The Forum Basement

Brighton-born duo WREX make electro-charged alternative rock to turbocharge heartbeats, snap necks and fill both dancefloors and mosh pits. Shades of punk, nu-metal, pop and trance collide and coalesce but never clash; a wild explosion of riffs and synths that pulls from influences as diverse as While She Sleeps, Faithless and Linkin Park. This is the WREX blueprint: a fierce, all-enveloping wall of sound with little ti me for music’s outdated boundaries or conventions; creativity, joy and emotion unbound. “WREX is about letting go – It’s a release from everything that’s going on in the world around you, a purge of everything you’re thinking and feeling.”

The Garden of England’s heaviest weekend returns for an autumn edition.

Bigger, heavier, more riffs.

Sludge, Stoner, Doom & more…

Full Line-up TBA soon!

Prepare for a night of eerie revelry as the undead crew of the good ship TowRag descends upon The Forum Basement this Halloween. Once roving pirate musicians, they met a force greater than their swagger and now haunt the stage with bone-rattling sea shanties and ghostly harmonies that echo from the depths. Their cursed instruments summon rhythms that stir the spirits from the other side and shake hands across the void. Expect haunting melodies, spectral theatrics, and perhaps a few souls lost to the dance. But beware—those who sing along too loudly may find themselves part of the crew by midnight. This isn’t just a gig. It’s a reckoning.

Old Mercia are a band based in and around Royal Tunbridge Wells. We know each other from our hometown, Lichfield, a city deep in the old kingdom of Mercia which has inspired a lot of the music that we make. We found ourselves, by chance, all living in the same area after years apart, so picked up our instruments and carried on the journey. Making music never really left any of us and Old Mercia covers a lot of that time in-between.

A blend of folk, indie and rock, our songs explore themes of nostalgia, loss, rebellion and love, telling modern stories of Middle England.

Dancing Bear is a psychedelic folk-rock three-piece from Kent, featuring well-known local musicians Mischa Bray (guitar/bass/vocals), James Cox (drums/vocals), and Matthew Falloon (guitar/bass/vocals). Their eclectic mix of music is a shambolic, strangely moving, and wonderfully human experience.

Piles of Clothes is the outlet of Leeds-based singer-songwriter Andy Crowder.

Born out of a love of modern folk music, self-depreciating songwriting and Dr Steve Brule, Piles of Clothes’ debut EP ‘Songs Etc.’ was released in January 2017. Since then, thanks to the relentless support of BBC Introducing West Yorkshire, and airplay on Dermot O’Leary’s BBC Radio 2 show and BBC 6 Music, Piles of Clothes has played at Live At Leeds and Carefully Planned festivals, and shared the stage with the likes of Michael Nau (Full Time Hobby), Tall Ships (BSM), Miya Folik and more.

FFO: Elliot Smith, The Tallest Man On Earth, Pinegrove

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!

Sunday nights just got lighter! Dark Horse Comedy returns to The Sussex Arms for November with the hilarious Harriet Kemsley headlining – as seen on Last one Laughing UK. We’ve also got 3 brilliant up & coming acts and local Aimee Cooper hosting.

Harriet is an award winning comedian, writer and actress. She has starred in the Viceland reality sitcom Bobby and Harriet: Get Married which she co-created and co-wrote with her husband Bobby Mair, to huge critical acclaim. She can also be seen on Dave’s Hypothetical, ITV’s Hey Tracey, Comedy Central’s Roast Battle, Live at the Apollo, and is a recurring guest on 8 out of 10 Cats Does Countdown and 8 Out of 10 Cats. Her other credits include hosting the BBC Radio 4 Comedy Club, The Radio 1 Comedy Lounge, BBC3’s Comedy Marathon, The One Show (Edinburgh Special) and Kevin’s Hart’s LOL Live.

Sterling Press are a four-piece rock band from West London, merging gritty rock riffs with the infectious thud of dance-punk. The band – childhood neighbours & long time best friends Marlon, Ed, Greg, and Lucien – spent their formative years playing every dive London had to offer, bonding over shared obsessions with The Beatles & Blur. After living in Liverpool for a couple of years the boys became DJ’s at the iconic Jacaranda Club, hosting weekly indie disco parties and using the money they earned to buy synthesizers, providing the songwriting foundations for their new sound.

[YouTube url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNBvvGvDH_c”]

KITE THIEF

Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/kitethiefuk

JJ&E | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SufnjUd2Uco

Spotify | https://open.spotify.com/track/3YgbTvuic5GwhW27bizOWA?si=1a777d32a12549d7

Fresh from blistering performances at The Great Escape, 2000 Trees Festival, Takedown Festival and sharing stages with the likes of Of Virtue and InMe, Kite Thief will release new single ‘BITE’ on 8th August 2025. Previous singles have picked up coverage with Metal Hammer, Kerrang Radio, Rock Sound, Distorted Sound Magazine, RTE2XM, Primordial Radio, BBC Bristol, BBC South West, Dreambound, Amazing Radio, Total Rock, Apple Music, TIDAL, Deezer, Amazon Music and more.

GLASS BRIDGES

Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/GlassBridgesuk

Breathe | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXdNLqiBrtw

Spotify | https://open.spotify.com/artist/62pDENyREDEFFkgkkOn1zv?si=lIYsZaH-R2G3Q6BwUUpUgQ

Glass Bridges are a four-piece alternative rock band hailing from the South of England, known for blending hard rock and post-grunge influences into atmospheric yet punchy soundscapes. Their music explores themes like early relationships, healing, self-reflection, and rebuilding emotional bridges. The band are currently at over 81,000 monthly listeners on Spotify and have had recent support from BBC Radio 1, BBC Oxford and more.