The Orchestra (For Now) – Live at The Exchange, Bristol

It was one of those cold November nights where the city feels half emptied out, except for Old Market Street where everyone clearly had the same idea. The pub across the road was overflowing, and The Exchange wasn’t far behind. Inside the venue, clusters of people lingered around the bar near the heating before shuffling into the tightly packed room, which felt about half the size it actually is.

Ebbb began the night by pulling the crowd into a space that felt slightly unreal from the first note. Genre-blurring barely covers it. Walking in felt like stepping into The Roadhouse as the credits rolled on an episode of Twin Peaks: The Return. A mix of eerie electronic pulses and abrupt melodic changes that land incredibly well. It left the room off balance in the best way and set things up perfectly for the main act. Definitely catch them live if you get the chance.

This run of shows finds The Orchestra (For Now) right in their element. If their newest EP Plan 76 hints at controlled chaos, the live show makes it unmistakably clear. Seven people onstage, countless strings, abrupt shifts in tempo and sudden crescendos. There is precision in the way they build tension. At one point, frontman Joe Scarisbrick casually took a hit of his vape before launching into the next section, a strangely perfect detail for a band this unbothered by convention. The whole group move as if they’re following some connected internal wavelength, and the crowd absolutely eats it up.

This show came straight off the back of a sold-out hometown headline at London’s Scala two nights before, yet TO(FN) showed no signs of slowing down and looked sharper than ever. By the time the final song, Wake Robin, arrived, the room was completely locked in, riding every swell and collapse as if the whole place were breathing with the band. It was the kind of finish that leaves a room suspended for a second before anyone remembers to clap.

The band casually walked offstage after an hour-long set of pure chaos. They reappeared moments later at the merch table, chatting with fans and keeping the night alive long after the last note faded.

More Upcoming The Orchestra (For Now) shows:

December 4th - Portland Arms, Cambridge

December 5th - The Shackwell Arms, London

January 24th - KOKO, London

BBC Radio 1’s New Music Live 2025

BBC Radio 1’s New Music Live returned for another year this time at Cardiff’s Tramshed last night, for an evening to celebrate new and upcoming talent across the UK and Ireland. The lineup brought together a mixture of rising acts, each offering their own take on what the future of indie and alternative music has in store for us. 

Leicester’s Jools opened the night with a storm of intensity, instantly setting the tone for what was to come. The post-punk outfit managed to create an impeccable atmosphere, jagged guitar riffs cut through the room as both vocalists delivered powerful, passionate performances. What stood out most was the tightness among the band, every member locked in with one another as well as the crowd. The chemistry and energy on stage were undeniable, each song coming across with urgency and conviction makes Jools a formidable live force. They are a live band you simply cannot ignore.

London-based Keo brought a cool shift in pace after Jools explosive opener. There was an effortless calm to the chaos that they bought on stage, the kind that comes from complete confidence in what they do. Comparisons to Wunderhorse have followed Keo since their emergence, and they seem perfectly aware of it. The words ‘Rip Off’ were displayed on front man Finn Keoghs guitar, perhaps a playful nod towards these accusations. It summed up their performance perfectly: cool, confident and defiant.

Hometown heroes Panic Shack took to the stage, immediately turning Tramshed into their playground. With the release of their self-titled debut album this summer, the band provided punk ferocity and tongue in check humour. Every song hit with intent, but the way that they commanded the crowd was what truly set them apart, cementing them as one of Wales most beloved live acts.

Closing the night were Florence Road, an indie pop four-piece from Wicklow, Ireland who have been steadily gaining attention across the country as well as globally. The band who blew up from posting on TikTok and signed to Warner Chappel Music less than a year ago, brought a cinematic sweep to Cardiff, filling Tramshed with soaring guitars and heartfelt vocals delivered with precise emotional control. Fresh from supporting Oliva Rodrigo at BST Hyde Park, Florence Road stood out amongst an already stellar lineup. As the final notes rang out, it was clear that Florence Road are on the verge of something huge.

BBC Radio 1’s New Music Live proved why it is one of the most exciting showcases for emerging talent coming out of the UK and Ireland. From Jool’s post-punk ferocity to Keo’s formidable cool, Panic Shack’s homegrown chaos and Florence Road’s cinematic polish, the night served as a reminder of just how strong the next wave of artists merging from this scene are. If this lineup is anything to go by, the future of indie and alternative music is in very good hands.

Florence Road performing at BBC Radio 1 Live 2025