On a warm night in Bristol on the good ship Thekla, four quality bands had the audience bouncing and the boat rocking!

First up were ENTER RED at the ungodly hour of 6:20pm and, while a few punter were still finishing their dinner the people who turned up early were treated to a powerful indie rock set that was full throttle from start to finish. What a great start to the night

Check out their new live video, ‘Motion’

With desserts finished and the washing up done, the room started to fill to greet the next band PENTIRE. This indie band from Herefordshire had some really catchy tunes and definitely a few friends in the audience as they bounced through the songs with some catchy guitar hooks and front man Jack Morgan’s rich vocals. This was pure pop and it was good. ‘Belly Dancer’ was a stand out one for me and the crowd responded.

Stream their new single ‘ Fading Out’

Bristol based bedroom-popsters STAY LUNAR were next up on the back of the ‘Every Cloud’ EP release earlier this year. This felt a little more laid back with the gentler vocals and cleaner guitars, but no less polished as they too rattled through their set. The younger audience really did lap this up and as the moved and swayed to the measured vocals and upbeat rhythms.

Listen to the Every Cloud EP here (or your usual source)

Last up, Liverpool based indie band SPINN, touring on the back of their February released second album ‘Outside of the Blue’. Carrying on from the Stay Lunar vibe, Spinn’s indie pop, slick musicianship and feel-good guitars had a real summer, positive vibe. Front man Johnny Quinn, clad in suit, swayed and swung around the stage while delivering his warm vocals. The in between song banter was engaging, delivered with Johnny’s broad Liverpudlian accent and little stories, and the now full house really got into the sound.

The record is a little ‘smoother’ than this live show, but the sharper edges gave the performance some bite.

Stream ‘Outside of the Blue’ here

And then it was over. Four quality bands, each offering something a little different to the indie pop space but a boat load of punters left very happy!

Words and Pictures by Glenn Morrison