‘VARIOUS ARTISTS’ – ‘234 FEST’, GREEN DOOR STORE, BRIGHTON 27-28.9.25
The Green Door Store music venue in Brighton have been supporting local grassroots music and night clubbing for fourteen years and this weekend they hosted their popular annual ‘234 Fest’, which featured no less than 20 bands performing across the two days. The free entry event is aimed at highlighting the plethora of exciting new up-and-coming local talent. It’s fair to say that the ‘234 Fest’ is just like a mini Great Escape new music festival, as the selected bands perform showcase sets to eager punters who are searching for the next big thing or who are simply out for a decent afternoon and evening entertainment. The festival takes its name from the Green Door Store’s location, which is Unit 2, 3, & 4 Trafalgar Arches, Lower Goods Yard, Brighton Train Station, Brighton, BN1 4FQ. And so without further ado, let’s get down to the action. The bands participating today are:
Saturday 27th September 2025:
LANA DEATH RAY (14:00-14:30)
MIND FROG (15:00-15:30)
LE LAMB (16:00-16:30)
DIRTSHARKS (17:00-17:30)
THE WRONG TROUSERS (17:35-18:00)
LEMONSUCKR (18:00-18:30)
TUMMYACHE (19:00-19:30)
MAGDA (20:00-20:30)
CURRLS (21:00-21:30)
SLAG (22:00-22:40)
Here’s our account of Day One:
LANA DEATH RAY (14:00-14:30)
The doors are open, the people are here, 2pm hits and the 234 Festival is away with Lana Death Ray, and when I say away, we really are as this band are on fire, an immensely strong opener for the weekends festivities, and as ever I am positioned ringside to soak it all up. The band describe themselves on their YouTube channel as post-new wave corduroy flare (psych-gaze) rock and I would agree. Normally they are a five piece, but sadly today there is no keyboard player, but we do have Dom Bailey on a five string bass, Rob Osborne on drums, Fabien West-Marr on guitar and Beau Jackson on vocals and guitar. The band are no strangers to the Green Door Store having played here plenty of times over the past year. This is my first time seeing them and they utterly blew me away, real flavours of prog rock which reminded me of 70s albums my parents played when I was a kid. This set had it all, proper beefy drumming, luscious bass lines, and heavenly guitars from both Fabien and Beau, both of whom had the dress and hair looks that they had been transported from decades past. Beau mentioned he had forgotten his pedals, but Fabien had a whole fleet of them at his feet and boy could you hear them as his mop of hair flung back and forth as he slayed his guitar. The 30 minute set took in ‘Mould’, ‘Field Of Eyes’, their early 2025 single ‘Thorn’, ‘Bleed’ and ‘Old House’. The songs often had mellow segments and you could feel that’s where maybe the keys would have come in, but they would build up to all that guitar, Beau’s vocals soaring and amazing. I think I may have found a new favourite band. Their EP ‘The Holy Death Ray!’ comes out on 1st October and they will be doing a headline tour starting on 2nd October, ending back here in Brighton October 15th.
(Ben ‘Jerry’ Robinson)
MIND FROG (15:00-15:30)
Second on the bill today we Brighton based Mind Frog, a new band on me and one I really struggled to find much on prior to the gig, crazy considering they appeared on the scene in late 2023, however I have found that won The Lewes Inn Battle of the Bands early this month and are described as a band “that synergise country, blues and psych rock into a seductive, heady brew”. What was evident this afternoon was they have quite the following, as there were plenty of fans right down the front all singing and dancing away. The set started with ‘Night Owl’ sung by guitarist Luca Gamberini, this had a Blur-esq guitar riff to start with which piqued my interest, but it was organ keys played by Thomas Kennedy that really added the fun element to the song. Those keys were also very much felt on the next song ‘She Devil’ which saw guitarist & banjo player Sam (Kleeston?) switching to lead vocals. Both were great opening songs but for the earlier part of the set, I really couldn’t figure out what the band’s musical style was as it seemed so varied. The next song ‘Dog & Bone’ was channeling Pink Floyd and bloody good it was too, spellbinding to watch. After this the tempo changed once again as we were all encouraged to clap by drummer Ty Arkins for the ‘Slaughterhood Jive’, now this really got everyone stomping and in a party mood. A real western vibe came with the brilliant ‘He’s The Man’ with both Luca and Sam’s vocal combinations working like magic. We then had the band introductions highlighting new bass player Will Mcready who had been sublime throughout. The real treat was about to be bestowed upon us all as Sam brought out the Banjo which he expertly played for ‘Dead Man’s River’, ‘Desperado’ and final song ‘NNUTS’. I really enjoyed Mind Frogs set, whilst those early songs kept me guessing, the second half of their set for pure joy, fun all the way, a real cowboy western vibe, they really know how keep the crowd engaged and all were unbelievably talented musicians, I can see why they won the Battle of Bands.
(Ben ‘Jerry’ Robinson)
LE LAMB (16:00-16:30)
We have had two fantastic bands so far, can we make it three in a row? Next on the lineup we have Le Lamb, a band that have been on the Brighton scene since early 2024, but one that have eluded me so far. The set started with 4 of the 5’s band members; Jeric Harding-Barns (guitar), Emmanouil Lekkos (guitar), Elliot Vickers (drums) and Jeremy Thurgood (bass) standing still on stage bathing in red light, whilst drummer Elliot lead a slow drum beat to silence and the guitarist introducing “Le Lamb”, the band then struck up to a very James Bond-esq rhythm as vocalist Mia Mottier came on stage. Mia’s look was striking enough what with being dressed in a wooly sheep top and wooly skirt with a ram’s skull (I think) on top of her head, but even more striking was her voice, good heavens, what a voice. The first song funnily enough was called ‘Bonds Girl’ and with a voice like Mia’s who knows one day she may well be singing a Bond theme. The song ended with Mia giving a sheep call to the crowd and her flock responding in the same way. The set continued with ‘Healing’ a long slower number which had one of the guitarists work his way out into the crowd whilst Mia removed her skull headpiece in a ceremonial way. Throughout the whole set Mia constantly moved in what I’d describe as theatrical performance art, it was totally transfixing. The whole crowd were totally mesmerised by this band, there was no talking during this set, everyone was under Mia and the band’s spell, you could have heard a pin drop in the briefest of moments when the music lulled. The rest of the set took in ‘Sexy Suicide’, ‘Sirens Call’ and ‘Boy Unnamed’. Believe me this band is one to go and watch, Mia’s vocal range is out of this world, her voice and stage theatrics reminded me a little of Grace Jones, very out there, the whole band’s instruments didn’t really rest during the set as each song morphed into each other seamlessly, this was truly something special to witness and we are only 3 bands into the day! Le Lamb’s single launch is coming very soon and will be celebrated with a special show at The Hope & Ruin on 4th November.
(Ben ‘Jerry’ Robinson)
DIRTSHARKS (17:00-17:30)
Dirtsharks take their name from ‘The Detectorists’ and are originally from Cornwall. They’ve been gaining attention from playing at The Great Escape and Board Masters. They cite the National and Lonely the Brave as their inspiration. The Dirtsharks are a four piece, comprising brothers Aidan Moran (lead vocals, guitar, violin) and Brendan Moran (lead guitar, vocals, violin), as well as Matt Edwards (bass, vocals), and today their regular drummer can’t make it so Elik Eddy is depping. Dirtsharks music has been described as Indie. It is expansive, atmospheric, and slightly melancholic; it is also powerful and heavy through the melodies and the vocals. They have a distinctive use of reverb on the song ‘Retina’. The brothers perform a duet on their violins during their set which fits within their set. Dirtsharks are clearly super talented and great to hear live.
(Rinee Sinharay)
THE WRONG TROUSERS (17:35-18:00)
The Wrong Trousers dropped their debut tune ‘Fame, Glory, Bye’ at the tailend of 2023 and have now followed it up with ‘Sharp Shooter (Mary Tudor)’ which came out in mid-July. This teatime they played to a packed bar at the Green Door Store. They are a four-piece band from Brighton, and they describe their music as intricate, post-carpet jingle wave grooves. The blend of different genres make their appeal really broad; there’s a bit of grunge and some 70’s influences, and they also seem to have a mainly punk feel. The Wrong Trousers are clearly talented with great guitarists, a fantastic drummer and energetic punchy vocals. Ones to watch out for! You can next check them out at their headline gig at The Prince Albert on Monday 27th October.
(Rinee Sinharay)
LEMONSUCKR (18:00-18:30)
From the start, Lemonsucker owned the stage. It was a knock-it-out-of-the-park performance. With their forays into the audience, the crowd felt part of the action. Lemonsucker have a punky frenetic energy to them, and they produce a music that at first glance seems slightly chaotic but really works. I caught Guy Ferris, lead singer, after the gig, and he said that they tried to make guitars not sound like guitars. They also featured agogo bells, which is unusual to see. He cited Queens of the Stone and the Libertines among their influences. There’s a huge vibrancy to this band, they’re very danceable and their choruses are catchy. They are hugely enjoyable and the stuff of earworms. They’ve moved down from Guildford, and they like the community spirit in Brighton and appreciate the familiar faces who regularly support them. The crowd loves them back. The set list included ‘Instant Kinks’, ‘Dead Disco’ and ‘Boudica’.
(Rinee Sinharay)
TUMMYACHE (19:00-19:30)
Never heard of Tummyache before and purposely didn’t listen to their content, so wanted to soak in the act without prejudice. This is vocalist Soren Bryce’s 2018 project about a mixing up of self reflection and musical expression along with 2 key contributors of bassist Linus Fenton and drummer Arthur James. Starting with 2022’s single ‘Alive Again’ with a mesmerising chorus and wistful shoegaze instrumentals, Soren’s softly spoken vocals pack a punch in the gut with its heavy lyrical weaponry. 3rd song ‘DIY!!’ is a fast guitar driven track which is punk by nature and strives to tell us about the world’s inequalities and unhealthy obsessions of wanting stuff, during which unhealthy amounts of stage machine fog floods the floor. Soren then talks about the world and the way it’s heading – with a “F*ck the Fascists, F*ck Tommy Robinson and F*ck Trump” shout-out. The band is tight with years of practice and 3 albums worth of material including the last song of the set ‘Fake New’ and is the title of their new album. Its unusual erratic drumbeats and the ebbs / flows of the guitar makes for an eerie ending of the set, making us wish for more. But maybe that’s the idea!
(Stephen Willcox)
MAGDA (20:00-20:30)
I’ve seen Magda twice before and each time it makes me smile, from their rough edges you can see a twinkling of greatness. I’d place them in an Electronica Grunge category if I was at Resident records. Lead singer and bassist Max Lambert cuts a figure of a shy, awkward frontman, but you can see deep meaning in his musical exploits, but when talking to the crowd, a dry witty deadpan delivery cuts through which makes everyone laugh. ‘Everytime’ starts with a delicate guitar riff and crashing drums – vocals are low, angry and repetitive, all chorus no verse, but memorable. ‘Hole Punched In A Wall’ with a deep bass melody and lyrics of being trapped and then the release of guitar noize to dramatic effect. Between songs some merch was being touted, “only 2 left in an XL, we can make them fit! “- “We’ll have them” said 2 guys so it looks like the band has finally made a sale. New song ‘Crickets’ was played and was an upbeat electronic smorgasbord, guitar frenzied mash up and for me the best song. Ending with ‘Its Not That Bad’ which is another fast paced Electronic/Guitar jamboree but lyrically was a bit muffled so I couldn’t hear the words. But was an enjoyable set and there’s plenty of room for exploration for this band.
www.instagram.com/magda_rockband
(Stephen Willcox)
CURRLS (21:00-21:30)
Brighton-based DIY garage rock trio Currls are known for their electrifying fast-paced blend of raw garage rock, punk and sludgy pop. They didn’t hang around and with singer Holly screaming “234” they were straight into their opening number ‘Throwback’. Frontwoman Holly’s powerful vocals cut through the raw power of the music. The rhythm section of Hannah on drums and Sal on bass was tight, thunderous, and drove each song forward at speed. Of their set ‘Nerves’ and ‘Honey’ were obvious crowd favourites as people sang along. Currls have a great sense of fun, shown when Holly introduced the band and then asked the audience “and what are your names?”. There was also a serious side, when the band stopped playing, and Holly said they’d start when people stopped talking over the music. A sentiment that went down well with the vast majority wanting to hear Currls. Towards the end of their set Currls were told they only had time for one more song. Undeterred they managed to fit in their final two songs, closing a great set with ‘Family Man’. Currls were fierce, empowering, and bold, and above all a lot of fun.
(Peter Greenfield)
SLAG (22:00-22:40)
Headlining Saturday night at 234 Fest were Slag, one of the fastest rising new bands on the Brighton music scene. Their performance was another thoroughly entertaining blend of grunge, post-punk, and unorthodox pop, delivered with their own flair. From their opening number ‘Heaven’, Slag delivered their trademark catchy yet chaotic fuzz-drenched anthems, speeding up and dropping back without warning, with a melody and hook that is impossible to ignore, not that you’d want to. Singer Amelie Gibson’s vocals ranged from sultry, snarling to emotionally charged, which matched the changing pace and power of the music effortlessly. Her vocals fitted perfectly with the jagged guitar work from Dan Phillips and the dance sound from the keyboards and bass. On ‘Ripped’ Amelie was not just the lead singer of Slag, but the whole of the Green Door Store, as virtually the whole crowd sang along, creating a party-like atmosphere. Incidentally keyboard player Seb Cooper had been leading the dancing from the very first number. Slag closed their superb set and Saturday at 234 Fest with their latest single release ‘Legs’ which closed with another striking long note from Amelie and a chaotic crescendo, which saw bassist Freya Eastcott playing laying on the stage floor.
(Peter Greenfield)
After the Slag set finished, a number of fans made their way to The Rossi Bar at 8 Queens Road in order to carry on the party mood for the free entry After Party which commenced at 11pm and featured a live set from Brighton based NAGASAKI DOG as well as DJ sets from the guys at ‘I Flipping Luv Brighton’. We last reviewed Nagasaki Dog back in 2019 and 2020, when it was a solo project, but referring to the relevant Bandcamp page it appears that the project has expanded and is now Music and Art Project by Amos & Zephi Pakpahan, and the musicians that appeared on their second album ‘The Yoshino Rōnin’ from 2021 were Dan Warden on bass, Johnnie “Meatballs” Cox III on drums and percussion, Amos Pakpahan on guitar and vocals. Sadly, we weren’t able to attend this event, but the band are headlining at The Folklore Rooms on Saturday 11th October, with Claw Machine and Your Majesty in tow – tickets HERE.
Check out a different set of 234 Fest photos on our sister website HERE.
See our reviews of 234 Fest Day Two HERE.
