The Forum Basement

Shooting up through Cardiff’s flourishing music scene is Half Happy. The four-piece bounce around the walls of dream-pop, indie-rock and post punk but don’t stay in one place for too long. These 90’s babies mould their influences with fresh force, creating engaging melody-stuffed storytelling.

The colourful, kaleidoscopic sounds of Brighton jangle-psych band Hutch are suffused with whimsy and a desire to break free from the mundane; celebrating the wonders of the natural world and their own giddying adventures within it.

Formed by Jack Pritchard, Dan Shepherd, Charlie Bogg, Owen Bullock – with Eva Lunny guesting on Harp and Synth for studio recordings – Hutch have been gigging prodigiously since their live debut in 2021, regularly selling out venues in their native Brighton. The year after, Hutch were longlisted on Glastonbury’s Emerging Talent competition, and made appearances at Victorious Festival, 2000 Trees and Dot to Dot.

Continuing to tour heavily, Hutch embarked on UK and European tours with Gitkin and W.I.T.C.H, as well as their own run of headline shows across the UK. Other artists Hutch have performed with include legendary psych bands Love and Os Mutantes.

2024 saw the release of their debut EP ‘Smile and Wave’, building on a growing discography of singles, which was championed by BBC6 Music and BBC Introducing, and supported by a 13 date UK tour.

Hutch look to build on their successes with new single ‘Rustle’ recorded by Iggy B (Penelope Isles, Gary Numan, Spiritualized, John Grant) which showcases the band’s signature blend of jangly guitars, angelic harmonies, and imaginative lyricism.

“Hutch airily reject the well-trodden path of disillusionment and chooses instead to hone in on life’s elemental joys.” – Hard of Hearing “Leaving you with a smile that’s hard to remove” – So Young “There’s nothing unpretentious or over the top about Hutch, they’re just playing good music to good people” – Clunk “Wistful vocals and a wide-eyed sense of wonder” – Shindig!

“Joyous” – Deb Grant – BBC Radio 6

Fine Lime are a high energy, funk rock four-piece, blending a mix of groovy verses, heavy choruses, and psychedelic interludes.

In their first year as a band, they sold out shows all over Kent, from Margate to Maidstone, won The Ship, Gillingham Battle of the Bands, and made their European debut at Under the Milky Way festival. The latest of their four singles, So Fine, was BBC Introducing Kent’s ‘First Play Feature of the Week’ back in October, and was voted #18 on the ‘Future Hits 2025 Top 40’.

Described as a ‘party from start to finish’, Fine Lime’s irresistible grooves are sure to get you moving.

Sam Grassie is a Scottish fingerstyle guitarist and songwriter, gaining a reputation on the circuit for dynamic sets that traverse traditional folk, acoustic blues and american primitive. Off the back of his recent debut EP “Sandwood” Grassie has toured with Ryley Walker, Naima Bock & Daisy Rickman.

Tummyache is a project that blurs the line between band and personal confession, a raw and enigmatic expression crafted by songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Soren Bryce. Since its inception in 2018, Tummyache has carved out a space in the DIY scenes of both the United States and the UK, resonating with listeners who feel the weight of systemic struggles and societal expectations. Bryce’s music pulls no punches; her lyrics confront issues of class, privilege, and inner conflict, inviting listeners to face the harsh realities she lays bare.

Fake New, the third album from Tummyache, is a sharp introspective critique of the digital age. Through a mix of raw instrumentation and pointed lyrics, the record explores how social media, technology, and the constant churn of online culture have distorted human connection, eroded truth, and reshaped the way we see ourselves and each other. Releasing August 8, 2025, the hope for Fake New is to encourage listeners to explore how to dismantle authoritarian technology and reclaim community.

Irish Music at The Sussex Arms – Free Entry

The Sussex Arms are bringing the true Irish spirit to the Pantiles! Join us for an afternoon of live traditional Irish, Cornish, Folk, and old-time tunes with some of the county’s finest session players. If you’re a fan of the Pogues, the Dubliners, or new folk legends like Lankum, this is for you. Our handpicked Celtic Session band is here to bring ‘Trad’ back to where it belongs – in the heart of the pub.

So grab a pint of Guinness and watch the best ‘Trad’ this side of Dublin. Sláinte!

Sunflowers make noise like it’s a language of survival. Their sound blends blistering punk energy with layers of distortion, experimental chaos, and existential release — always teetering between catharsis and collapse. They are not here to comfort you. They are here to rip the floor out from under you. Their music is a living organism—loud, messy, and mutating in real time. What starts as raw intensity quickly reveals something deeper: an obsession with pushing boundaries, tearing down expectations, and chasing the next sonic mutation. No two shows are the same. No two records stand still. Their live shows are legendary: primal screams, distortion worship, and an unrelenting energy that refuses to hold back. Chaos isn’t a byproduct — it’s the point. At their core, Sunflowers are about total immersion. This is not music made for the background — it demands your body, your ears, your surrender. Loud, unrelenting, and weird in all the right ways.

Darius Zaltash is a British-Iranian singer-songwriter and producer based in Bristol, known for making loud electronic rock music with danceable and emotional elements. He is the driving force behind the band The Nu, a Birmingham-based “futuristic electronic-rock outfit.” Zaltash was nominated for multiple Birmingham Music Awards in 2020, including Best Band and Best Song.

“Hey I’m Darius. I’m a 27 year old british Iranian currently based in Bristol. I like making very loud electronic rock music that you can dance, sing and cry to. My favourite band is Linkin Park and I also love abit of the 1975. Outside of music I love a good sci fi movie and you can’t go wrong with a Guinness from time to time. I hope my music makes you feel something! These songs have helped me get through some dark times, so sharing is caring. X”