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 new music this autumn, 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 new music this autumn, 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
Nominated for 'Best Breakthrough Act 2019' - Get Ready To Rock Radio
Featured in the '20 Acts To Watch In 2020' in Raw Ramp Magazine
Supported artists such as Elles Bailey, Dom Martin and Christone 'Kingfish' Ingram
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
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Media
MUSIC NEWS
"An absolute powerhouse"
Powerplay
"An early contender for album of the year without a doubt"
RnR Magazine
“Mature, fiery and excellent”
Reviews
"Watch their ascension continue"
Classic Rock Magazine
"Stunning sophmore...Fight Or Flight is a round dozen of perfectly crafted numbers that drip with soul, muscle and massive hooks, all wrapped in a gleaming and warm production"
Raw Ramp
"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
"An absolute powerhouse. Punchy, uplifting and heartfelt, the album gripped me from the start and had me excited to hear the next track."
Rocknews
"I cannot stress enough just how exceptional and gratifying this piece of work is. The alchemy of five supremely talented artists producing a sound that transcends the boundaries of their current station.
The planets have aligned, standby for lift off"
The planets have aligned, standby for lift off"
MetalTalk
“What Fight Or Flight shows is a band ready to headline arenas in the next five to ten years”
Powerplay Magazine
"Mature, fiery and excellent"
RnR
"An absolute powerhouse...a real statement, a maturing of the band and something that stands above most of the material I’ve heard this year."
Music-news
"Fight Or Flight is a 12 track delight that sees Brave Rival reach for the stars and make it. Mind blowing"
Rockgig
"harmonising in perfect synchronicity...delivered to perfection"
Down The Front Media
"Brave Rival is not like the other bands; they're better. Listen loudly."
Rock and Blues Muse
"With a sophomore album this solid the band are sure to be on the rise within the next five years. Here's to all being Bravians and long live classic rock!"
Photogroupie
The Church Sessions
Available to stream or buy
Life's Machine
The debut album - buy it or stream it
