There’s something about October evenings in Portsmouth that feels built for live music. The sea air, the city’s indie heartbeat, and the tempt of a late night crowd ready to be surprised. 

On Saturday 4th October, Night Current Festival returns to the Wedgewood Rooms and Edge Of The Wedge, pulling together a line-up that perfectly captures the restless, genre-blending energy of the UK’s next wave of talent. 

At the top of the line-up, Swim School steps in to co-headline. The Edinburgh based band have carved a space for themselves through a mix of shoegaze haze and slacker-rock sharpness. Their recent releases of ‘On & On’ , ‘Alone With You’ and ‘Heaven’ sets what the vibe is for their upcoming project and what could be expected for their set. Sharing the spotlight, Honeyglaze brings a different kind of electricity. Their sophomore album ‘Real Deal’ leans into raw honesty and an atmosphere that demands silence before erupting into noise; the kind of live show that leaves you blinking under stage lights, unsure if you’ve just been gutted or healed.

What makes Night Current so magnetic, though, isn’t just the headliners. The discovery and final line-up additions Chloe Slater, DellaXOZ and Cosmorat underline the festival's commitment to spotlighting artists before they hit wider radars. Slater recently supported Alessi Rose on her recent tour earlier this year and is known for her sharp-tongued yet catchy social commentary bringing a rush of urgency. DellaOXZ is all shimmering guitars and heartfelt storytelling. A rising star whose songs feel diaristic yet universal. Cosmorat, meanwhile, twist dark alt-pop into a chaotic, addictive performance that makes you feel complicit in their world.

Further down the line-up, the variety keeps treating us, Picture Parlour offer swaggering riffs, Home Counties bring their wry post-punk wit, while Grandmas House lean into raw, cathartic punk energy. Add the restless chaos of Alien Chicks,, the experimental edges of Y, and the textured layered of Shtepi, and you’ve got a 12-act snapshot of the UK’s alternative underground in one night.

The best part is there will be no clashes. The festival design means you can drift between both rooms, catching every set without the dreaded schedule anxiety that usually comes with multi-stage events. It’s intimate, it’s deliberate and it keeps the focus on what Night Currents does best, building a community around discovery.

Supported by promoters ABH Promotions and Rock Coven, and with backing from grassroots allies like Southsea Sound and Fightback Lager, the event doubles down on what Portsmouth’s scene does best, celebrating music at the point where passion outweighs polish, and potential outweighs hype.

For anyone chasing the thrill of hearing the next big names in a room that still feels yours, Night Currents 2025 looks unmissable. 

Chloe Ridgley

@chloeridgley 

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