Westside Cowboy justify the buzz with ‘So Much Country ‘Till We Get There’ EP
Westside Cowboy released their new EP ‘So Much Country ‘Til We Get There’ on Friday. Image credit: Chuff Media
‘This EP sounds like us figuring it out… We can’t sit here and say that we know what we’re doing yet because we really don’t, but that’s how it should be at this stage, because everything feels so new.’ — Westside Cowboy
Westside Cowboy, made up of Reuben Haycocks (vocals/guitar), Aoife Anson O’Connell (vocals/bass), Jimmy Bradbury (vocals/guitar), and Paddy Murphy (vocals /drums), appear to be on an exponential trajectory.
After winning Glastonbury’s emerging talent competition last year and (crucially 😏) being named in The Groove’s emerging artists list for 2026, the Mancunian quartet show no signs of relenting. Hot off an enormous 2025, Westside Cowboy are gearing up for an even bigger 2026, starting with the release of sophomore EP, ‘So Much Country ‘Till We Get There’.
They’ve already sold out their own debut UK headline tour beginning at the end of the month, and then they’re off to support a set of upcoming European dates with indie heavyweights, Geese.
Entrusting their second EP’s production to Loren Humphrey, whose previous collaborators include Wunderhorse and Cameron Winter, ‘So Much Country ‘Till We Get There’ presents a more polished face of the band’s DIY garage-rock-meets-country-and-folk sound.
Continue reading for The Groove’s thoughts on the latest release from one of the UK’s most hyped new indie bands.
Westside Cowboy, ‘So Much Country ‘Til We Get There’ EP artwork. Image credit: Chuff Media
The EP opens with the beautifully haunting ‘Strange Taxidermy’, which makes no bones (ha) about the band’s desire to remain true to their folk roots. A thick blanket of strings provides the perfect backdrop for O’Connell’s delicate vocals. Dripping with vulnerability, it’s as though the singer is cautious not to spook the subject of their affection – Old Billy, a reference to the oldest-living horse on record that died at 62.
‘Strange Taxidermy’ talks of seeing beauty where others see something to shun or tuck away from sight, and the fear that doing so will make us peculiar by extension: ‘If I sat here and watched you forever / Would they hang me in there by your side?’ Then, the music swells, the singer’s eerie sadness replaced with frustration. Chaotic synths and a stabbing piano darken the mood before fading out, like temper giving way to resignation.
‘Can’t See’ follows, and wastes no time reminding the listener of Westside Cowboy’s self-coined Britainicana sound. A punchy riff is a bit jarring immediately after the comparatively fragile ‘Strange Taxidermy’, but this may be the intention – a slap in the face saying, “Right, enough of that now, let’s get you moving”. A panning mix of playful melodies and the odd tickle of a whammy bar make it a headphone-first track, preferably once you’re up and dancing around your room.
“The EP opens with the beautifully haunting ‘Strange Taxidermy’, which... talks of seeing beauty where others see something to shun or tuck away from sight, and the fear that doing so will make us peculiar by extension.”
Lead single ‘Don’t Throw Rocks’ maintains momentum, pushing and pulling throughout. Led by the catchy repeating lead line, the track builds towards a triumphant climax. It seems to run away like a dog that’s gone after a rabbit – but luckily for the listener, the owner has a firm hold of the leash, and seems quite happy to run along for a bit.
A slacker-rock vibe from ‘The Wahs’ comes next, a much rawer sound than the preceding tracks. Hazy vocals and fuzzy guitars harken back to some of the band’s late 90s influences. You could imagine ‘The Wahs’ playing over the opening credits of a coming-of-age film – and that’s essentially what Westside Cowboy are soundtracking for themselves. More blasé in its delivery, it falls somewhat short of the distinctiveness of ‘Can’t See’ and ‘Don’t Throw Rocks’.
“‘So Much Country ‘Till We Get There’ presents a more polished face of the band’s DIY garage-rock-meets-country-and-folk sound... Westside Cowboy’s second EP maintains much of the organic feel that’s made them one of the hottest tickets in the indie scene.”
Rounding off with the short and sleepy electric-folk ‘In The Morning’, the EP is brought full circle. Dark lyrics provide a strong contrast with sweet-sounding vocal harmonies over the warm plucking of guitar strings. It feels like an oddly creepy farewell hug, or the goodbye song before the credits of a children’s show, if a somewhat forgettable one.
‘So Much Country ‘Till We Get There’: polished tracks strewn with folk-inspired lyricism
The band’s first release since their move to a major label — Island imprint, Adventure Recordings — Westside Cowboy’s second EP maintains much of the organic feel that’s made them one of the hottest tickets among the indie scene.
With this release, they’re sending a signal. They’re still figuring it out while they ‘get there’, though they’re not going to be swept up in their own hype. But with so much excitement built up from a taste of their abundant potential, they’re certainly on the way, and we’re excited to see what’s next.