The debut EP from newcomers Westside Cowboy, This Better Be Something Great, arrives amid a whirlwind of buzz in the alternative UK scene and an announcement of a full fall tour. Over five tracks (four of which were previously released) the quartet compiles their entire discography to date, serving up a statement of purpose. The band, comprised of Aoife Anson O’Connell, Jimmy Bradbury, Paddy Murphy, and Reuben Haycocks, has been inspired by vintage audio production and obscure music equipment, resulting in some of the subtle quirks heard on the record. This Better Be Something Great immediately stakes its claim with a blend of indie-rock grit, emotive storytelling, and just enough twang to lend an alternative flavor that sets them apart from other similar artists in the scene.
The EP kicks off with an emotive “WESTSIDE COWBOY!” before dropping into an emotional-driven, mildly twangy rock number: “I’ve Never Met Anyone I Thought I Could Really Love (Until I Met You).” From there, “Alright Alright Alright” barrels forward on a rush of pounding drums and momentum, refusing to let you catch your breath. “Drunk Surfer” continues on this path, laying down subtly softer, ’90s-inspired guitar lines that add a wistful shimmer to the band’s indie-rock DNA.
On “Shells,” which opens with the EP’s title lyric, “this better be something great,” the pace slows into a spacious duet where a striking guitar personifies every ounce of longing. The track builds patiently and spaciously, culminating to a cathartic, sing-along climax that proves Westside Cowboy can tug at heartstrings as much as they can ignite crowds at their shows. Finally, “Slowly I’m Sure” strips everything back to an unvarnished acoustic closer, offering a raw, less polished glimpse of the group’s songwriting core.
This Better Be Something Great delivers precisely what it promises: five tracks that showcase a budding talent capable of plenty more than just hype. And the band isn’t slowing down: their debut EP arrives with a sprawling tour of 45 dates across the UK, Europe, and their US debut, bringing this collection of tracks to life in venues and festivals around the world.
Listen to This Better Be Something Great below:
Westcoast Cowboy 2025 Tour Dates:
Sat. Aug. 9 – Manchester, UK @ Yes Pink Room
Sat. Aug. 16 – Brecon Beacons, UK @ Green Man Festival
Sat. Aug. 23 – Southampton, UK @ So Young takeover: Harbour Parade
Sun. Aug. 24 – London, UK @ All Points East
Thu. Aug. 28 – Dorset, UK @ End Of The Road Festival
Sat. Aug. 30 – Manchester, UK @ Manchester Psych Fest
Tue. Sept. 2 – Dublin, IE @ Button Factory #
Thu Sept. 4 – Manchester, UK @ New Century Hall #
Sat. Sept. 6 – Glasgow, UK @ Oran Mor #
Sun. Sept. 7 – Leeds, UK @ Project House #
Mon. Sept. 8 – Bristol, UK @ SWX #
Wed. Sept. 10 – Brighton, UK @ CHALK Live #
Thu. Sept. 11 – London, UK @ Electric Brixton #
Fri. Sept. 12 – London, UK @ Electric Brixton #
Sun. Sept. 14 – Leffinge, BE @ Leffingeleuren Festival
Tue. Sept. 16 – Utrecht, NL @ ACU
Wed. Sept. 17 – Hamburg, DE @ Nochtspeicher
Sat. Sept. 27 – Sheffield, UK @ Float Along
Thu. Oct. 9 – Paris, FR Casino de Paris *
Fri. Oct. 10 – Nantes, FR Stereolux *
Sun. Oct. 12 – Amsterdam, NL @ Paradiso *
Mon. Oct. 13 – Amsterdam, NL @ Paradiso *
Tue. Oct. 14 – Cologne, DE @ Gloria *
Wed. Oct. 15 – Berlin, DE @ Astra Kulturhaus *
Fri. Oct. 17 – Copenhagen, DK @ VEGA *
Sat. Oct. 18 – Johanneshov, SE @ Fållan *
Sun. Oct. 19 – Oslo, NO @ Sentrum Scene *
Tue. Oct. 21 – Hamburg, DE @ Mojo Club *
Wed. Oct. 22 – Prague, CZ @ Roxy *
Thu. Oct. 23 – Lausanne, CH @ Les Docks *
Sat. Oct. 25 – Milan, IT Magazzini Generali *
Sun. Oct. 26 – Lyon, FR @ Epicerie Moderne *
Tue. Oct. 28 – Brussels, BE @ Ancienne Belgique *
Tue. Nov. 18 – Norwich, UK @ Norwich Arts Centre
Wed. Nov. 19 – Birmingham, UK @ The Sunflower Lounge
Fri. Nov. 21 – Cardiff, UK @ Clwb Ifor Bach
Sat. Nov. 22 – Portsmouth, UK @ KOLA
Tue. Nov. 25 – Birkenhead, UK @ Future Yard
Wed. Nov. 26 – Hebden Bridge, UK The Trades Club
Thu. Nov. 27 – York, UK @ The Fulford Arms
Fri. Nov. 28 – Edinburgh, UK @ Cabaret Voltaire
Wed. Dec. 10 – New York, NY @ Night Club 101
Mon. Dec. 15 – Los Angeles, CA @ Scribble
* = w/ Black Country, New Road
# = w/ Blondshell
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