About Us
UK Blues Awards 2025 Band of the Year Winners
Brave Rival are a rock band on a mission. No gimmicks, no frills—just raw, high-energy, riff-driven rock that demands to be heard.
The Portsmouth-based quartet - vocalist Lindsey Bonnick, guitarist Ed ‘the Shred’ Clarke, bassist Billy Dedman, and drummer Donna Peters have earned a reputation as one of the UK’s most electrifying live acts. Their powerhouse performances have been winning over crowds across the country, with critics and fans alike praising their energy, musicianship, and undeniable chemistry on stage.
It’s no surprise they’ve caught the ear of blues-rock heavyweight Joe Bonamassa, who called them one of his “favourite discoveries,” or that Classic Rock Magazine hailed their sound as “packed with ambition, fire, and killer songs.”
Now crowned Band of the Year at the 2025 UK Blues Awards after the release of their first two albums, Brave Rival are gearing up to release their new EP 5 to 4 this October, showcasing their most dynamic, hard-hitting material yet. With soaring vocals, thunderous grooves, and fearless song writing, this new chapter promises to hit harder than ever.
Brave Rival are only getting started. Get on board or get out of the way.
Thank you to former founding member Chloe Josephine for being part of our journey.
The Portsmouth-based quartet - vocalist Lindsey Bonnick, guitarist Ed ‘the Shred’ Clarke, bassist Billy Dedman, and drummer Donna Peters have earned a reputation as one of the UK’s most electrifying live acts. Their powerhouse performances have been winning over crowds across the country, with critics and fans alike praising their energy, musicianship, and undeniable chemistry on stage.
It’s no surprise they’ve caught the ear of blues-rock heavyweight Joe Bonamassa, who called them one of his “favourite discoveries,” or that Classic Rock Magazine hailed their sound as “packed with ambition, fire, and killer songs.”
Now crowned Band of the Year at the 2025 UK Blues Awards after the release of their first two albums, Brave Rival are gearing up to release their new EP 5 to 4 this October, showcasing their most dynamic, hard-hitting material yet. With soaring vocals, thunderous grooves, and fearless song writing, this new chapter promises to hit harder than ever.
Brave Rival are only getting started. Get on board or get out of the way.
Thank you to former founding member Chloe Josephine for being part of our journey.
Accomplishments
UK Blues Awards 2025 Band of the Year Winners
Nominated for five UK Blues Awards 2023 for Blues band of the year, Acoustic act of the year, Blues vocalist of the year (Lindsey and Chloe), Instrumentalist of the year (Donna and Ed), Jules Fothergil young UK blues artist of the year (Ed) and album of the year
Nominated for five UK Blues Awards 2023 for Blues band of the year, Acoustic act of the year, Blues vocalist of the year (Lindsey and Chloe), Instrumentalist of the year (Donna and Ed), Jules Fothergil young UK blues artist of the year (Ed) and album of the year
Winner - Breakthrough Act 2022 - Get Ready To Rock Radio
Winner - Best reviewed album of 2022 - Wrinkly Rockers Club
Fourth most played album of 2022 in the IBBA charts
Featured in the '20 Acts To Watch In 2020' in Raw Ramp Magazine
Nominated for 'Best Breakthrough Act 2019' - Get Ready To Rock Radio
Supported artists such as Elles Bailey, Christone 'Kingfish' Ingram, FM and Robert Jon & the Wreck
FINALISTS
EMERGING ACT OF THE YEAR
FINALISTS
BAND OF THE YEAR
ALBUM OF THE YEAR (LIFE'S MACHINE)
INSTRUMENTALIST OF THE YEAR (ED CLARKE)
FINALISTS
BAND OF THE YEAR
VOCALIST OF THE YEAR (CHLOE JOESEPHINE)
INSTRUMENTALIST OF THE YEAR (ED CLARKE)
WINNERS
BAND OF THE YEAR
Notable Appearances
Similar Artists
Heart
Fleetwood Mac
Led Zeppelin
Tedeschi Trucks Band
Thunder
Beth Hart
Larkin Poe
Media
PRESS
BLUES ROCK REVIEW
"5 to 4 is a really creative and dynamic record" 8/10
ROCK REGENERATION
"Fearless four piece"
JACE MEDIA
"Oh man, this is great. It's biting rock n roll that's well played and shows how well these guys craft a song"
PORTSMOUTH NEWS
“Jaw dropping”
METAL PLANET MUSIC
"Unstoppable quantum energy"
RAW RAMP
"Modern take on classic rock"
DEVOLUTION
“Watch this space”
Singles Reviews
"CONTROL - Brave Rival's heaviest track yet is also one of their best - all driving hard rock riffs, moody melody, strong chorus and a powerhouse rock'n'soul vocal"
Classic Rock Magazine
"CONTROL - Their heaviest, gnarliest, overwhelming song...all piss and vinegar venom that roars and rages for four fist fighting minutes"
Planet Mosh
"The sheer attack and joy that is in their music is completely invigorating and the quality of their playing is stunning. They rock like beasts and the blues at the soul of their sound is strong and powerful"
Music News
"POISON - Walking a tightrope between 70's rock and modern production, the whole has a delicious tension and its driving gang vocals are built for arenas of screaming fans"
Metal Planet Music
"POISON - A riff based roadburner that screams along a highway of fire...a mix of sexuality, firey drama and inner darkness"
Raw ramp
The Church Sessions
Available to stream or buy
Life's Machine
The debut album - buy it or stream it
