RALLY 2025 Festival Review – An Incredible Display of Fresh Music
14 September 2025
Lavender Rodriguez
Kicking off the festival, in The Peer Hat, was Manchester-based electronic alt-soul artist Lavender Rodriguez (they/them), who from the get-go delivered dreamy electronic vibes combined with a soulful vocal nature to create an intimate atmosphere for those in attendance. This set was special, opening up a festival can be terrifying but they took it in their stride, growing in confidence as the set went on.
When watching you could tell these songs came from the heart, especially with the varied focus of the tracks, from ‘Menace’; an upbeat electronic soul track which brilliantly introduced who Lavender was and what they’re about and featured a mix of dreamy electronic synth lines, sweet violin riffs and powerful vocals, and the cool toned, Wind down which featured a crowd call and response which made the crowd feel part of something amazing, to ‘Dysphoria’: an Energetic alt-pop delivered with addictive energy that you couldn’t but move along to, and latest single and final track of the set ‘Sweat’, an Experimental soul/alt-pop song poetically delivered from the heart. This set was soulful, passionate and engaging from the minute Lavender took the stage, and set an excellent precedent for the rest of the festival. An artist to watch if you love soulful electronic vibes.
Track to check out: Sweat-Lavender Rodriguez
Judy Brush
Judy Brush had the crowd at SOUP wrapped around their little finger with an intriguing set of high-energy Avant pop and gritty dark-natured tracks that varied from themes of the human experience to non-conformity, with honest and at times humorous introductory speeches. This set was different in every good possible way, no two tracks were the same with an assortment of elements from utilising tapes to playing with sound, distortion, and musical tonality, it felt like witnessing a mad scientist of music. There was a vibrant psychedelic nature to Judy’s set that you couldn’t help but be drawn in by. A brilliant outside-of-the-box set that leaves you wanting more.
Track to check out: Hot Tub – Judy Brush
Loose Articles
One of the favourites to watch and with good reason, Manchester punk band Loose Articles stormed the Band on the Wall stage with ferocity and an infectious energy from the get-go, their presence deserving of excited celebration from a packed venue of fans familiar and fans new. This set was jam-packed with tracks that were a riot or a story to be told all delivered with undeniable power, tracks like I’d Rather Have a Beer and Kick Like a Girl showed brilliant chemistry between the members, both musically and personally, and several moments within the set showcased this is a band but it’s also a family, with members filling up another’s glass when they were running low on drink and talking and having fun between tracks. it’s understandable how this band have already gained a dedicated community of fans, who are at the centre of their live set, including this Fair Play set where during the crowd favourite track, Sinead Loves Bitcoin, Sinead herself was brought on stage to perform with the band.
Loose Articles love what they do, you could tell from the confidence and strong presence they possessed on stage, and that makes a live set even more special, fun was to be had with every track, whether it be about ‘Welders’ or a dislike for ‘buses’, you couldn’t help but fall in love with this band as the set went on.
This set was a standout of punky high energy and fierce spirit that left you breathless, if you are looking for music that will set a fire in your chest then Loose Articles is the band for you.
Track to check out: I’d Rather Have a Beer-Loose Articles
Shell Company
With an otherworldy, fever dream musicality intertwined with a hypnotic spoken word lyrical delivery Shell Company took SOUP to a different world, the crowd started small, however, quickly grew as if they’d heard the siren call of Shell Company’s layered electronic and poetic set. there was a sense of calm throughout that drew you in closer and closer, every word, every note delivered as if it was personally meant for each member of the crowd present. This felt less like a performance and more like part of something bigger, something magical. From the get-go, the crowd were memorized by the music, as if under an elegant spell, and truly who couldn’t be with such a brilliant mix of experimental electronic elements and delicate poetic lyrical delivery. A gorgeous musical escape overall.
Track to check out: Half-Heart-Shell Company
KITTY
With melodic vocals and a delicate folk musicality, Manchester singer-songwriter Kitty invited The Peer Hat into her world with warmth and a welcoming nature that felt similar to the comfort of an old friend or a gentle breeze on a cool summer day. With a set such as this, it may seem easy to feel one-note however this wasn’t the case with KITTY, with a varied set list of tracks from sweet bass-led melodies to soft heartbreaking reminiscence all intertwined with tambourine, soft trombone, and a sweet poetic nature similar to that of Jeff Buckley or Katie Melua, that brought an extra layer of magic to an already beautiful set where the crowd’s eyes never left the stage. This was truly something special.
Track to check out: Fine – KITTY
The New Eves:
Band on The Wall quickly fell under the spell of Brighton’s The New Eves when they took the venue stage in the early evening of Fair Play Festival, from the get-go you would believe angels had taken the stage and not just because the band were dressed mostly in white, but because of their bewitching rock folk nature and stage presence that made the set feel more like an experience than a simple musical performance, similar to the atmosphere you may feel at a Florence and The Machine, The Last Dinner Party Or Kate Bush performance. This set was anything but simple with the band showcasing a stunning selection of musical layers including riot grlll natured folky punk with marching rhythms and rich Cello riffs to a passionate choral style that enchanted all those present. The New Eves brought magic to Band on The Wall and with a set like that they’ll likely be the name on everyone’s lips in no time, a very strong and memorable set that won’t be forgotten anytime soon.
Track to check out: Astrolabe-The New Eves
Comfort
Before Comfort had stepped on the stage there was an atmosphere of excitement amongst a packed castle hotel crowd, one that was eager to be part of what would
turn out to be a vibrant experimental set. The minute this trio took the stage you could feel Castle Hotel come to life with high energy and fun that had the room feeling less like just a room and more like a safe space for creativity and unapologetic joy. There was not one corner of the stage left untouched by the trio’s passionate lead singer Natalie, whose lyrics talked honestly about the transgender experience as well as society as a whole with power and a sense of vulnerability that made you want to listen in close and take note. This set was electronic and punky in musicality and brilliantly honest, if there is any artist you need to be listening to right now then Comfort is it.
Track to check out: Pride of Britain-comfort
Ellie Bleach
Norwich Singer-Songwriter Ellie Bleach brought colour and a playful atmosphere with her set at the peer hat, with a mix of synthy ballads and funky melodies that were delivered with engaging passion and enthusiasm and sung from the soul to an equally enthusiastic crowd who were more than happy to show their love throughout Ellie’s performance. From dancing along to cheery applause and energetic sing-along when the set called for it, this set was a party for all, especially with influences of Courtney Barnett and entertaining storytelling to bring it all together. Ellie Bleach has got it all.
Track to check out: Hottest Man Alive 1995-Ellie Bleach
TaliaBle
TaliaBle knew how to set an atmosphere with their closing set with a signature red veil of light cascading over Gulliver’s upstairs stage to welcome friends old and new to their world, this wasn’t your normal set, it was an experience that would stick with you long into the night, with high energy and an abundance of power from the get-go, north London Dysfunctional rapper, TaliaBle hooked in the crowd and didn’t once let go.
“If you can hear me on this microphone then take one step closer to the stage, sipping a drink or talking with friends” they called out, this was a performance best witnessed up close and personal much to the excitement of the crowd.
You were immediately drawn into her orbit, unable to stop yourself from bouncing or moving along, especially with the floor bouncing beneath your feet, there was a sense of safety in this set amongst the beautiful chaos, a sense of freedom to go as crazy as you want, a sense encouraged by the rapper who’d call statements such as “You only live once, if you want to dance, go ahead why not’ and make sure fun was had by all from getting the crowd to sing along to creating interactive segments including one such game that involved the crowd trying to stop TaliaBle from getting to the back of the room.
Everything was on the table with this set, it was never certain what was to happen next, from being sprayed with water to interactive offstage games. This is an artist who enjoys the experience of playing live as much as they enjoy creating meaningful music about experiences, heartbreak, and general life. Musically Grit and power were delivered throughout, whether it was on the stage or in the crowd, the energy was positively electric, and it made this festival set and TaliaBle stand out for all the right reasons amongst the festival’s packed lineup.
An incredible way to end a busy day of music from across genres.
Track to check out: PANDORA’z SPIT-TaliaBle
Prangers
For those looking for something more ominous and industrial to end their night, Fair Play had you covered at The Castle Hotel, where in the evening, Prangers hypnotised with marching drum beats, and entrancing and at times, haunting spoken vocals while a packed crowd slowly looked on with intrigue and moved along slowly taking in every word as if it was meant for them. This set was one of the most intriguing of the festival, and they are one to check out if you want something more on the industrial, noise music side of things.
Track to check out: Gomp-Prangers
With that, Fair Play festival was over for another year and what a day it was, it’s no surprise that its sold out several times even while in its infancy as a festival. The lineup this year showcased such a variety of artists from across the genres and there was something for everyone whether it was at SOUP, Gullivers, The Peer Hat, The Castle Hotel or Band on The Wall. The gorgeous weather may not have continued into the evening, but Fair Play Festival make sure to be the sunshine amongst the common grey clouds of Manchester, and its light is sure to grow with brilliant lineups such as this year. Make sure to give all the featured artists a listen, you’ll quickly understand this is the festival to be at.
