Manchester’s politico-beatpunks Holly Head are back, and they’re ready to tear through 2025 with their latest anthem, Whatever Drags You Through It. This scorching two-and-a-half-minute track is a masterclass in kinetic, beat-powered punk that blends social critique with their signature raw energy.
The band’s reputation as one of the most confrontational, politically-driven acts to emerge from Manchester in recent years continues to rise. From their grassroots beginnings in the city’s backroom venues to dominating stages at packed-out shows, Holly Head have established themselves as the beating heart of the local scene. Their debut album No Gain (released last year) catapulted them into the spotlight, and with this new track, they’re set to break even wider. As their notoriety grows, so does their audience, a passionate following that resonates with Holly Head’s unapologetic stance on the issues of today.
Whatever Drags You Through It embodies the band’s fearless energy and its ever-present social commentary. Blasting through a wall of new-wave punk that’s as funky as it is furious, the track is a rallying cry for those who refuse to remain passive in the face of an unjust world. Lyrically, the song confronts the grim reality of living in a system that thrives on division and scapegoating. Lead singer Joe explains the track’s message: “When facing the massive and seemingly unchangeable task of trying to change our failing political systems, people can understandably feel totally powerless in their already struggling lives. An easier way is to shy away from it or, worse, resort to blaming migrants, trans people, and climate policy for the issues that repeatedly arise in our society. This song is essentially about how people come to explain away the harm they see and do in their lives, be it economically, socially, or both.”
In this single, Holly Head continue their tradition of using their platform to amplify urgent, often uncomfortable conversations. Recorded at Airtight Studios in South Manchester with producer Seadna McPhail (Doves, Inspiral Carpets, Badly Drawn Boy), the track pulses with life and urgency, with every beat, chord, and lyric driven by the band’s core mission — to challenge the status quo.
But it’s not all heavy political weight as the band always pulse with joy, abandon, and the kind of cathartic release only music like this can offer. For Holly Head, punk is not just about protest but about reclaiming power through expression and togetherness, whether in the studio or on stage where their performances are nothing short of transformative, a collective celebration of resistance.
This new track marks the start of a busy year ahead for the band, who will be hitting the road for a UK tour this February and March. Highlights include their much-anticipated debut at Brixton Windmill on February 20th and appearances at the Dot To Dot festival in Bristol and Nottingham this May alongside the likes of Basht, Good Health Good Wealth, The Horrors, Public Order and Sprints.
The full list of tour dates includes:
Wed 19 Feb – Brighton, Rossi Bar
Thu 20 Feb – London, Brixton Windmill
Fri 21 Feb – Oxford, Common Ground
Sat 22 Feb – Southampton, Heartbreakers (So Young Mag Presents)
Sat 8 Mar – Glasgow, Akoustik Anarkhy at The Flying Duck
Fri 14 Mar – Manchester – Akoustik Anarkhy at The Star and Garter
Sat 22 Mar – Bristol, The Old England with Klyphex
Fri 28 Mar – Leeds, Superfrendz at Headrow House
Fri 4 April – Halifax, The Grayston Unity
Wed 21 May – London, The Social (DHP) for Footsteps Festival
Sat 24 May – Bristol, DOT TO DOT
Sun 25 May – Nottingham, DOT TO DOT
Stay connected with the band on Instagram here for future releases and tour info.