Kicking off the football season, Manchester based BEKU and punk upstarts Loose Articles have linked on a collaborative new single ‘I Like Football Shirts’ to honour their joint obsession of collecting classic kits, with the football anthem of the year set for release on the 14th August 2025 via Alcopop! Records.

Heralding all the classics (Arsenal bruised banana, anyone?) both bands have received stacks of airplay across BBC 6 Music and Radio X, played stadiums, clubs, basements and every festival going, and have now come together as part of an ongoing collab to help Beku come to terms with an aggressive cancer, which plays a fundamental theme in his music.

Commenting on the track Beku says: “The track came about from my adoration of football, and with it my love for rare football shirts throughout the decades. I found myself frustrated at owning these quality bits of gear but not getting the opportunity to show them off. I go the football most weekends with my pals yet these glorious tees always end up covered by a jumper or my stone island jacket #GetTheBadgeIn. So yeah, I wrote this song as an excuse to show off some of my fav footie tops and let other people in the same situation shout about it.”

Loose Articles bassist Natalie Wardle says: “Me and Beku have been close friends since meeting on the college bus aged 16. We caused chaos during our teens, which then followed on to our adult years, when Beku joined Loose Articles in 2023 for festival season whilst our old drummer Louise was on maternity leave.”

“When I got a voice note from him one day saying he’s wrote a football themed song he wants me to feature on, how could I turn down the offer!? So after an hour smashing it out in the studio with Beku on strong prescription drugs to get him through bashing out the drums, and with the help of Erin Caine on backing vocals, and our pal Will Levison producing and playing nearly every instrument going, we had a banger! This isn’t just a football themed banger, but a celebration of Beku’s strength, humour, positivity and productivity during his battle of cancer.”

Beku is a proud Yorkshireman and musician originating from the glorious town of Halifax, West Yorkshire and now based in Manchester. His heritage stems from the revolutionary island Grenada, and he has recently been diagnosed with a rare and aggressive type of cancer which fuels his songwriting and attitude.

Since releasing his debut single ‘I See You Lurking’ earlier this year Beku has had strong support from BBC 6Music’s Lauren Lavern, Chris Hawkins and BBC Introducing’s Emily Pilbeam, with further airplay from John Kennedy on Radio X.

‘I Like Football Shirts’ is released 14th August 2025

Live Dates:

06.09.25 – London – Rich Mix @ LOUD WOMEN Fest
04.10.25 – Bristol – Attitude Festival
10.10.25 – Leeds – Oporto (w/PINS)
11.10.25 – Liverpool -Loft Arts Club (w/PINS)
18.10.25 – Preston – Rock AM River Festival
14.11.25 – Leeds – Brudenell Social Club (w/ HOUSE Of ALL)
15.11.25 – Liverpool – Arts Club Loft (w/ HOUSE Of ALL)
22.11.25 – Manchester – YES Pink Room (w/ HOUSE Of ALL)
11.12.25 – Sheffield – Siren Sounds Festival
18.12.25 – Manchester – Rebellion (Loose Articles Christmas Party)

Images Provided by Sinead Ferguson