It’s a tale as old as time for those interested in live music. You go and see a band you know and love, arrive early for the supports and suddenly they’re the ones on your radar in a big way.

That’s exactly what happened with me and Keyside. As newlyweds, we took a trip to neighbouring city Bournemouth, eagerly anticipating Red Rum Club on their ‘Buck’ headline tour and left with a love for opening band Keyside.

Now, the Liverpool outfit return with their first single of 2026, ‘Lemon and Lime’. Steeped in their classic fusion of poetry and indie jangle, this release debuts as the perfect spring/summer transitional anthem, depicting the good time spent with friends in the sun.

The track features that familiar sense of Mersey beat revival, drawing on sounds similar to The La’s or The Coral blended with a modern, punchy energy.

Ben Cassidy’s guitar work is bright and summery in the studio version. They carry that chorus-heavy shimmer that contrasts with Dani-Lee Parkers nuanced social commentary vocals.

There’s a Scouse charm in Parker’s delivery. He can transform impactful, meaningful lyrics into meandering, weightless melodies. The clean guitar lines and poetic delivery play right into fans of The Smiths and The Housemartins, but it won’t be lost on fans of modern influences like Fontaines DC and Wunderhorse. Keyside share a sense of modern grit and textured, analog feel that tickles the fancy of those who prefer a raw, live sound to over-processed indie-pop.

Talking of ‘Lemon and Lime’, frontman Parker said: “It’s about those nights when you’re completely out of control in the best possible way: carving your name somewhere you shouldn’t, being with someone you can’t stop thinking about, that feeling that nothing can touch you.

Parker and Cassidy are joined by Max Gibson (Bass) and Oisín McAvoy (Drums), as they continue their upward trajectory which was amped by a sold-out debut UK tour in late 2025. This was capped off in a sold out homecoming show in front of 1,200 people at Liverpool’s O2 Academy.

2026 has already seen the jangle-indie quartet embark on support tours with The Academy and The Clause, as they prepare for a run of festivals in the summer which also sees their inclusion on a special night under the stars with label mates, Red Rum Club.

Bringing Parker’s lyrical visions to life, the single comes with a fly-on-the-wall, big night out video starring BAFTA-nominated actor, Dylan Thomas-Smith, acclaimed for his role in ITV’s G’wed.

Keyside’s first single of 2026 will leave listeners even hungrier for their long-awaited debut album announcement.

Written by Brad Halcrow for The Songbird HQ

Photography by Ewan Ogden