Edinburgh based psychedelic indie rockers Aldous took to the stage for their debut headline gig at the iconic Sneaky Pete’s.
The night was already set to be a success as Aldous had a sold out gig. From the start you could see that as the crowd entered they were ready and excited for what the night had in store for them.
Aldous formed back in early 2023 and are made up of Cally Buxton on lead vocals, Freddie Fullerton on guitar and vocals, Sam Huggins on bass and vocals, and Sid Burgoyne on drums. Their unique blend of indie, psychedelic, shoegaze and folk rock has quickly made Aldous one of the most exciting up and coming bands on the local music scene.
Since forming in 2023, Aldous have played at some of Scotland’s most iconic venues such as King Tuts Wah Wah Hut, Whistle Binkies and most recently, Sneaky Petes.
For any Edinburgh based musician, playing Sneaky Petes is like a right of passage. It is loved by both locals and tourists. Although it’s a small venue it has a big heart and soul, the room was full of friendship and love as we waited for the night to begin.
Starting off the night we had Elevator Bottom Line opening the gig. They set the tone for the rest of the night, displaying raw and genuine creativity. As a new band, I was impressed with the energy and calmness the band showed on stage. They already acted like they owned the stage with the band’s interaction making you feel like they have always belonged there. With audience interaction and even a cheeky little costume change Elevator Bottom Line ensured that the night would be a brilliant success and the crowd absolutely loved it. Throughout their set the band were constantly grabbing the audience’s attention with their skillful storytelling, silky voice and experimental rhythms.
Following on from Elevator Bottom Line we had the incredible Cherry Red hit the stage. This is a band who knows who they are and where effortlessly in sync with each other throughout their entire set with their confidence never faltering. Energising the crowd with their cover of Lola Young’s ‘Messy’ it was obvious that the band were very clearly having fun on stage and so were the audience. With their energy and incredible talent, it’s easy to see why Cherry Red were the perfect opener for Aldous and I imagine that if they haven’t already, they will be playing their first headline gig very soon.
With the audience geared up and ready, Aldous took to the stage for their first headline gig. It’s easy to see why Aldous has been able to grow into a headline act. Their musically diverse sound and experimental rhythms had the crowd enthralled with them for the duration of their set. From their stage presence to crowd interaction the band are clearly very comfortable on the stage.
Aldous spent the night teasing the crowd with their debut EP ‘Putting it to Bed’ which has now officially been announced to be released on May 8th. From what we got to hear it is clear that this EP is set to showcase their best and most varied songs yet. Opening their set with ‘Rouge’ and ‘Soma’ which are the first two tracks of the soon to be released EP instantly created an upbeat and creative atmosphere in the room giving fans a little taste of what to expect when we finally get to hear the EP.
A highlight of the set for me was the band’s cover of ‘Three Hours’ by Nick Drake, a beautiful and captivating rendition as Cally and Freddie gave us beautiful and haunting harmonies. This cover to me highlights the band’s artistry as they made this song their own and it felt like it belonged to them.
Watching Aldous perform live, I got to enjoy seeing all members of the band have their moment to shine and display their talent. From Catchy rhythms and beautiful thought provoking lyrics to harmonica solos that had the crowd buzzing this set had it all.
As Aldous continues to grow and evolve, this is a band you want to keep your eye on, make sure you join them at their EP release party at the vibrant venue Paradise Palm on May 8th.
Make sure you stay up to date with what Aldous get up to by checking out their Instagram.