Martha

Formed in the early 2010s in Pity Me, County Durham, in northeast England, Martha belong to a DIY tradition that blends indie pop, pop punk and power pop. The quartet comprises JC Cairns, Daniel Ellis, Naomi Griffin and Nathan Stephens‑Griffin and has a simple but defining feature: there is no single designated frontperson — all four members sing and help shape the band’s identity. After a self‑titled EP in 2012, Martha drew attention with several singles and splits released on Discount Horse, Odd Box and Nervous Nelly, before the album Courting Strong was released in 2014. Their sound pairs direct guitars, carefully worked melodies, immediate choruses and punk energy without excessive harshness, in a compact format. Martha followed with Blisters in the Pit of My Heart (2016), Love Keeps Kicking (2019) and Please Don’t Take Me Back (2022), while touring the British and American indie scenes — from Indietracks to Glastonbury — and sharing bills with bands such as Radiator Hospital, Joyce Manor and Jeff Rosenstock. Several members of Martha also play in other projects within the Durham scene, notably ONSIND, No Ditching and Fortitude Valley.