Ones To Watch: The Voke

Remember the name. The Voke are young, fearless, and already making a noise that demands attention.

Winsford might not be the first place you look for the next big band, but maybe it should be. The Voke, Harry Price (vocals), Noah Simpson (lead guitar), Jack Bradley (bass) and Riley Hayes (drums), are four teenagers already punching above their weight. They’re not hanging around in bedrooms dreaming of stardom, they’re out gigging, recording, and building a following the old-fashioned way, one packed room at a time. I caught up with them after their stellar set at Middlewich Live, and it is clear they are going places.

Brought together at The Nest North West, they clicked instantly. “We just play… sometimes it’s terrible,” Harry grins, “but if I hit a few chords it just… works.” That spark has carried them onto local festival bills, a heaving night at The Kings Lock in Middlewich, and even a slot at The Stone Roses Bar in York after being scouted. Not bad for a band still juggling college timetables.

Their first single “Alice” is pure statement of intent, jangly guitars, hooks sharp enough to cut glass, and a chorus that clings on long after the last chord. “I just needed a strong first line,” Harry admits, but the result is three minutes that bottle the spirit of 90s indie and fling it forward. 

“I want people to feel that old 90s nostalgia, an old feeling you don’t get as much now,” adds Riley.

This isn’t a prefab TikTok project. Riley hones his craft with drum lessons from Jake Barnabas of The Luka State, Noah brings the weight of AC/DC and Metallica into the mix, while Harry’s song writing instinct and Jack’s grounding basslines give the songs real shape. It’s raw, but it’s tight. You can hear the potential crackling in every rehearsal-room demo and sweaty live set.

The follow-up single, “AKA,” is already lined up. “I prefer it to Alice,” says Harry. “I can relate to it more.” The band are clear-eyed about the plan, build momentum with singles, then drop an EP once the following is there. Dream venues? Spike-Island-by-the-Weaver, a nod to The Stone Roses’ legendary 1990 Widnes gig. Dream outcome? The same as every great band from the North West, to turn small-town ambition into national stages.

The North West has always delivered bands that matter. The Beatles shook the world, Oasis owned the 90s, Blossoms and The Lathums proved the new wave is alive and kicking. The Voke are stepping into that lineage, not reinventing the wheel, but spinning it with enough fire and honesty to matter. They are young, hungry, and absolutely one to watch.

Listen to debut track Alice on Spotify – Here

(Also on Apple Music if you prefer your streams with a bite of Granny Smith.)