LIVE FROM THE PIT: Gaerea and Conjurer
As autumn begins to set in after the long festival season, it's time to retreat from the open fields and set foot into the inviting, intimate venues across the country. Tucked up in the smaller room in the Brudenell Social Club in Leeds, the five piece GAEREA performed for the fourth night of their six night run for their UK album tour following the release of Loss earlier this year. Their last UK headline tour was in 2022, and after a successful tour last year supporting ORBIT CULTURE it was time for them to come back on their own.
Taking to the stage shortly after Feel by ROBBIE WILLIAMS had filled and left the room, the four piece CONJURER had a few tricks up their sleeves. They begin their set with All Apart from their 2025 album Unself, its raw and dynamic sludgy groove setting the stage for the evening ahead.
Guitarist and vocalist Brady Deeprose at their first break exclaims about the lack of knowledge of this space in the venue "This is sick!” and it was, CONJURER’s sound reverberating from all four corners was a marvel to hear. In the beginning the crowd seemed tentative but a couple songs in and they’re in for the longhaul, the cheers getting louder and the head nodding intensifying.
Partway through CONJURER’s set, main vocalist Dani Nightingale dedicates the next track to the trans community, stating they “Have always existed and always will,” the song is Let Us Live. The lyrics are deeply moving and the riff is mesmerising, the desperation in the screams are felt by everyone. As the song is performed the lighting behind them flickers between blue, pink and white. The final moments, where “let us live” is cried out, carry an overwhelming emotional weight. There is a rawness and urgency to the words, transforming the performance into something deeply powerful as the importance of the message resonated through the venue. To round off the set, It Dwells tearing through the room, and bassist Conor Marshall steps off the barrierless stage and charges into the centre of the pit to play the remainder of the song. The act alone gives permission for the crowd to interact, circling him and relishing in the moment.
As the lights dim and members of GAEREA step onto the stage, the tone shifts to uphold the spectacle that’s about to unfold. Following an almost regimental introduction, Luminary forces its way in and the crowd responds. Vocalist Alpha commands the lighting with his hands, with his very poised, flowing theatrics.
Every track from the band’s latest album Loss made an appearance in the setlist, which melded well with the older tracks they played, which included World Ablaze and Hope Shatters. Old and new fans alike rejoiced, embracing every song with equal enthusiasm no matter what came next. The room span for most of the night, following the momentum of CONJURER’s set the circle pits continued, particularly for Hellbound where the atmosphere was electric. Alpha doesn’t hesitate to interact with anyone filming, whether they’re using a camera or a phone, readily playing up to the lens whenever the opportunity arises. Submerged takes no prisoners, driven by its soaring melody and the relentless double- pedal work of drummer Xi. The right side of the tiny stage is crammed with talent, as both the guitarist Beta and bassist Rho give everything they’ve got to the performance.
The band as a whole possesses an almost spirit-like quality. They give everything to their performance, but the theatricality and sense of drama they maintain from start to finish creates the illusion that they are something other than simply performers, almost like entities inhabiting the stage. Haunting vocals from guitarist Delta particularly in LBRNTH add to this characteristic, the ethereal sound is really beautiful.
As the set drew to a close, Alpha dedicated the last song to the people that were no longer with us, explaining that they had created this song as a way to cope with the grief that they were facing. Before the song’s name was announced, a prolonged silence fell over the room. At first, it seemed intentional, with the crowd hanging on to every word as Alpha spoke. Moments later, however, it became apparent that the power had actually gone out, leaving the room to talk amongst themselves in darkness.
It was worth the wait. Stardust is an incredibly powerful song, the eight minute studio version is a masterpiece, but hearing it live brings a whole new wave of emotion and depth, something that you can only experience from a live performance.
The evening was magical. The intimacy of the space, paired with such an engaged crowd, made for a night filled with energy and enjoyment. It was clear that everyone was immersed in the experience, with people of all ages joining in. With appearances at next summer’s festivals already beginning to emerge, it looks set to be another promising year for GAEREA. 2026 marks ten years since the band first formed, and with any luck, we’ll be able to witness them perform for years to come.
Words: Danielle Henderson
Photos: Adam North
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