LIVE FROM THE PIT: thistle., Ugly Ozo and Stepover
- Lauren Wenham
- 15 hours ago
- 2 min read
Despite the venue’s small size, the room is already busy before the first band even appears. There is a quiet anticipation building early on, with people squeezing closer to the stage as the night gets underway.
Opening the evening were STEPOVER, making the trip over from the Isle of Wight. Their set begins slowly and atmospherically, easing the crowd in before crashing drums suddenly kick the room into life as they launch into their latest single.
The drummer was easily the standout of the set, driving the performance forward whenever the energy threatened to dip. Being the opening act in a small venue can be awkward, especially when people are still arriving, but STEPOVER handled it well. As the set goes on, more people pile into the room and it quickly becomes obvious that a good chunk of the crowd are there specifically for them, with fans already singing along to multiple songs.
Next up are UGLY OZO, who immediately brought a completely different kind of energy. Within moments of getting on stage, the vocalist asked everyone to move closer because they “hate big spaces”, which instantly gets a laugh out of the crowd and breaks down any distance between band and audience. The excitement from the band is obvious throughout the set. At one point, the vocalist complains the microphone is repeatedly giving her electric shocks, leading to a slightly chaotic attempt to fix it mid-song that the crowd absolutely loved.
Technical problems aside, the set itself was fantastic. The vocals were strong throughout, while the dual guitars gave the performance a huge amount of texture and weight. There is a confidence to the whole thing that makes the band incredibly easy to warm to.
By the time THISTLE were ready to headline, the sold-out venue was packed shoulder-to-shoulder. The atmosphere through the set up felt restless in the best possible way, with people clearly desperate for the set to start. The band came out swinging with one of their best-known tracks, instantly setting the room off. People were jumping within seconds, and despite the lack of space, it feels like the crowd was constantly on the verge of exploding into a full pit.
Interestingly, THISTLE did not introduce themselves until after the third song. Instead, they charge straight through the opening section of the set without stopping, which somehow makes them seem even cooler. It carries this unspoken confidence, like they already know most people in the room are fully locked in.
What really stands out is how strong the fanbase already feels. Some people know every single word, screaming lyrics back at the stage, while others who clearly came in unfamiliar quickly get pulled into the atmosphere anyway. Even in such an intimate venue, the connection between the band and crowd felt massive. Overall, it was one of those gigs where the small venue actually makes everything hit harder.
Every band brought something different, but THISTLE left the biggest impression by the end of the night. If this is the level they are already operating at in rooms this size, it will be interesting to see where they end up next.
Words: Lauren Wenham
Photos: Anna Goley
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