Hartlepool rising five-piece Marketplace return with the razor-sharp new single ‘Play Nice!’. Releasing ahead of anticipated slots at New Colossus Festival (New York) and SXSW (Texas) this March, the band are riding a wave of critical acclaim into what is set to be a big 2026.
Produced by Chad Rodgers (Cape Cub, Finn Forster, Benjamin Francis Leftwich, Llovers, Loren Heat), ‘Play Nice!’ sees Marketplace deliver their bright, hook-laden alt-pop meets indie sound in all its glory. Bright guitar tones, subtle synths, driving drums, and grounding bass create a buoyant, breezy backdrop for the melodic and charismatic lead vocals. Equal parts cathartic and cutting, the track channels pent-up frustration into a punchy, guitar-driven diss track.
Vocalist Evie Rhodes explains: “Play Nice! was born from being thrown into the kind of situation which I had not been in since secondary school, and the frustration of feeling like I was long past the point of dealing with interpersonal issues in that sort of immature, psychological, mean-girl way. In its most basic form, it is a diss track, which was something I would never have expected I’d do. It kind of demonstrates how checked out I’d become with the situation, in that it’s basically years of frustrations boiling up to the surface that I wished I’d been able to express at the time.”
Following support from the likes of BBC Radio 1 and Radio X, ‘Play Nice!’ builds on Marketplace’s growing reputation for writing songs that balance emotional honesty with infectiously catchy melodies. Drawing influence from the likes of Alvvays, The Beths, Modern Baseball, and Talking Heads, the band blend angular guitars, synth textures, and dual vocals into a sound that feels both immediate and increasingly assured.
Marketplace’s momentum continues on the live circuit, with the band set to make their US showcase debut this March. They’ll appear at New Colossus Festival in New York from 3rd–8th March before heading to SXSW in Texas from 12th–18th March — a major milestone for the Hartlepool outfit and a clear signal of their growing international buzz. The shows follow a strong run of UK dates and festival appearances, including Kendal Calling, Y Not? Festival, Stockton Calling, and Butterfly Effect Festival, as well as previous support slots with Alfie Templeman and Swim Deep.
Marketplace continue to establish themselves as one of the most exciting new bands emerging from the North East. ‘Play Nice!’ marks the first of a series of releases through 2026 and signals a more fearless, direct approach to Marketplace’s sound.