Review: B-Town Indie Night @ The Rainbow, Birmingham - 19/09/25.

Words & Images by Tom Pilkington

Friday night, and for the first time in what feels like forever, I'm back in my hometown of Birmingham long term, and going to a local gig. B-Town is run by two friends of mine, Nick Barlow and Tim Senna, and I have always been a massive supporter of them from afar. But now I'm back in person for the first time in just over two years to see some of the best new live acts Birmingham, and as I was quick to discover other areas, have to offer.

I arrive a little late, so only catch the last couple of songs by openers There Will Be Fish. They're young, fun, loud, and have brought in a huge crowd! I hope to catch a full set from them some time soon.

Next up is South Wales-based Fever Jaw, a band I'm surprised to have not heard of before considering I've been in and around the Cardiff scene for the last three years. They remind me of Jimmy Eat World a little, with chugging pop-punk rock tunes. There's a slight hint of post-grunge in the vocals department as well but don't worry, not in the meme way! Fever Jaw are lovely guys with some great live energy.

Fever Jaw

The crowd love it here at B-Town. The applause and cheers aren't awkward and forced like at a lot of local gigs - they are GENUINE and full of (com)passion and appreciation for the hardworking musicians within a new music scene that, despite being tightly knit, is really friendly and welcoming. Oh, and they'll do the macarena to any and every song!

For me, the highlight of the night comes with third act Cherry i, a Ukrainian band now active in the London Windmill scene due to the war. And they had me entranced right from the get go. They play spiralling, hypnotising, gothic indie with hauntingly beautiful guitar arpeggios and some serious groove in the rhythm section despite how low and slow the music can be at times. Don't be fooled though, because they can pack a seriously heavy punch when they want to, like on stand out tracks 'The Arsonist' and 'Fragile Man'. The vocals are also particularly effective; delicate but intense, almost like gasping for breath. I'm so so glad to have seen these guys live, and as much as I'd love to gatekeep them, I must recommend them to everyone!

Cherry i

Last up is first time headliners Histra. They deliver dramatic, soulful energy with some bright piano flourishes to set them apart from your average indie band. That being said, they do get the crowd singing along with some common covers (Fontaines DC, Declan McKenna, Djo, Goo Goo Dolls etc.), but where they really thrive is in their original material. Their songs are heartfelt and full of emotion and enthusiasm that can't be faulted, particularly on their most recent single 'Intricacies', which features raw, desperate vocals and even a few impressive screams. While Histra still have room to grow to become a tighter band, they've certainly hit the ground running and performed an enthralling first headline set.

B-Town has uncovered and brought together some fantastic young talent over the last couple of years, and tonight is no exception! The promoters, Nick and Tim, have not only harnessed a space to showcase the best of Birmingham and beyond, but have also pioneered an incredible community. Back in 2022, I performed on the Birmingham circuit and at times found it a little immature and overly competitive, but I am really happy to see that now there is such a positive scene blossoming in the second city. And not only is it giving a leg up to local acts but it's also showing performers and audiences from other places that Birmingham live music is worth their time!

Histra