Thursday night at Sebright Arms was a celebration of indie brilliance, as Nightbus headlined Dorks Night Out, bringing with them an unforgettable lineup of rising talent. From the moment the first act took the stage, the energy in the room was electric—this was live music at its most exhilarating.
South London sibling duo PUNCHBAG wasted no time in setting the tone for the night. Their alternative-pop sound, packed with fierce tempos and unapologetic fun, had the audience instantly hooked. They opened with Not Your Punchbag—an ironically titled statement of defiance, given their band name—before launching into You Used to Be So Sexy, a track brimming with attitude. Midway through, they gave the crowd a taste of their only released song, Fuck It, which had us singing along. They slowed things down momentarily with Playing God, only to throw us straight back into the chaos with Effort. The set hit its peak with Pretty Youth, a track that proved you don’t need to know the lyrics to jump around. By the time they closed with Live Laugh Love, the room was well and truly warmed up, buzzing with a sense of collective energy.
Next up, Welsh four-piece Slate brought a darker, more brooding energy to the stage. Their gothic-tinged new-wave sound was laced with poetic lyricism, making for a performance that was as emotionally charged as it was musically powerful. The set opened with St. Agatha, its haunting presence setting the mood. They wove spoken-word poetry into Long Dark Road, before transitioning seamlessly into Tabernacl. A standout moment came with Strangehope, a brand-new track that bled effortlessly into Deathless. Shade in Me carried the momentum forward, followed by Quiet Fires, a spine-tingling new song that captivated the crowd. They closed with Remoter Heaven, a sprawling seven-minute epic that left the entire room transfixed—lost in the swelling, melancholic waves of sound.
By the time Nightbus took to the stage, anticipation had reached its peak. The Manchester trio—Olive Rees (vocals, guitar), Zac Melrose (bass), and Jake Cottier (decks, guitars)—delivered a masterclass in late-night indie, effortlessly blending moody atmospheres with infectious rhythms.
Nightbus first played Sebright Arms 2.5 years ago, during their first-ever London performance, when the venue felt much bigger. Now, with their sound refined and their fanbase growing, they filled the space with a commanding presence.
Olive’s vocals were captivating and elusive, weaving through the smoky, nocturnal haze of their sound. The band leaned into a darker, hypnotic aesthetic, creating an atmosphere that felt both intimate and cinematic. It was intriguing to see an indie band relying on decks instead of a drummer, giving their performance a distinct, almost electronic pulse. There was an unspoken intensity in their delivery, a feeling that every note carried something deeper—whether it was longing, nostalgia, or something more unplaceable.
Opening with the ethereal Somewhere, Nowhere, they immediately set the tone for a set full of mesmerizing soundscapes. Exposed to Some Light followed, its pulsing bassline sending ripples through the crowd, a slow build that felt almost hypnotic. The set twisted and turned through the hypnotic Angels Mortz and the cinematic Renaissance, before hitting a high with Way Past Three and Back to Basics, two tracks that radiated effortless cool. Just a Kid and Spooky ramped up the energy before False Prophet took us into darker, moodier territory.
The crowd, fully immersed, moved in sync with the music, some swaying hypnotically, others dancing with gothic elegance—it felt like a scene pulled straight from a New Order gig. There was a tangible moment when the energy shifted; as Average Boy rang out, voices joined together, a sense of bittersweet yearning spreading through the room—a collective search for something just out of reach. And then, as if perfectly designed to leave us spellbound, Mirrors closed the night. Its eerie, smoky atmosphere wrapped around us, leaving the audience in a trance—caught between the pulse of the music and the silence that followed.
As the lights dimmed and the last echoes of their set faded, it was clear that Nightbus had crafted something special—a performance that lingered long after the night had ended. There was a moment of hesitation before the applause erupted, almost as if no one wanted to break the spell.
This is only the beginning for Nightbus. Since that first London show, they’ve been hard at work writing an album, which they hope to release by the end of the year. If tonight was anything to go by, it’s set to be one of the most exciting indie releases of the year. Nightbus aren’t just riding the late-night wave of indie brilliance—they’re driving it, and soon enough, everyone will be following their route.