On Friday 2nd May, Submotion Orchestra turned Exeter Phoenix into their own sonic playground. The Leeds collective—making waves since 2009—delivered a set that was as much a journey as it was a performance. Blending deep electronica, soulful jazz, ambient downtempo, and hints of dub, their live routine felt both meticulously refined and naturally spontaneous.
Opening the evening with a solo set that felt like a whispered confession, Natalie Holmes delivered an intimate performance that held the audience in a quiet spell. Beginning with her guitar-driven track Cacophony—a preview of her forthcoming release—followed by Dandelion, Holmes’ delicate, ethereal vocals were so tender that they demanded absolute silence, each breathy pause amplifying the emotional weight of her songs.
For fans of Tori Amos and Kate Bush, Holmes’ artistry carries a similar haunting beauty. Yet, when she switched to piano, she channeled the raw intensity that Alanis Morissette once wielded, proving she’s more than just fragile melodies—there’s power simmering beneath the softness.
Her current album, Vitamin Bee, set the foundation for her set, but she teased an exciting new era, revealing that she’s releasing a track each month until her full album drops in October. When she returns to Exeter later this year, she’ll bring her violinist and a grand piano, an evolution that promises an even richer, cinematic experience.
Among the highlights of the night was Mercury Ocean, a song born in the stillness of a Welsh heatwave, where the sea was like glass—a proper, magical moment that Holmes translated into music. Meanwhile, her Gretsch electric guitar, though restrained, hinted at an untamed energy lurking beneath, as if it were waiting for the right moment to roar.
With this being her first show in five months, Holmes’ return felt both poignant and powerful, a quiet storm gathering momentum for what’s to come. If this performance was any indication, October’s show will be one to anticipate with eager ears.
From the moment Submotion Orchestra took to the stage, and first notes filled the room, it was clear this band has spent years perfecting their craft. The solid backbone of earth-shaking bass and tight drums intertwined with lush keyboard layers, warm trumpet lines, and Ruby Wood’s ethereal vocals to create an immersive atmosphere. Every track ebbed and flowed—it was as if the band was painting moods in real time, moving from reflective, spacious passages to dynamic, energetic crescendos that had the audience completely entranced.
Their live show is a celebration of contrast. In a typical performance such as this one, you can expect moments when the electronic textures feel almost fragile, allowing Ruby’s soulful delivery to take centre stage, and bursts of percussive energy that lift the spirit and invite you to lose yourself in the rhythm. It felt less like a rehearsed routine and more like a conversation between musicians, where each instrument responds to the next in a seamless, almost instinctive way—a hallmark of a group that’s been refining their musical language for over a decade.
Adding another layer to the evening was the knowing smirk that the band was quietly prepping for something big. With a headline slot at the Cheltenham Jazz Festival on Saturday 3rd May on the horizon, this Exeter Phoenix gig wasn’t just a show—it was a warm-up, a test run to ensure that every nuance of their set was tight and impactful before stepping onto the festival stage. The setlist included excerpts from classics that longtime fans adore as well as hints of new directions that tie in with their latest release. Their recent EP, “Five Points,” dropped in 2024, showcases a refined blend of atmospheric grooves and subtle melodic experiments, hinting at the evolution they've embraced while retaining that unmistakable Submotion Orchestra soul.
For fans new and old, the night was a reminder of why they continues to dazzle. The show was intimate yet vast, experimental but accessible—a perfect encapsulation of a band that dances between the ancient and the avant-garde. And with big festival dates on the horizon, there’s every reason to believe that the magic shown on Friday night is just the beginning of what promises to be a stirring series of performances.
If you’re curious to dive deeper into their back catalogue or want to catch a glimpse of how intricately their live energy translates studio magic, you might want to explore tracks from their debut release “Finest Hour” through to more recent projects like “Five Points.” And with the Cheltenham Jazz Festival just around the corner, keep an eye out for further adventures in sound that this band never ceases to deliver.
