Bolton’s rising indie-rock outfit Home Town have taken a massive leap forward in their musical journey, storming Manchester’s legendary Band on the Wall to win Best Performance at the Primal Live charity song contest. The victory caps a whirlwind year for the young group — whose oldest member has only just turned 18 — and sets the stage for their explosive entrance onto the northern music circuit.
Their winning performance? A ferocious, tight, guitar-driven set that left the judges stunned and the crowd chanting for more. And at the heart of that momentum is their breakout release “Get Out The Cold” and their new single “Anywhere” — both now available to stream! You can listen to their emphatic singles on SPOTIFY.
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Meet Home Town: Bolton’s Next Big Indie Export
Despite their youth, Home Town play with the confidence, swagger and emotional punch of a band twice their age. Aged 12 to 18 but already playing to sold-out crowds, they’re united by the place they call home — and a shared obsession with live music. The line-up:
- Fern (15) – bass
- Jack (16) – rhythm guitar
- Max (12) – drums
- Zach (18) – lead guitar, vocals, and songwriter
“We’re an unstoppable high-energy guitar-heavy indie rock band,” says Zach. Their influences read like a who’s-who of British rock: Arctic Monkeys, Oasis, Stereophonics, Kasabian, plus local rising stars The Florentenes. Those inspirations fuel a sound that’s urgent, gritty, melodic and unmistakably theirs.
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A Band Formed by Fate — and by Rockit
Home Town’s origin story is as heartwarming as it is impressive. All four members met through Rockit, a Bolton-based charity music group designed to bring young musicians together. Fern and Zach played together first. Max quickly joined with explosive talent on drums. Then came Jack — who says meeting the band “felt like it was meant to be.” From that moment, Home Town was more than just a band. It was a spark.
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Zach’s Journey: From Struggle to Purpose, and a Guitar from Chris Evans’ Show
Lead singer and songwriter Zach holds nothing back when talking about how music changed his life. “Music and performing has made me happier — it’s given me a purpose,” he says. Self-taught during the pandemic, Zach struggled with school, dyspraxia and the pressures of teenage life.
A chance phone call to the Chris Evans Breakfast Show changed everything. When he explained his wish to learn guitar, a listener anonymously gifted him a blue acoustic guitar. That act of kindness lit the fire. “I taught myself with YouTube videos. I’m determined to succeed. Nothing’s going to hold me back.” Now he’s studying music and dreaming of stadiums — dreams that suddenly feel a lot closer.
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The Band Behind the Story
Jack, rhythm guitarist, credits his dad’s old Jackson Kelly and influences like John Frusciante, Tom Morello and Synyster Gates for shaping his playing. After personal upheaval, Rockit helped him find new purpose — and a new family — in Home Town.
Fern, the group’s cool-headed bassist, was inspired as a child after seeing a female bassist tear up a local gig. On stage, her calm confidence keeps the lads grounded. Max, the 12-year-old powerhouse behind the kit, is already stealing shows. “People are blown away by his talent and energy,” the band says. Max simply calls being in Home Town “amazing.”
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Gigs, Growth and a Huge Manchester Win
Before their Primal triumph, Home Town had already built a serious local following. Their two sold-out headline shows at The Ramp in Horwich drew nearly 200 fans each. They’ve also performed at Bolton pubs, events, and to huge crowds at the Bolton Food & Drink Festival. But it was “Get Out the Cold”–written by Zach about resisting peer pressure and staying true to his musical path — that pushed them through the Primal heats by judges’ vote.
The track has already racked up 1,000 streams in six days, and the momentum isn’t slowing. Their Band on the Wall performance — featuring their unreleased banger “Cancel Culture” — sealed their victory as Primal Live Manchester 2025 Champions, shooting their follower count from 170 to more than 700 in weeks.
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What People Are Saying
Primal Live’s Andy Sampson said: “Home Town absolutely blew the roof off the venue and got the whole place bouncing! It’s difficult to believe they are just kids with the explosive energy and stage presence they possess! Unbelievable! Deserved winners of Primal Live for sure!”
Primal Live Judge, Justin Hopper of La Vida Liverpool, said: “WOW! Home Town! Honestly, I’m speechless! To think that they are just teenagers is astonishing given their electrifying live performance that’s way ahead of their years! I think we’ve just witnessed one of the next big bands to come from the North — Arctic Monkeys, watch your backs!”
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What’s Next: Bigger Cities, Bigger Crowds, Big Ambitions
Home Town’s plans are clear — and huge. “We want to expand across Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds and beyond,” Zach says. “We’d love to do festivals and support bigger acts. We’ve got a vision of playing stadiums one day.” With three originals already released or recorded, a fourth ready for studio time next month, and an album on the horizon, the band is wasting no time. And with the momentum from Primal Live behind them, there’s no limit to how far they can go.
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For more information on Primal Live visit the Primal Live WEBSITE
