The Ultimate Indie Anthems Playlist: 50 Songs That Define a Generation
Whether you're a seasoned indie club veteran or just discovering the genre, these are the songs you NEED to know. Every single one of these tracks gets the Firewater crowd moving.
The Untouchables (10 Songs Everyone Knows)
1. The Killers - "Mr. Brightside"
The undisputed king of indie anthems. Even your nan knows this one. When this drops at 1am, EVERYONE sings.
2. Arctic Monkeys - "I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor"
Alex Turner's gift to indie club DJs. Impossible not to dance to.
3. The Strokes - "Last Nite"
The New York anthem that conquered the world. That bassline is iconic.
4. Franz Ferdinand - "Take Me Out"
The guitar riff that defined the 2000s. That tempo change though.
5. Blur - "Song 2"
Two minutes of pure adrenaline. "WOOHOO!"
6. Oasis - "Don't Look Back in Anger"
The emotional climax of every indie night. Crowd singalong mandatory.
7. Kasabian - "Fire"
Peak Leicester energy. Gets everyone moving without fail.
8. Bloc Party - "Banquet"
Angular guitars and desperate vocals. Still hits different.
9. Kaiser Chiefs - "I Predict a Riot"
Yorkshire's finest contribution to indie rock. Prophetic lyrics, too.
10. Two Door Cinema Club - "What You Know"
Northern Irish perfection. That intro gives you goosebumps every time.
Arctic Monkeys Deep Cuts (5 Essential Album Tracks)
11. "Fluorescent Adolescent"
The song that named our Friday night. Bittersweet brilliance.
12. "When the Sun Goes Down"
Social commentary disguised as a banger.
13. "Do I Wanna Know?"
The AM era classic. That bass is filthy.
14. "R U Mine?"
Garage rock perfection. Sheffield's finest.
15. "505"
The emotional one. Piano outro makes grown men cry.
The American Invasion (10 Transatlantic Hits)
16. The Strokes - "Reptilia"
Even better than "Last Nite" fight me.
17. The Killers - "When You Were Young"
Brandon Flowers at his most anthemic.
18. Interpol - "Evil"
The "other" New York band finally getting their flowers.
19. MGMT - "Kids"
Psychedelic perfection. Everyone knows the synth line.
20. Phoenix - "1901"
French indie-pop that conquered indie clubs worldwide.
21. Yeah Yeah Yeahs - "Maps"
Karen O's voice should be protected at all costs.
22. The White Stripes - "Seven Nation Army"
That riff. Sports stadiums stole it from indie clubs.
23. The Killers - "Somebody Told Me"
Brandon Flowers' androgynous anthem.
24. Tame Impala - "Let It Happen"
Eight minutes of psychedelic bliss (clubs play the radio edit).
25. Local Natives - "Wide Eyes"
Criminally underrated. Deserves more love.
British Indie Essentials (10 Homegrown Bangers)
26. The Libertines - "Can't Stand Me Now"
Pete and Carl's toxic relationship produced bangers.
27. Pulp - "Common People"
Jarvis Cocker's masterpiece. Social commentary with a beat.
28. The Fratellis - "Chelsea Dagger"
Scottish football chant turned indie anthem.
29. Maximo Park - "Apply Some Pressure"
Newcastle's finest contribution to indie rock.
30. The Cribs - "Men's Needs"
Wakefield brothers making noise.
31. The Kooks - "Naive"
Catchy as hell. Don't pretend you don't sing along.
32. Hard-Fi - "Hard to Beat"
Electronic indie before it was cool.
33. The Wombats - "Let's Dance to Joy Division"
Liverpool irony meets indie rock.
34. Razorlight - "America"
Johnny Borrell's ego produced some bangers.
35. The View - "Same Jeans"
Scottish indie-pop perfection.
Dance-Floor Fillers (10 Guaranteed Movers)
36. Hot Chip - "Over and Over"
Electronic indie crossover done right.
37. LCD Soundsystem - "Daft Punk Is Playing at My House"
James Murphy's genius in five minutes.
38. Foals - "Spanish Sahara"
Build-up payoff perfection.
39. The Rapture - "House of Jealous Lovers"
Dance-punk at its finest.
40. !!! (Chk Chk Chk) - "Me and Giuliani Down by the School Yard"
Impossible to stand still.
41. Friendly Fires - "Jump in the Pool"
St Albans' gift to indie dance floors.
42. Metronomy - "The Look"
Quirky British electronica.
43. Cut Copy - "Lights & Music"
Australian dance-rock excellence.
44. Passion Pit - "Take a Walk"
Synth-pop perfection.
45. Empire of the Sun - "Walking on a Dream"
Aussie synth-pop that soundtracked a generation.
Modern Essentials (5 New Classics)
46. Wet Leg - "Chaise Longue"
The future of indie rock is female.
47. The Last Dinner Party - "Nothing Matters"
Theatrical indie for the TikTok generation.
48. Yard Act - "The Overload"
Post-punk revival done properly.
49. Inhaler - "It Won't Always Be Like This"
Dublin keeping rock alive.
50. The Snuts - "Glasgow"
New Scottish indie proving there's life after Biffy Clyro.
How to Use This List
Pregaming at Home
Start with tracks 1-15. Build the energy before you leave.
Early Night (10pm-11pm)
Tracks 16-30. Setting the vibe before peak time.
Peak Time (11pm-1am)
Tracks 1-10 + 36-45. Maximum energy required.
Late Night (1am-close)
Mix everything. Energy is high, inhibitions are low.
The Firewater Formula
Our DJs know that a great indie night isn't just about playing hits. It's about:
- Pacing - Building energy throughout the night
- Reading the room - Knowing when to drop which track
- Mixing eras - Classic 2000s with modern bangers
- Crowd participation - Songs everyone can sing
DJ Tips for Home
Want to recreate the Firewater energy at pres?
- Start slow - Don't peak too early
- Mix decades - Keep it fresh
- Know your crowd - Students love different tracks than 30-year-olds
- Build to Oasis - Always end on a singalong
The Verdict
These 50 songs represent the best of British and American indie rock. They've soundtracked countless nights at Firewater Glasgow and Dundee. Learn them. Love them. Lose your voice screaming them.
Hear all these tracks and more at Firewater Glasgow & Dundee.
See you on the dance floor.