People Laughing are a Nottingham-based rock band formed by Matt Grocott, Luke Hallam and Ollie Carnell. What began as early demos written by Grocott (formerly of The Shrives) quickly evolved into a focused project built around immediacy, weight and live impact.

Built on direct, emotionally charged songwriting, the band pair distorted, Strokes-leaning vocals with driving drums, melodic low end and guitars designed for live rooms rather than playlists. The emphasis has always been clarity and connection over overproduction — music that feels urgent rather than polished.

Their debut single One Thing was released in January 2026 and picked up early support from BBC Introducing alongside independent radio play. Shortly after release, the band played their first live show at a sold-out Rescue Rooms supporting The Molotovs.

In February, they returned with second single Mano a Mano — a heavier, more confrontational release exploring burnout, anxiety and pressure, pushing their sound into sharper territory.

Despite being a new project, People Laughing have already secured a slot at Splendour Festival and were named by LeftLion Magazine as one of Nottingham’s bands to watch in 2026. On air, Dean Jackson described them as “a band going places.”

People Laughing are building momentum through shows, radio support and word of mouth, with a clear focus on growth and scale.