Greene King Untapped: behind the scenes

The buzz of the crowd, the roaring applause and the palpable sense of anticipation before that first chord is struck. Here at Greene King, we love music, and we love it live. So much so that this year, we organised Greene King Untapped, a nationwide grassroots music competition, backed by Jack Daniels & Coke and supported by none other than our very own 2022 Eurovision Song Contest representative. Yep, we’re talking about the legendary Sam Ryder.

Greene King Untapped is officially wrapped up for now, and what a phenomenal celebration of live music it was! With a £10,000 cash prize, a live-to-vinyl recording session at Metropolis Studios, a mentoring session with Sam Ryder and the chance to perform at Pub in the Park 2026 up for grabs, each and every act gave it their all. So, now the dust has settled, let’s take a closer look at our incredible finalists. We’ll even reveal the winner, as a little treat!

Amber Saqladi

First up, we have Amber Saqladi, a singer-songwriter from Leicestershire. Her unique style of music blends elements from country, folk, rock and pop with relatable themes of love, heartbreak, vulnerability and the female experience. Her debut single 'Liquor' was described as a "perfect storm of lyrics, sound, performance and production that is quite unlike anything you'll hear all year" in a recent review by w21Music.

After all, when you receive a TikTok comment from Taylor Swift praising your performance, you know you've made it!

Luson

Luke Wallington, AKA, Luson is an up-and-coming singer-songwriter from Manchester, a city that has repeatedly produced music legend after music legend. Inspired by the likes of Aretha Franklin, Fleetwood Mac and Stevie Wonder, Luson’s music is heavily influenced by R&B and soul, with powerful lyrics and emotional depth.

The Divide

Next up, we have a five-piece rock band from Medway, Kent, The Divide. It’s hard to believe this emerging band has only been together for just over a year, seeing as they’ve already clocked up an impressive string of gigs, from local pubs to intimate music festivals. The world is your oyster, lads. We can’t wait to see you go from strength to strength. Be sure to keep an ear out for their debut single.

Rhiannon Paige

She’s a little bit country. She’s a little bit rock n roll. It’s Rhiannon Paige! This country-pop-rock powerhouse hails from Bristol and has already amassed an impressive list of achievements since going pro in 2022, such as placing in the top 50 out of over 20,000 artists in The Road to Nashville competition and opening for the legendary Jools Holland at the Good Times Festival earlier this year. If you enjoy powerful vocals, heartfelt lyrics and country flair, go check Rhiannon’s socials out.

MAYAlikestorunhermouth

Open up that pit, because MAYAlikestorunhermouth, often abbreviated as MAYA, is here to bring the energy. Influenced by a range of genres from indie to post-punk, this London-based alternative rock band is best known for their engaging live shows and powerful stage presence. And have band, will travel, because although MAYA are well-known in the London alternative music scene, they’ve begun to venture further afield, so make sure you catch a show near you.

James Pacy

Put your hands together for James Pacy, a singer-songwriter who pours every emotion into his music, combining relatable themes of love and self-discovery with catchy melodies and lyrics that get under your skin in the best way possible. With a busy schedule of live music shows and numerous radio spins, James’ career is flourishing. In fact, his single “Escape (Just Be You)” has hit over 21,000 streams on Spotify… better go add to it, then!

Dissenter

From Greene King to Green Day – everybody welcome Dissenter to the stage! Bringing power and energy to the competition, every distorted power chord and defiant lyric pays homage to the giants of punk, metal and grunge. One thing’s for sure; Dissenter’s authenticity is electrifying. Exactly what we love about live music. Better yet, their journey has only just begun, so keep an eye on Dissenter’s socials to see what Tom, Alex, Christian and Kaden get up to next.

The Pronounced

Described on their official website as a “dynamic six-piece band dedicated to delivering high-energy, professional live entertainment”, The Pronounced is a vibrant blend of rock, pop, blues and jazz – so, a little bit of something for everyone! With their diverse setlist of classic covers and chart-toppers, The Pronounced sure know how to get a crowd going. We hear they do private events, too, so if you want to liven up your next big function, you know where to go!

 

The multi-talented Jasmin walks away with the grand prize of £10,000, plus a live-to-vinyl recording session at Metropolis Studios, a mentoring session with the amazing Sam Ryder and a slot at our very own Pub in the Park 2026. Well-deserved, so we say! We’ll be waiting with bated breath for her debut single and EP.

Live music with Greene King Pubs

The Greene King Untapped final took place at the George in Southwark, an extraordinary pub loved for its vibrant atmosphere and historic charm. It’s also renowned for hosting cracking gigs, so naturally, it was always going to be a strong contender. However, many of our venues live and breathe live entertainment, having built their reputations on hosting musical talent from big names to aspiring beginners (and the great food and drinks help too). If we gave them all a shout-out, we’d be here forever and a day, so here are a few of our favourites…

The Hope & Anchor, Islington

We can’t talk about live music without talking about the Hope and Anchor! This historic pub is well-renowned for its pivotal role in punk history as a venue for both established and up-and-coming acts during the late 70s and early 80s. Notable legends who once graced the stage include The Clash, The Specials, The Damned and X-Ray Spex.

The Beehive Inn, Edinburgh

The Beehive Inn sits in the heart of Edinburgh’s Grassmarket, a vibrant area famous for its pubs, restaurants and live music venues. Loved by both locals and tourists for its impressive selection of whisky and beers, the Beehive Inn has also become quite the hotspot for live music, regularly hosting emerging talent in a warm, welcoming and supportive setting.

The Frog & Parrot, Sheffield

Buckle up, indie fans, because the Frog & Parrot is a pub steeped in music history. Famed as the regular meet-up spot for The Arctic Monkeys during their formative years, this celebrated pub has long been a hotbed of musical talent – and the name-dropping doesn’t stop there! The Frog and Parrot has also been frequented by Joe Cocker and Catfish and the Bottlemen, to name a few.

Keep live music alive

The competition may have come to an end for now, but we’ve got some good news: Greene King Untapped will be making its grand return next year, so stay tuned and sit tight for details. In the meantime, why not find out what’s on at a Greene King pub near you and support your local grassroots music scene? Here’s to live music!