In the magazine April 2012

Featuring You Me At Six, Young Guns, Grimes, Mystery Jets, Santigold, Graham Coxon and more.

We’re not even going to entertain the ridiculous notion that rock is dead. Your broadsheet think-pieces may be packed with suggestions that guitar music is in a slump, quoting a slew of sales figures, chart stats and the like, but try asking a You Me At Six fan if their beloveds are pushing up the daisies. Good luck with that one.Truth is, beyond the nay-saying, a batch of British rock bands are making a land grab for the mainstream. Just check out the Radio One playlist; at the time of writing Young Guns sit pretty on the A list, while Deaf Havana are just as comfy on the B list. These are acts who really do make up a scene; they’ve toured, played and risen the ranks together. If we’re measuring music on pure fan power alone, they’d most likely give One Direction a shiner. That’s why we’ve put them on our cover; rock is not a dirty word.Elsewhere there are more brilliant bands than you can shake a six string at. Grimes, Mystery Jets, Blood Red Shoes, Graham Coxon, Santigold and Alt-J all make appearances, and that’s not including Alabama Shakes, The Futureheads, Breton or Eugene McGuinness. There are reports from Pure Love’s first show, the first instalment of our 2012 Festival Guide, and catch ups with both Tegan and Sara and The Gaslight Anthem. Do yourself a favour, pick up a copy from your nearest stockist or check it out online now.