Westside Cowboy Release Debut Album at 4pm Tramlines Set, Rejecting Tech and Perfectionism
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Aug 24
Westside Cowboy Release Debut Album at 4pm Tramlines Set, Rejecting Tech and Perfectionism
3 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Aug 24
Summary
Manchester indie band Westside Cowboy used a packed 4pm Tramlines set to spotlight debut album "It Goes On," capping a rapid rise just two years after forming.
Aged 23 to 26, the band say they deliberately reject heavy phone use and other always-on tech, arguing simpler routines protect headspace and avoid the creative paralysis screens can bring.
That stripped-back approach also shapes the record, which leans into rough edges rather than treating a first album as a career-defining statement they must perfect.
By 2025, Westside Cowboy had already won Glastonbury's emerging talent competition, supported Geese and signed to a major label, adding pressure they say they tried not to let define the debut.
Beyond music, the group also co-run No Band Is an Island, a benefit night with other indie acts that raises money for Medical Aid for Palestine.