total tommy, Fiona-Lee and Dutch Mustard light up Sebright Arms for Dork’s Night Out

Three exciting artists. The Sebright Arms in London. Another buzzy Dork’s Night Out leading into summer, and we wouldn’t have it any other way. Tonight feels on the cusp, with three names carving their own paths – ready for festival stages whilst serving up more fun than a Wednesday night usually could.

Dutch Mustard open proceedings with blazing intent that’s set to bash down doors. Swaggering with shoegaze edges, there’s confidence to each step – part spellbinding and part uncompromising rock; the result makes a firm mark. New track ‘Dream House’ perfectly exemplifies worlds meeting, building into an erupting cinematic fuzz that’s impossible to ignore. It’s in the full show where Dutch Mustard truly reveal their ambition. Searing with purpose yet playful in immediacy, they may be London’s best-kept new band secret.

With just a guitar, a voice and tales of raw life realities, Fiona-Lee steps forward with a jaw-dropping set. Debut EP ‘Nothing Compares To Nineteen’ has laid the blueprint for one of the UK’s most essential new songwriters, with a Sam Fender-esque vitality laid bare tonight. Stripping those tracks to their bones spotlights everything she represents. ‘When I Wake Up I’m Sad’, ‘To Make Me Feel Good’ and ‘Lavender’ are captivating – pulling Sebright Arms close in rare fashion. New cut ‘Every Woman’ sets the marker ahead, an unflinching account of dark corners delivered with defiant words. A closing ‘Mother’ seals it: Fiona-Lee brings light to shadows and is destined to shine brighter.

Meet your new alt-rock favourite: total tommy. Through several releases and the brilliant debut album ‘Bruises’ last year, total tommy has emerged as an artist who feels definitively immediate. And Very Good Indeed. Her first London headline show becomes a stunning showcase of every ambition and more, marking the start of something brilliant. As scuzzy hooks ring through Sebright Arms, each move feels momentous. ‘microdose’ fizzes and tests the venue’s speakers whilst ‘Amsterdam’ revels in pop punk glory – recalling tales of writing in London after a memorable night in that European city. There’s something circular about this evening, with much of ‘Bruises’ written in London before this headline debut. It adds extra significance to total tommy’s already special showcase. ‘Spider’ and the hypnotic ‘Losing Out’ are emphatic, and a stunning cover of Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ ‘Maps’ captures a world already in her grasp. Each moment shows total tommy pulling everyone towards the freedom that defines the finest artists. With ‘Real’ ringing into the night, it’s just the beginning – a Dork’s Night Out seizing the future with crunching conviction.