Designed with no stage time clashes and a clear focus on discovery, this year's festival created a seamless flow between raw, refined, and experimental.
Across an insane lineup featuring Home Counties, The Pill, Chloe Slater, DellaXOZ, Honeyglaze, and Swim School, the festival showcased exactly what it’s about: unapologetically diverse, gender-fluid, and emotionally unfiltered.
Home Counties: Disco and Dancefloor Chaos
Kicking off the evening with jittering precision, Home Counties turned the main stage into a punk, electric, and disco-driven intellect. The six-piece band beamed a kind of chaotic professionalism; every synth stab and angular guitar riff felt slightly off-kilter yet specifically placed.
They opened with ‘Back to the 70’s’, which immediately set the tone for what would be one of the festival's most kinetic and memorable sets. Sharpened lyrically and rhythmically uneasy, their music walks on a tightrope between social critique and energetic fun. The band’s known for turning commentary into choreography, was on full display as frontman Will Harrison paraded across the stage, hyping the crowd up throughout the set.
Their performance of ‘Bethnal Green’ continued to keep the audience engaged and energised and kept them intrigued for what may be to come next. They gave a little treat to Portsmouth to give a taste of their upcoming album ‘Humdrum’ by playing an unreleased song called ‘Roundabout’. Their set closed with ‘Uptight’ which sent the crowd into motion as the audience's hips swayed, fists rising to the lyrics and a beautiful atmosphere. It’s uncommon for a band to balance satire with sincerity so effectively but unlike no other Home Counties do it effortlessly.
In an evening full of discovering new music, Home Counties felt like weight, a reminder that intelligent songwriting and dancefloor energy don’t have to exist in opposition.
The Pill: Feminism, Rock and Punk Spirit Chaos
If Home Counties delivered control, The Pill countered with pure chaos. The Isle of Wight-based duo ran onto stage with a thunderous noise and the kind of charisma you can’t teach. They have a balance of humor and fury, they are branded as DIY punk, and it felt perfectly intimate for the main room.
Tracks like ‘Money Mullet’ and ‘Women Driver’ were performed with a growling attitude, each lyric dripping in sarcasm and feminist wit. The chemistry between the duo is very strong, and this was demonstrated between songs, laughing and joking with the crow,d as well as encouraging crowd participation through their performance.
What makes The Pill’s set unique is how they merge rebellion with joy and respect. They’re not afraid to mock themselves while also making a statement about systems and situations that frustrate them. They closed with ‘POSH’ which saw the audience jumping shoulder to shoulder, shouting along as well as hyping the duo up for their crazy talented electric guitar solos.
Their set embodied what grassroots festivals are meant for: raw talent, rising stars in the most unfiltered form.
Chloe Slater: Emotional Precision Wrapped In Cinematic Sound
Some fangirls within the crowd travelled miles for Chloe Slater, and this was shown throughout her set. After Slater supported Alessi Rose on her EU & UK tour at the start of this year andis about to go on tour supporting Role Model next month, as well as this being the first stop of her own headline tour, Slater was a big one to watch.
As the lights came down, Slater took to the stage, and the room seemed to collectively exhale. Her energy was calm after The Pill’s storm, but no less powerful.
She opened with ‘Tiny Screens’, setting the dancey, calm vibe for her set. Her writing is poetic but grounded, steeped in everyday melancholy. Midway through ‘Harriet’ and ‘Price On Fun’ revealed how she can switch her vibe within seconds. One minute a fragile, delicate ballad, the next rocky and defiant. Slater demonstrates a lot of strength within her vocals, weaving through the melodies with ease. Towards the end of her set during ‘Death Trap’, Slater pre-selected a fan to dance with her on stage, which is becoming a thing she’s doing on this tour only.
Slater doesn’t need theatrics. Her storytelling is enough. It’s thoughtful pop for people who crave honesty, and in that moment, she became the beating heart of the night.
DellaXOZ: Sweet Melancholy Meets DIY Stardom
Switching speed, DellaXOZ brought technicolour energy and unshakeable confidence to the stage. Her world is one of bedroom-pop brilliance, pastel visuals, glittering synths, and lyrics that hit far harder than their sugar-coated surface suggests. After supporting Sabrina Carpenter for both dates at BST Hyde Park, DellaXOZ has been building a strong, solid fanbase. She is one to watch.
Opening with ‘Come Over (Again)’, she immediately has the crowd drawn into her orbit. Her music shimmered with nostalgia and heartbreak, yet her presence was playful and self-assured. The audience danced effortlessly to the rhythm of the music, phones in the air, capturing the next rising star.
Tracks like ‘Don’t Do It!’ and ‘It’s All Good Kid’ struck a perfect balance between vulnerability and power. There’s a unique, authentic feel to how DellaXOZ performs; she wears her emotions on her sleeve, but never lets them take over her. By her final chorus, she had the whole audience in awe, catching them in a moment of collective joy.
Chloe Slater represents emotional reflection, while DellaXOZ embodies emotional release. Her set proved that pop can be both artful and cathartic, and she made it look effortless.
Honeyglaze: Stillness Among The Music
Honeyglaze brought a very-needed pause to the end of the night. Their set was delicate yet intentional, a hazy dreamscape of gentle guitars, cosy harmonies, and emotional softness. Tracks like ‘Female Lead’ and ‘Creative Jealousy’ floated through the crowd, offering a moment of quiet.
Their quiet confidence was dazzling; even in stillness, they held complete command. It was the kind of set that didn’t demand attention; it earned it.
Swim School: Cathartic Noise and Sonic Control
Closing out a day full of discovering rising stars were Swim School, whose lush, reverb-soaked soundscapes transformed The Wedgewood Rooms into something bigger than its walls. Their shoegaze-inflected indie rock with tidal force felt immersive, emotional, and completely consuming.
Opening with ‘Heaven’ gave the audience the immediate dose of dopamine they needed to finish the night. They pulled the crowd into a world full of swirling guitars and strong vocals. Frontwoman Alice Johnson moved effortlessly, gracing the stage with her vocals, cutting through the haze with precision.
Mid-set standouts ‘Give Me A Reason Why’ and ‘Alone With You’ showcased the band’s growth. The balance between noise and nuance was astounding, their sound thick and atmospheric, yet anchored by melodic clarity. They closed with ‘See Red’ building into a crashing crescendo that left the crowd in euphoric silence.
Swim School’s live presence is immaculate, showing the loud, emotional, and beautifully unrestrained side of the band. As the lights faded, the last guitar string strummed; it was clear why they were trusted to close the night; there are only a few bands today that embody the intersection of power and vulnerability completely.
A Festival That Flows
Night's Current Festival 2025 continued to succeed in its mission, celebrating the rising wave of new British music in all its complexity. From Home Counties’ art-pop intellect to The Pill’s punkish rebellion, from Chloe Slater’s cinematic soul to DellaXOZ’s hyperpop glow to Swim School’s sonic superstorm, the night unfolded like no other, narrating through sound and emotion.
This was more than just a lineup; it felt like a conversation between genres, generations, and identities. Night Currents didn’t just host a festival; it captured the pulse of a scene that refuses to stand still.
Chloe Ridgley
@chloeridgley
Images: Finn Delisle
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