Five-piece alternative-rock outfit the thing is… emerged as the brainchild of three school friends in the dusty town of Downpatrick. In writing songs of relationships, inner conflict and losses, they quickly established a personal emotional connection with their audience. Known for conveying these meaningful themes through unique and vibrant musical storytelling, the group have cemented a reputation of subverting listeners’ expectations and providing a fresh outlook on indie and alt-rock in the scene.

Dynamic live performances have seen them rise through the local circuit in Belfast, seeing them to iconic local venues such as Mandela Hall and The Belfast Empire, with shows in major English cities planting them comfortably on the regional and national map.

Being female-fronted, the group have authentically carved their identity into all of their work, challenging the gender norms of the genre. In doing so, they seek not to fit into the scene, but to stand out entirely. The same can be said of their inspirations. In drawing from the influence of the likes of Wolf Alice, Paramore, Wunderhorse and many others, the group create truly original musical expressions that are greater than the sum of their parts.