KNIVES Belfast

Knives isn’t just a band—it’s a movement. Their music is a manifesto for inclusivity, diversity, and empowerment within the alternative scene. Through their songs and performances, Knives creates a space that celebrates marginalised voices—a rebellious, welcoming home for people of colour and the LGBTQ+ community.

"We're all completely different people, from different backgrounds," says bassist Ben Marshall. "Growing up listening to Metallica, I never found other Black people in the crowd. Now we have so many queer and people of colour at our shows—it feels nice to have cultivated a place like that."
Formed in 2022 by vocalist Jay Schottlander and drummer Erin Cook while at university in Bristol, Knives began as a bold statement within the city’s fearless music scene. They found bandmates among classmates and gig-goers, assembling a six-piece band fuelled by different perspectives and lived experiences. The result is a genre-defying clash of hardcore fury, post-punk grit, alt-rock wit, and experimental jazz freedom.

Now signed to Marshall Records, Knives have unleashed their debut full-length GLITTER. The album sees the band fine-tune their chaos into something spectacular—from experimental pedal-stacking to all-hands studio sessions filled with support, ideas, and fearless creativity. The process was collaborative, the energy constant. But GLITTER is just the start. Knives is about more than music—it’s about creating space, visibility, and opportunity where there’s often little to be found.

With standout sets at 2000trees, Forwards (UK), Loose Ends (Netherlands), and support slots for DZ Deathrays, CLT DRP, Wargasm, and Enola Gay, Knives have quickly proven themselves as a force to be reckoned with. As they carve new paths and challenge the norm, there’s only one question left: Are you going to join them?