Q magazine July 2018 WOLF ALICE Neko Case Janelle Monàe Sting Mike Skinner

In the new issue of Q, out Tuesday 8 May, we go around the world with Wolf Alice, Britain’s best young band. Over two albums and four years, the London quartet have grown into an act with global potential, the best of their generation. Laura Barton joins them on the road in Bangalore, Manchester and LA to witness a group balanced thrillingly on the very precipice of greatness. “It could still be taken away from us very easily,” they tell here, warily. 

In more chaotic on-the-road action, we climb aboard the buses of two of the UK’s most exciting new bands. Chris Catchpole squeezes into the back seat of Shame’s van to hear how the poetic rascals are surviving since being catapulted from dingy rehearsal rooms to triumphant tours of the US and UK, while Jenny Stevens heads to Newcastle and spends two nights inside Goat Girl’s youthful maelstrom of chaos, fury and hilarity. Also in the issue, Jazz Monroe meets three of the most notable voices from the next wave of grime and drill as they share their tales of hope and wisdom amongst the stressful fragility of life as being young, black, working-class Londoners.

In a bumper issue, Rebecca Nicholson meets Beach House in Baltimore to hear how the city shaped the ethereal art-rock duo and Laura Barton joins folk-punk minstrel Frank Turner on tour in Mexico. This month’s Q Maverick is US singer-songwriter Neko Case, and the subject of Cash For Questions is Garbage frontwoman Shirley Manson. For this issue’s Out To Lunch, Niall Dohertygoes for oysters and Guinness with unlikely pairing Sting and Shaggy, we go exclusively behind the scenes at The Streets’ comeback shows and find out what Johnny Marr is up to in his studio. Big Narstie lays out his 10 Commandments for life and Stephen Malkmus shares the albums that changed his life.

In the Q Review, we run the rule over new records from Arctic Monkeys, Janelle Monàe, Gruff Rhys, Ben Howard and more and bring you live reports of Sunflower Bean and James Bay.