WXPN’s first Artist to Watch for 2025 is the band Wunderhorse, who released the thrilling album Midas in August of 2024.
Formed in 2020 in the coastal England town of Newquay, Wunderhorse is an anthemic rock four-piece that fuses blistering post-millennial riffs with pensive, introspective moments straight out of the classic singer-songwriter school. Led by singer-guitarist and Jacob Slater, the band also features guitarist Harry Tristan Fowler, bassist Peter Woodin, and drummer Jamie Staples.
After a stint acting, portraying Sex Pistols drummer Paul Cook in the Danny Boyle-directed miniseries Pistol, Slater used his pandemic experience to begin writing songs that would become Cub, Wunderhorse’s celebrated 2022 debut. He connected with his bandmates — including Fowler, son of pop singer Kim Wilde of “Kids In America” fame — and they supported the record on tour with Fontaines D.C.
In 2024, Wunderhorse released its sophomore album Midas, an emotive and impactful set of songs fueled by the post-grunge catharsis of 90s faves like Sunny Day Real Estate and Bush, as well as the soaring melodies of early 2000s UK rock a la Doves and Snow Patrol. In addition to being named a WXPN Artist to Watch, Wunderhorse kicks off its North American tour this month, and they’ll play Underground Arts on January 25th with Deux Visages. Details on the show can be found at the WXPN Concert Calendar.