The UK’s independent music scene is preparing for a major celebration as the 15th annual AIM Independent Music Awards returns to London’s iconic Roundhouse on September 23, 2025. This year’s ceremony, already generating buzz across the industry, will honor both seasoned veterans and current chart-toppers who have helped shape the sound and spirit of British indie music. Among the most anticipated moments: Britpop stalwarts Shed Seven will be officially crowned Best Live Performer, capping off a triumphant year that saw the band return to the Glastonbury stage after a three-decade absence.
According to Bang Showbiz, Shed Seven’s recognition is a nod to their enduring energy and crowd-pleasing performances. The York-formed group, who recently signed with Cooking Vinyl and have twice topped the UK Official Album Chart, are being celebrated for their high-octane live shows that continue to draw passionate audiences. Their Glastonbury comeback this summer was described as nothing short of a victory lap, a moment that underscored their lasting influence and connection with fans both old and new.
But Shed Seven won’t be the only headline act at the AIM Awards. Cosey Fanni Tutti, a pioneering figure in experimental and industrial music, will receive the Innovator Award in recognition of her remarkable career. As a founding member of Throbbing Gristle and COUM Transmissions, Tutti helped lay the foundations of industrial music, co-founding Industrial Records to release the band’s groundbreaking work. Her subsequent collaborations with Chris Carter under Chris and Cosey and CarterTutti bridged the avant-garde with electronic accessibility, while her solo albums—TUTTI and 2t2—and acclaimed books Art, Sex, Music and Re-sisters have cemented her status as a creative force across multiple disciplines.
The excitement around the AIM Awards is matched by the competitive field of nominees. Other acts shortlisted for Best Live Performer include Elles Bailey, Alison Moyet, Ayanna Witter-Johnson, and Wunderhorse, each recognized for their unique contributions to the indie live circuit. Meanwhile, the Best Independent Video category (in association with VEVO) features an eclectic mix of artists and styles: Ezra Collective’s “God Gave Me Feet For Dancing,” Bricknasty’s “Vinland,” Fontaines D.C.’s “In The Modern World,” Black Honey’s “Psycho,” and Wet Leg’s “Catch These Fists.” Notably, Ezra Collective and Fontaines D.C. lead the pack with three nominations each, while anaiis, Fcukers, Hope Tala, Maverick Sabre, Fat Dog, Bon Iver, Wunderhorse, and Wet Leg are all two-time nominees.
“This year’s nominees are a testament to the creativity, passion, and success that defines the independent music community,” AIM CEO Gee Davy told Bang Showbiz. “Among our winners, we’re delighted to honour Cosey Fanni Tutti, Shed Seven, and Bandcamp for their outstanding contributions.” The full list of nominees is available at the AIM Awards’ official website, offering a snapshot of the thriving diversity and innovation that define the UK’s indie scene.
Amidst these celebrations, the next generation of indie stars is navigating the pressures and peculiarities of sudden fame. In a candid Zoom conversation published by Vogue on September 3, 2025, Wet Leg’s frontwoman Rhian Teasdale and Irish pop artist CMAT reflected on their whirlwind year. The two, who crossed paths at Glastonbury 2025, spoke openly about the double-edged sword of recognition, the grind of touring, and the surreal moments that come with being thrust into the spotlight.
“All of our dreams have already come true, so it’s kind of just plane sailing from here,” CMAT joked, referencing a year that has included Grammy wins, sold-out festival gigs, and viral TikTok moments. Teasdale, who leads the British rock band Wet Leg, agreed but admitted that public attention can be overwhelming. “I feel really uncomfortable with it,” she confided, revealing that the constant scrutiny sometimes makes her long for the anonymity of her earlier days.
The conversation, which took place just days before CMAT’s new album Euro-Country dropped on September 7, 2025, and ahead of both artists’ North American tours, offered a rare glimpse into the realities behind the headlines. Both Teasdale, 32, and CMAT, who turns 30 in February 2026, described the intensity of festival season and the emotional toll of life on the road. For Teasdale, the 2025 festival run had just wrapped, with standout performances at Glastonbury and Green Man—“the best day of my life,” she declared. CMAT, meanwhile, recounted the mixed reception at Cabaret Vert, where the crowd’s indifference was a stark contrast to the euphoric energy at Green Man.
As they prepared for their respective US tours—Teasdale’s lasting two months, CMAT’s a shorter stint followed by a UK run—the artists swapped stories about the peculiarities of fame. CMAT described the surreal experience of having a 15-foot-high mural of herself painted in her hometown of Dunboyne, County Meath, a far cry from the “Irish begrudgery” she’d expected. “People in Dunboyne are just, like, buzzing,” she said, noting the pride her community feels in her success.
Teasdale, who grew up on the Isle of Wight before moving to Bristol and then London, reflected on the differences between music scenes and the sense of community she found in each. “There was just such a good sense of community there that I never really had on the Isle of Wight,” she said of Bristol. Both artists agreed that London’s supportive atmosphere and slightly lower stakes—“because they just have a little bit more money,” as CMAT put it—made it easier to pursue creative ambitions without the weight of familial expectations.
Yet, even as their stars rise, both musicians are keenly aware of the costs. Teasdale admitted to feeling nervous about the upcoming US tour, confessing she is “such a homebody” and dreads the emotional strain of being away for so long. “There’s no way any of us could have really prepared ourselves for just how well things went,” she remarked about Wet Leg’s meteoric ascent. CMAT, for her part, has imposed a strict “two shows in a row, no more” rule to protect her health, having learned the hard way that burnout is all too real. “Every single big, long tour we’ve ever done, I have gotten really sick and had to cancel a show and I just hate cancelling shows,” she said.
Their exchange, full of relatable anecdotes—packing cubes, scented candles, and the joys of turning 30—offered a reminder that even in the glare of the spotlight, today’s indie stars remain grounded by the same hopes, anxieties, and quirks as their fans. “All of our dreams have already come true, so it’s kind of just plane sailing from here,” CMAT mused, capturing the mix of gratitude and disbelief that defines a breakthrough year.
With the AIM Independent Music Awards set to spotlight both legacy acts like Shed Seven and innovators like Cosey Fanni Tutti, and with artists like Wet Leg and CMAT candidly sharing the realities behind the glamour, 2025 stands as a testament to the resilience, creativity, and camaraderie that make the UK’s independent music scene a force to be reckoned with.
