At the Edge of the Sea Festival, Brighton, 8th-9th August 2025 – curated by The Wedding Present
A long-standing occurrence on the Brighton festival calendar, and taking its name from the band’s 1988 track At the Edge of the Sea, David Gedge is back to curate this year’s event with his band The Wedding Present. It’s a takeover of the iconic seafront venue Concorde 2 which brings fans from far and wide every year and is unsurprisingly sold out.
With more to come today, Mike Burnell was there last night to catchThe Wedding Presentplay to the packed room.
DedFest, Crockstead Fields, Lewes, 16th August 2025
Returning to the East Sussex countryside, DedFest is back to showcase a cluster of breakthrough artists. Co-presented by DedBest Distillery and Hidden Herd, the combination of live music and locally handcrafted drinks is surely a winning combination for a summertime Saturday.
Curating a great selection of music, the festival is family (and dog) friendly so we’ll certainly be hoping to catch up with some four-legged friends as well as taking in sets from talented acts, some of whom we’ve seen before and some we’ve still to discover.
The impressive line-up consists of (deep breath)… Atticomatic, ChitChat, Comforts, Congratulations, Fukushima Dolphin, Gaffa Tape Sandy, Ideal Living, Keg, Lean with the Breeze, Lucy Darke, Moon Idle, Mulimba, Nature TV, Projector, Room Service, Sansom, Telecom, The Rapports, The Roebucks, The Stanford Family Band, Trip Westerns and Winter Gardens. You’ll find many of these covered in our previous features – just enter the artist name into the search box at the bottom of any page.
In the last few weeks it’s been good to see the Brighton music scene thriving, with new venues opening their doors and new music nights starting up at existing venues. The grassroots community is paramount for emerging artists taking their first steps towards bigger venues and festival stages, and getting their names known on a wider scale. It’s great that festivals include new music stages too, again allowing newer artists from all genres to gain exposure. August sees us covering a selection of music events big and small – come say hi if you see us around.
Live – Comforts | Mulimba | Winter Gardens | Fukushima Dolphin at The Hope & Ruin, Brighton, 23rd July 2025
Quite the mix of musical styles on display at The Hope & Ruin on Wednesday, starting with a sprinkling of psychedelic folk-rock from Fukushima Dolphin. Maintaining the tradition of experimental Brighton duos and throwing in a massive hat for good measure, it was a gentle and upbeat start to proceedings.
Next up and kind of stealing the show a bit for me, Winter Gardens are a prime example of an act who’ve developed over the years from decent but tentative beginnings to mastering the art of making shoegaze stand out in style. Hints of The Cure and Cocteaus come through, but their performance is all of their own, tight-knit and with momentum constantly building. An excellent set.
Another change of pace and genre as Mulimba blends threads of hip-hop, rock and gospel to a backdrop of heavy beats. Technical issues caused some delays and ultimately made for a condensed set – would be good to catch more.
Headliners for the night were Comforts, delivering indie-rock with mandatory hooks and plenty of energy. Making a dent on the festival circuit, they release their debut EP later this year. Good to see the room busy on a school night and surely something for everyone in the mix. All four acts play at this year’s Dedfest on 16th August – tickets here.
Velvetine, Swallowtail & Le Lamb at The Rossi Bar, Brighton, 17th July 2025
Take two promoters with a love for live music, three acts putting their own mark on live performance, one short walk from Brighton train station to The Rossi Bar, and you have yourself an excellent way to spend a very misty Thursday night.
First up, and with the crowd already flocking in (no apologies there, many more ovine puns I’m omitting to include), Le Lamb combine theatrics with musical shades of dark and light, elements of avant-rock through to psych-noir – if there is such a thing – popping up across the set. Always intriguing, don’t be surprised to see bigger dates coming through for them soon.
The filling in the sonic sandwich came from another local act, Swallowtail. More juxtapositions of genres, think hefty shoegaze that lures you in and smacks you round the shoulders just as you’re getting comfortable… in a good way, in case of any doubt. The ones to watch list just keeps getting longer.
Closing the evening, Velvetine brought a case load of glammed up alt-rock down from London with them. The four piece have developed a heavier sound and performance over the last couple of years, and seem very at home picking up the headline slot. It may have been foggy outside, but inside the talent roster was clear for all to see. Gallery below.
WaterBear Music Bar, Brighton – Launch Party, 16th July 2025
The last few years have seen a number of Brighton’s grassroots music venues fall victim to closure and hard-fought applications to change the purpose of neighbouring buildings, causing concern for their future. All of that makes it even more pleasing to see a new venue open its doors. Under the stewardship of WaterBear – The College of Music, what once was Latest Music Bar has become WaterBear Music Bar, becoming their second live music space in the city, set up to host touring acts, student showcases and events tied to the college’s educational programmes.
With a solid opening line-up featuring Congratulations, Sametime, Dirtsharks & Tia Ice, the launch party last week got things off to a great start, and it’s good to see that the venue will be part of the Keeping Music Live campaign launched with the Music Venue Trust, raising awareness of the importance of grassroots venues in offering a start point for a huge array of homegrown and touring artists.
Sam Rushton, Events and Careers Coordinator at WaterBear, said: “We’re thrilled to announce the opening of WaterBear Music Bar. This is a building with serious history. We’re proud to continue that story, creating a space for gigs, talks, club nights and more.”
Gallery below from what will hopefully be the first of many nights of live music to come.
Following the surprise release of latest album, National Average,Big Specialare out on the road sharing their excellent new tunes at record shops across the country. Yesterday saw their takeover at Resident in Brighton – an immersive performance as always. Mike Burnell was there to capture some awesome shots for us – gallery below.
Allie X & Maiah Manser at Concorde 2, Brighton, 11th July 2025
Touring with her third studio album Girl with No Face, Canada’s Allie X brought her own brand of diaphanous electro-pop to Concorde 2 in Brighton last night. Support came from equally ethereal singer-songwriter Maiah Manser.
For may years now, Victorious has kept its promise of being ‘the most beautifully located festival in the UK, featuring some of the world’s biggest artists’. Set up over the expanse of Southsea Common, the view across the Solent runs along the side of some of the stages and you might just spot an occasional ferry coming in from the Isle of Wight.
As well as the music, there are little pockets of traders selling a wide range of merchandise, over 100 food stalls and a kids’ arena that makes this an attractive option for families as well as hardened gig-goers.
But the music, of course, is the main attraction and there are once again some big names up for grabs over the three days. Headliners this year are Queens of the Stone Age (Fri), Vampire Weekend (Sat) and Kings of Leon (Sun). Elsewhere on the bill you’ll find the eclectic mix of Michael Kiwanuka, Madness, Sprints, Lime Garden, The Charlatans, The Last Dinner Party, Betty Boo, The Pill and Bloc Party – amongst many, many more.
As well as putting Portsmouth on the events map, Victorious has been active in supporting the local community through charitable donations and hours given supporting local schemes, contributing over £830,000 to local charities and good causes since 2014.
For more information, details on the line-up, and remaining tickets, head to thefestival website here
Guilfest 2025, Stoke Park, Guildford, 5th July 2025
Now firmly back on the calendar after returning to Stoke Park last year,Guilfesthas the ideal size and content to live up to its family friendly tagline. With a stack of artists from 70s – 90s on the line-up, loads of children’s activities in the designated Kidzone, and a decent choice of food traders, there’s plenty to keep everyone entertained.
Gallery of highlights from Saturday by Mike Burnell below
Fast Money Music, The Prince Albert, Brighton, 2nd July 2025
There was a definite buzz around the support act at Brighton’s Prince Albert on Wednesday night. Bringing a composite mix of influences to Fast Money Music, Nick Hinman’s time spent in New York comes through with jagged artful punk undertones reminiscent of big hitters Suicide and Television. That said, there’s a strong hint of the glam era in there from the band too, with a saxophone that wouldn’t sound amiss on a Roxy Music track, and which elicited the most eloquent of compliments with “Your sax is sexy as fuck” hailing from the crowd.
Now based in East London, Hinman’s stage presence suggests he is wholly at ease performing and, based on the audience reaction, it feels as though we’ll be hearing a lot more from Fast Money Music, hopefully with more live shows to come. There’s an album expected for release next year and a couple more shows on this tour supporting Tempesst. I’m pretty sure they’re sold out but if you get the chance to grab a ticket, it’s a high recommendation: 5th July – The Wardrobe, Leeds 6th July – The Globe, Cardiff
Reading & Leeds has moved consciously towards being more of a melting pot of genres and styles of music over recent years, and 2025 offers up some big headliners in the shape of Hozier / Chappell Roan, Bring Me The Horizon / Limp Bizkit, and Travis Scott / D-Block Europe.
Elsewhere on the line-up there are some musical gems to draw out, including stalwarts of sophisticated indie, Bloc Party – a band who snuck above the radar with their debut Silent Alarm twenty years ago, an album that remains one of the best out there. With Kele’s vocals still standing strong, they’re always a good bet live.
There are a bunch of acts who’ve emerged in the last few years that will be well worth a watch too – Amyl & The Sniffers, Antony Szmierek, Been Stellar, Heartworms, SNAYX, The Pill and VLURE all making notable appearances on the bill (yes, we went alphabetically, there has to some order amongst the chaos). And if you need more of a one-to-one listening experience, the silent disco will be there for you to showcase your best moves without anyone knowing whether you’re keeping time or not.
Reading, as the older of the two festivals, is now the longest running music festival of its kind in the UK. Some huge names in the UK and internationally have played there over the decades. 2025 might just be your chance to catch the one that gets talked about for years to come.
For more information, details on the line-up, and remaining tickets, head to thefestival website here
Friday this week sees the release of MILK POOL, the candidly intimate new album fromMerpire(Naarm / Melbourne-based Rhiannon Atkinson-Howatt). Blending ‘sexy and safety’ together, the songs manage to be hypnotic and playful at the same time. Check out our chat below for a glimpse into how the album was formed, early musical exposure, and some clandestine plans for the future…
Hey, how are you and whereabouts in the world are you right now?
Hi, I am a little cold but content – sitting with my hot water bottle in my lap at my desk in the bay window of my room in Brunswick, Melbourne, Australia.
Your new album Milk Pool is due for release soon, how much of a departure is it from what you’ve done before?
I would say it’s not a drastic departure from my first record, Simulation Ride. More of a building up and out from that world. An expansion in every direction – sonically, lyrically, emotionally. From collecting experiences of joy and hardship since the first record, I’ve grown bolder and more confident in my production ideas. It’s probably just the gift of getting older too, giving less fucks what anyone thinks.
Making these choices is helped greatly by the strong, long-standing friendship I have with two of the producers on the record, James Seymour and Elizabeth M Drummond. I trust them and their truly genius, intuitive ideas. We have a language we use to find quirky sounds to allow for more vulnerability and more creativity to shine through the recordings. I’m very grateful for this, it’s rare.
With this record, I wanted to express more of the darker and sexier side of me. Many of the songs are my expression of reclaiming safety in feeling sexy. Safety and sexy are historically not two feelings that sit together for me. I know I’m not alone in this and I’m hoping these songs of reclamation can be helpful for listeners who can relate. Writing music that feels like a safe, controlled darkness is a space for me and the listeners to confess or share while connecting, without needing to say anything directly.
And how was the recording process, do you go into the studio knowing exactly how you want things to sound or does it evolve once you’re there?
I think one thing that makes this album so special is that I recorded it in 4 different places and over a year. I actually did that with the last record too. That was the luxury of being able to take my time and a really relaxed approach to recording. It takes the pressure off and allows me to zoom out and make this beautiful Frankenstein’s monster of an album.
While writing on guitar, I often get melodies or riffs for other instruments pop up in my head, as well as textures so I’ll make note of these for studio time. I also save songs in a playlist from other artists whose vocal sound, or production element I’m drawn to. Sometimes it’s a mixing reference like being drawn to where something sits in the mix. Once in the studio with these people I trust and have a similar brain to, I’m very open to others ideas that come up. It’s really about what the song is calling for rather than trying to control and apply any preconceived ideas that may not need to stay.
What’s the story of one of the tracks?
Rosanna, produced by Elizabeth M Drummond, is one of my many favourites on the record. It’s got this stalking, sinister feel. It’s tragic and sad and sexy yet light and playful in the verses. While the details in the story are made up, the feelings and the situations in the story have come up for me in my life. I’m leaving this one up to the listener to decide what it’s about. I think it’ll change depending on what you think of in your own life when you hear the chorus, ‘No matter how good we get, I think we’re in trouble, baby’. Is it a breakup? Is it two friends fighting against sexual chemistry? Is it both? I wrote it on a friends’ acoustic guitar in their room and sent it to Liz (Elizabeth M Drummond) straight away. We would always send each other song ideas. She literally had one go at producing it and she did a stunning job at deepening the heartache in the story. It’s like she grabbed the heart of the song and tightened her fist around it a little harder. I love it.
Can you fill us in on the Naarm/Melbourne music scene where you’ve been based – favourite local artists and venues?
The talent in Naarm is seriously unbelievable. The heartbreaking thing about that is what we continue to be up against – “cultural cringe”, cost of living, the government pulling funding from grants, the way we carry the state of the world in our hearts so heavily and the lack of respect from our wider society / economy. Despite all of this, we’re stronger together. We share tips, kitchens, stages, bands, music gear, couches, contacts. I have too many favourite artists but here’s a bunch who have been releasing some stunning stuff in the last couple of years – Elizabeth M. Drummond, Hannah McKittrick, Public Figures, Fan Girl, Planet:Pain, Garage Sale, Mallrat, World’s Best Neighbours, Juice Webster, Armlock, Mika James.
Favourite venues include Northcote Social Club, Corner Hotel, Merri Creek Tavern, Croxton Bandroom, The Old Bar, Howler, Forum.
What kind of music was playing in your house when you were growing up?
My dad would vacuum on the weekends and he’d blast, and I mean BLAST Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Pink Floyd, Queen, The Beatles. I think my first introduction to rock music was being awoken to the sound of Robert Plant wailing – terrifying for a little kid, but the fear turned to curiosity, which turned to love and an obsession for music obviously.
You can choose three albums to keep on your playlist forever – what are you going for?
Jeez, that is so tricky. There’s not enough time and I don’t have a good enough memory to nail this question so I’m going to slightly cheat and firstly say a compilation of Debussy, Vivaldi, Mozart and Emahoy Tsegué-Maryam Guèbrou, Elizabeth M. Drummond – Congratulations EP and my own album, MILK POOL!? haha I don’t want to lose any memory of that!
Your socials describe your music as ‘living somewhere between the rom-com and horror movie sections’ in your mind. If you could soundtrack any film past or present, what would you choose?
Looove this question. The individual songs on my album would call for some specific scenes – ‘a second coming of age’ or ‘coming of sexiness’. A couple of dark, sinister/stalking scenes, definitely a montage where the whole song plays out the whole scene, a car chase. It’s a tie for me between Swimfan and Britney Spears’ Crossroads.
So what’s next – are there live dates on the horizon and what else does 2025 have in store for you?
There sure are. I’m about to take to the skies for a solo East Coast tour of Australia. After that, I have a couple of festivals with my band such as Town Folk Fest in Castlemaine, Victoria. I’ve got a few more shows planned for the year but alas, I cannot say any more than that. I’ve also got a few visual surprises underway, collaborating with other artists that I’m directing, but again, my lips are sealed I’m afraid!
Photographers – hopefully you’ve seen the first of our posts giving details for our next online gallery; the theme is ‘Portraits’ and submissions are open for candid or posed shots, full details on our Instagram. Look forward to seeing what comes through!
Elsewhere, as always, we’ll have plenty of new and live music for you, starting off today with an interview with Naarm/Melbourne based artist Merpire ahead of her new album release on Friday.
Gary Numan at Concorde 2, Brighton, 24th June 2025
Warming up for Glastonbury, Gary Numan is playing three sold out shows at Brighton’s Concorde 2, mixing songs old and new from his extensive and accomplished career. Mike Burnell was at show number one to catch the atmosphere in pictures, gallery below. Support came from electro-rock outfit Agency V.
Gary Numan performs on the Park Stage at Glastonbury on 28th June, and has more UK dates booked in November.
thistle. | goodbye | CARNE | Ain’t at The Hope & Ruin, 18th June 2025
Last week’s Hidden Herd showcase began with a stripped back performance from Ain’t, missing their drummer and bassist due to illness. Seemingly their usual set would be much louder but that didn’t take away from how good they sounded as a three-piece. With guitar-backed smooth vocals and stories of a goblin man on a mobility scooter, and a lemon drizzle cake on a train, I’m not sure anyone was too disappointed by the enforced change in plans – would be great to see what they can do as a full band if this was anything to go by.
Next up, I suspect CARNE have been listening to Hole with the volume up – a definite sense of indie-grunge throughout their set, and bringing bags of energy.
Following on, goodbye have loads of local support and that’s understandable. I think this was the best set of theirs I’ve seen; everything seemed to flow in a very cohesive trajectory, their alt/dream pop songs sounding effortless. There was even a stop off to have the crowd sing Happy Birthday to bassist Jake (favourite animal at the zoo possibly a lion, and extra points for a MBV T-shirt).
And so to headliners thistle. Talk about ending the night with a bang, the trio wasted no time diving straight into a collection of fast, abrasive tunes that really lifted the room. They reminded me a little of the brilliant TRAAMS turned up to 11. Debut EP it’s nice to see you, stranger is due for release at the start of July and everything points to it being one of the notable releases of 2025. Catch them if you can.
Last year saw Glasgow via South London artist Psweatpants take home the prize for Best Hip Hop at the Scottish Alternative Music Awards. There has always been a clever fusion of genres in his music, and with latest single, the aptly titled ChAnge, things have moved along again. I love to see musicians unafraid of jumping off-course and taking their music in a different direction, and the new track brings a more subtle, exposed insight into what lies underneath the harder-hitting grime/garage influenced releases of the past few years. With hints of early Earl Sweatshirt (the perfect accompaniment to sweatpants when you think about it), ChAnge sets the bar high for what’s to come next.
Psweatpants says, “With ChAnge, I take a bold step into new territory—both musically and personally. Departing from the usual hard-hitting rap sound, this track leans into an indie-alternative lane, revealing a more introspective side. Built around raw guitar tones and stripped-back production, ChAnge explores the growing pains of becoming a better person. It’s a confession, a self-check, and a moment of clarity all in one. Lyrically vulnerable and sonically fresh, the track captures me at a turning point—pushing past his past and carving out space for transformation. This is more than a genre shift. It’s a personal evolution”.
After celebrating the 40 year anniversary of his seminal album Suddenly, Grammy award winnerBilly Oceanis out on the road performing his best known and loved hits across the UK. Along with the eponymous album title track, the crowd at Brighton Centre last night were treated to favourites including Love Really Hurts Without You, Red Light Spells Danger and Caribbean Queen. Mike Burnell was there to capture the night in pictures…
Pozi, For Breakfast, Big Long Sun & Speedial at The Hope & Ruin, Brighton, 6th June 2025
With over 20 musicians taking the stage over the course of the night, The Hope & Ruin played host to the usual guitar, drums and keyboards along with violin, sax, flute and not forgetting the esteemed cowbell and tambourine.
First up, a fusion of jazz-sprinkled math rock from Speedial. With dual vocals and a slight feeling of hypnosis, their tracks could feasibly all mesh together to form an indie film soundtrack. Busy on the London live scene, the four piece appear to be picking up the pace in honing their style and widening their audience; an intriguing start to proceedings.
So then to a double order of 7-Up, as the next two acts have the numbers to cosplay as the wonders of the world or Snow White’s pals (and there are potentially more group members not here tonight). Whilst Big Long Sun is technically the solo project of Jamie Broughton, the collective on stage run like a well oiled machine and bring different elements to the overall sound, bringing a bunch of experience from playing with other bands to the table, culminating in art rock with an indie twist. For Breakfast switch the pace again, this time towards dream-pop – a decidedly Elizabeth Fraser-esque vocal in play and a multitude of instruments to pull your attention in different directions.
Headlining tonight, Pozi skip through their 14-track setlist with an infectious energy. Their experimental avant-garde alt-pop tunes often land within the 2-3 minute mark, further serving to keep the tempo firmly set to fast and furious. The live room has been busy all night and stays packed till curfew hits, ending on a musical and performative high as expected. Nicely done.
Sophie Ellis-Bextor & Sumner at Brighton Dome, 4th June 2025
A natural entertainer, Sophie Ellis-Bextor brought a fun-filled performance to Brighton Dome last night, along with a bucket full of singalong tunes. Support for the evening came from electro-pop duo Sumner. The tour continues across the UK and Europe throughout June.
You can choose three albums to keep on your playlist forever – what are you going for?
Breaking Glass Magazine 