BIG FEAR + VERONICA + EVERYDAY SAINTS + GIRL APOCRYPHA – THE HOPE & RUIN, BRIGHTON 24.9.26
We found ourselves back at The Hope & Ruin on Queens Road in Brighton for the latest instalment of the regular Hidden Herd New Music Night. On the bill were a quartet of acts, all of which we have previously reviewed over the past year, these being Big Fear, Veronica, Everyday Saints and Girl Apocrypha.
So without further ado, let’s get down to action.
Opening the latest Hidden Herd showcase, Brighton newcomer Girl Apocrypha immediately snapped the Hope & Ruin into focus with a set that fused dark alternative rock, post-punk edge and dark-pop theatrics. Fronted by Emia Demir, who after playing guitar and bass in various rock and grunge outfits now commands centre stage in her own right. She was joined by Willow Simpson on guitar, Nathan Hayward on drums and Molly on bass. The band arrived dressed in black, with Demir’s silver boots and Dolly Parton-adorned guitar hinting at the clash of influences to come.
The opening ‘Love Song’ established the tone, driven by Nathan Hayward’s powerful drumming and Molly’s thick, melodic basslines, while Willow Simpson’s guitar work added both texture and bite. ‘Like Adam Would’ pushed harder still, Emia and Willow’s guitars locking together amid rising noise before dropping away to reveal an intimate vocal passage carried by an excellent bass line.
The set’s most dramatic shift came with ‘Madonna’, where sunglasses appeared, a spare pair was handed to an audience member, and the band’s alt-rock foundations gave way to a sleek, dark-pop disco pulse. Emia embraced full pop-star charisma, teasing the crowd with sharp, precise vocals.
The closing ‘Dealer’ showcased the band’s command of dynamics, moving between stark minimalism and towering intensity before building to a powerful finale that further confirmed Girl Apocrypha as one of Brighton’s most intriguing new acts.
Girl Apocrypha:
Emia Demir – vocals, guitar
Willow Simpson – guitar
Nathan Hayward – drums
Molly – bass
Girl Apocrypha setlist:
‘Love Song’ (unreleased)
‘Like Adam Would’ (a 2026 single)
‘Sam’ (unreleased)
‘Madonna’ (a 2026 single)
‘Me + U’ (unreleased)
‘Dealer’ (a 2026 single)
Everyday Saints arrived at Hope & Ruin with a noticeably evolved sound and a more expansive live presence. Having recently performed as a stripped-back duo at Bella Union Vinyl Shop, vocalist Pip Rainbird and bassist Mimi Holder were joined here by guitarist Ernesto Diaz and drummer Dan Pimblett, producing a fuller, more direct blend of electronic indie-pop, spooky textures and dancefloor energy.
Opening with ‘See No Evil’, the band immediately established a groove-driven approach, combining programmed beats with live instrumentation to create an infectious pulse that drew movement from the crowd. Throughout the set, Pip cut an increasingly compelling figure at the front of the stage, pairing a playful sense of mischief with growing confidence and theatrical flair.
Tracks such as ‘(Run Run Run) Mechanical Rabbit ‘ highlighted the band’s developing identity, contrasting upbeat pop repetition with haunting vocal tones and Ernesto’s guitar work, whose bursts of noise and texture repeatedly lifted the songs into unexpected territory. ‘Pink Kiss’ brought a more atmospheric mood through spoken-word passages and effective vocal echoes, while ‘Honey Moon’ retained traces of the band’s earlier, more offbeat charm, helped by layered recorded and live vocals. Pip’s vocals had a wonderful ABBA like sound and quality across the set.
Pip’s blossoming stagecraft proved a constant focal point. She dropped to her knees during key moments, led audience participation through dance gestures on ‘Strange Fright’, and even perched on the bass drum during its fairground-like outro. By the time ‘It’s Ritual’ closed proceedings with eerie electronics, pounding bass and an accelerating dance beat, Everyday Saints felt transformed: still unmistakably themselves, but now armed with a bigger, bolder and more immediate sound.
Everyday Saints:
Pip Rainbird – vocals
Mimi Holder – bass
Ernesto Diaz – guitar
Dan Pimblett – drums
Everyday Saints setlist:
‘See No Evil’ (unreleased)
‘Beaut’ (unreleased)
‘(Run Run Run) Mechanical Rabbit’ (unreleased)
‘Pink Kiss’ (a 2024 single)
‘Honey Moon’ (unreleased)
‘Strange Fright’ (unreleased)
‘Ginger Snaps’ (a 2026 single)
‘It’s Ritual (unreleased)
Performing without her regular band, who were away on holiday, Brighton-based singer-songwriter Veronica demonstrated just how captivating she can be as a solo artist. Dressed in purple and bathed in moody lighting, the Milan-born songwriter transformed the Hope & Ruin into something closer to a gothic theatre, her haunting voice commanding attention from the opening moments.
Beginning with ‘Rose’, Veronica immediately drew attention with her dramatic delivery and soaring vocals. There was an almost operatic quality to her voice, balancing ethereal beauty with impressive power. The unreleased ‘King Of The World’ followed with a darker, sense of melancholy, the room falling noticeably quiet as the audience became absorbed in her storytelling.
At the keyboard for ‘The Only Way To Kill The Butterfly’, Veronica paired delicate melodies with powerful backing percussion, while ‘Too Many Spiders’ introduced tribal rhythms that contrasted beautifully with her angelic vocal delivery. The tender piano-led ‘The Cupboard’ showcased her emotional depth, every lyric carrying a palpable sense of sadness and vulnerability.
A more upbeat ‘God’s Favorite’ brought together classical influences and modern pop sensibilities, before ‘The Lake Of The Dead’ provided a fitting finale. Leaving the stage to twirl amongst the crowd, Veronica closed a spellbinding set that felt intimate, theatrical and utterly absorbing.
Veronica:
Veronica – vocals, keyboard
Veronica setlist:
‘Rose’ (a 2025 single)
‘King Of The World’ (unreleased)
‘The Only Way To Kill The Butterfly’ (unreleased)
‘Too Many Spiders’ (a 2026 single)
‘The Cupboard’ (unreleased)
‘God’s Favorite’ (a 2026 single)
‘The Lake Of The Dead’ (from 2023 ‘Just A Dream’ EP)
Closing the Hidden Herd showcase was London’s Big Fear, a rising London duo comprised of Alice Edwards and Jack Wilkinson. With a five-piece band they combined alt-pop, indie rock and synth-driven drama with an infectious sense of fun. Fronted by the charismatic Alice Edwards, whose bleeding-heart costume matched the emotional intensity of the songs, the band immediately established themselves as confident performers with a remarkably tight live sound.
Opening with ‘Culture Cannibal’, from their ‘Career Day’ EP, Big Fear set the tone with upbeat alt-pop and strong stage presence, while the curious addition of a vintage portable television on stage added to their carefully constructed aesthetic. ‘Beautiful Hands’ leaned further into shimmering 1980s-inspired synth-pop, before Alice announced it was “time to boogie” and launched into the funkier ‘Sisyphus’, driven by an irresistible bass and drum groove that had people moving across the room.
The band demonstrated impressive range throughout the set. ‘Mildew’ shifted between quieter, intimate passages and more expansive moments, while ‘Courier Mail’ introduced dance rhythms and synth textures. The beautiful ‘Tide Of The Evening’ provided one of the evening’s most affecting moments, building gradually without sacrificing its tenderness.
As the set drew to a close, the crowd were fully engaged. The punchy ‘Money’ sparked dancing throughout the venue, while the playful ‘Yes Sir’ turned into a call-and-response finale, with audience members enthusiastically shouting the title back at the band. Equal parts theatrical, witty and danceable, Big Fear proved a fitting and memorable climax to a consistently strong showcase.
Big Fear:
Alice Edwards – lead vocals
Jack Wilkinson – guitar
Ben Crone – synth
Oscar Gormley – bass
Lucy Yates – drums
Big Fear setlist:
‘Culture Cannibal’ (from 2025 ‘Career Day’ EP)
‘Beautiful Hands’ (from 2025 ‘Career Day’ EP)
‘Sisyphus’ (from 2025 ‘Career Day’ EP)
‘Mildew’ (from 2025 ‘Career Day’ EP)
‘Courier Mail’ (from 2026 ‘New Hire’ EP)
‘Darling Boy’ (from 2026 ‘New Hire’ EP)
‘Tide Of The Evening’ (from 2026 ‘New Hire’ EP)
‘Yes Sir’ (unreleased)
News of Hidden Herd’s forthcoming shows and tickets is available HERE.
