Live – Winter Gardens | Opal Mag | Lucy Darke at The Hope & Ruin

Winter Gardens, Opal Mag & Lucy Darke at The Hope & Ruin, Brighton, 7th October 2026

Two of Sussex coast’s most exciting rising acts, Opal Mag and Winter Gardens, brought a double-header of homegrown talent to Brighton’s Hope & Ruin on Wednesday.

I sadly missed the opening act, Tears on the Table, due to other commitments, but will be taking a listen for sure. Also on the bill, Lucy Darke played a largely solo set, occasionally accompanied by violin, offering a soft and engaging performance.

Third to the stage, Opal Mag lived up to expectations (and they were high amongst the crowd) with a compelling set, including tracks from their accomplished debut EP Goodbye Lavender released earlier this year.

Closing the night, Winter Gardens were on typically strong form, delivering another excellent live performance. Their consistency on stage comes as no surprise, with this year’s mini-album Uncomfortable/Unlovable further cementing their place as a band to watch. A splattering of Cocteau Twins with an added energy burst is never going to disappoint.

Credit to Hidden Herd for once again curating a top-quality line-up as part of their new music showcases – Brighton is lucky to have this as a regular fixture for music fans and artists alike.

Lucy Darke