THE SCENE : LIVE: the Breakdown
Last Saturday was not your average music festival, it was something much bigger, it was a monumental evening for Cheltenham's live music scene and greater community. Bringing together some of the finest grassroots acts the town has to offer, THE SCENE : LIVE celebrated not only the quality of local talent, but also the sense of community that keeps the scene thriving.
Hosted in the historic Cheltenham Playhouse, the event had a unique atmosphere to it, there was a feeling of familiarity throughout, it genuinely felt like everyone knew each other, people greeted one another and band members casually mingled with fans. This feeling was perhaps best embodied by one of the organisers, Charlie, from ‘Rhythms Revealed’, who took to the stage in a full suit to introduce each act. It was a small detail, but one that reflected the care and passion behind the event. Rather than feeling like your run-of-the-mill festival where audiences drift between bands, this felt like a celebration of a community that had come together to support its own.
Lickshot
The first band to take the stage was Lickshot who bought the kind of energy needed to set the tone for the evening. As soon as they started playing, people abandoned their seats and squeezed together near the front to be a part of the action. One of the standout moments came during ‘Our Town’, a song that felt perfectly suited to the occasion. As the crowd chanted the lyrics back at the band, you could hear the pride and passion in everyone's voices.
Sonically, Lickshot delivered a sound that was difficult to label in the best possible way. Their fusion of ska, nu-metal, punk and hip-hop created an unpredictable set that constantly kept the audience engaged and moving. Their energy never dipped, and neither did the crowds. For an opening act, they couldn't have done much more to get the festival started with a bang.
Nostalgia Bias
Following Lickshot's explosive opening was no easy task, but Nostalgia Bias, commonly known to many as Nozzy B, were up to the challenge. They brought an entirely different vibe to the stage proving just how diverse Cheltenham's music scene really is.
With heavy shoegaze influences Nozzy B's sound was immersive and emotionally driven. The band's songwriting paired beautifully with rich instrumentation creating a sound that felt expansive yet intimate. Rather than encouraging chaos in the crowd, Nozzy B cultivated something far more reflective, with audience members swaying and headbanging along while becoming absorbed in the music.
For me, the highlight of the set was their latest single ‘Scuts’. The track perfectly showcased everything that makes Nostalgia Bias such an exciting act, combining emotional depth with a captivating sonic landscape that lingered long after the song ended. They have just announced a headline set returning to the iconic Frog & Fiddle (in Cheltenham), this is definitely a concert to keep on your radar.
Toast
Few bands throughout the day delivered a performance quite as visually captivating as Toast. Fronted by the charismatic SCARYLIV, the band combined theatricality with raw energy to create one of the festival's most memorable sets.
From the moment she stepped onto the stage, SCARYLIV commanded attention. Wearing a wig, oversized shirt and sunglasses, she immediately established a presence. As the set progressed, the performance became increasingly dramatic. The sunglasses came off to reveal bright red contact lenses, then the red wig was thrown off to unveil jet-black hair beneath. It was a transformation that perfectly complemented the intensity of the music.
Beyond the visual spectacle was a genuinely powerful musical performance. Songs such as ‘YOU'RE NOT A PUNK’ and ‘Divine’ carried a raw and aggressive punk sound that tackled personal frustrations and wider social issues. Toast are a band on an upward trajectory. Fresh from an appearance at Underground Festival and recently announced for Boomtown and Burn It Down Festival, they show absolutely no signs of slowing down.
Chug
For a two-piece band, Chug produced an insane amount of noise and chaos. Their set was relentless from beginning to end, while they delivered fast paced riffs and pounding drums, it felt impossible to stand still. Each song carried an intensity that encouraged headbanging and there was a rawness to their sound that felt perfectly suited to the festival's energetic atmosphere.
One of the most anticipated moments arrived when they played ‘Durt’, a fan favourite made even more special by the appearance of Prodigal singer Stan Kayley. Joining the band on stage, he added another layer of energy to an already explosive performance and sent the crowd into a frenzy.
However, the defining moment of the entire festival came towards the end of Chug's set. In a scene that perfectly captured the spirit of the night, audience members were invited onto the stage to mosh alongside the band. The result was absolute carnage.
Prodigal
Prodigal are a band who need no introduction. As last year's Metal 2 The Masses winners and performers at Bloodstock Festival, they have already established themselves as one of the most exciting bands to emerge from Cheltenham in recent years.
Their set demonstrated exactly why they have earned such a strong reputation. Combining grunge influences with a crushing nu-metal sound, Prodigal delivered a performance packed with power and confidence. The riffs hit hard and Stan Kayley's strong vocal performance tied it all together.
As the final songs rang out, the crowd produced one last memorable moment with a wave of crowd surfers bringing the festival to a spectacular close.
With an appearance at 2000Trees Festival later this year, Prodigal continue to build momentum, and performances like this show exactly why they are becoming one of the standout names in the South West music scene.
What made this festival special wasn't just the quality of the performances (although every band delivered something unforgettable). It was the overwhelming sense of community that ran through the entire day. From organisers and musicians, to the vendors, crew, barstaff and the gig-goers, everyone played a part in creating an event that felt genuinely important for Cheltenham's music scene. THE SCENE : LIVE proved that grassroots music in Cheltenham is alive, thriving and filled with bands ready to make their mark.
