stereogum.com. 2025-11-20. Retrieved 2025-11-22.
- ↑ Rigotti, Alex (2026-05-21). "Westside Cowboy announce debut album 'It Goes On' with "mad, '70s rock" single 'Kick Stones (The Boys)'". NME. Retrieved 2026-05-22.