The Wire #503/504
210 x 297 mm, 140 pages
London, UK
Monthly
Published since 1982
Publisher: Tony Herrington
Editor: Emily Bick
Art direction and design: Sean Charlton White and Oliver Long
A must for any underground music fan, The Wire reports on alternative, underground and non-mainstream musics, ‘waging war on the mundane and the mediocre.’
On the cover of this bumper double issue for January/February 2026 you’ll find a surreal photograph by Lewis Ronald, repurposing material found in the studio of Kira Freije. The issue features a 29-page 2025 recap, revisiting the past year’s top 50 releases, alongside further reflections from The Wire’s seasoned critics. Plus, Breton bagpiper Erwan Keravec on why it’s impossible to improvise in Brittany’s traditional music scene; ‘musical shapeshifter’ Guy Brewer discusses how moving to Antwerp enabled his transformation into his new musical alias Carrier; and trans Hyperdub producer and West London native, Ikonika, reflects on their musical influences and decision to incorporate vocals into their new sound.