Photo + Words: Olivia Macrae
Rising Edinburgh-based indie rock band Aldous hit the stage at Sneaky Pete’s with their first ever headline gig on 24th March.
The up-and-coming four piece played a stunning selection of alternative and indie tunes to the sold-out crowd, including tracks from their upcoming debut EP set to be released around May. Supporting acts included experimental band Bottom Line and indie rock band Cherry Red.
The buzzing Monday night kicked off with Bottom Line who opened the evening at 7.30 pm with a range of alternative and experimental tracks. Their sound consists of distorted guitars, abstract production, and alluring storytelling. Bottom Line have already bagged another supporting slot at the Voodoo Rooms with Music Of The Second World War on 30th March – a great chance to hear some of their newer stuff live!
Indie-rock quartet Cherry Red continued the evening with an upbeat, engaging set at 8.15 pm. Their set included their latest single ‘Rearranged’, a personal favourite of the lead vocalist and filled with strong, pounding drums and catchy lyrics. Their sophomore single ‘Mr Valentine’ was a notable set highlight with strong instrumentals fuelled with energy.
Lead singer Rachel Moir, often switching between vocals and synth keys, showcased her talented vocals in a cover of ‘Messy’ by Lola Young. Unreleased track ‘Mud’ brought a faster-paced, guitar-driven tune to the Edinburgh attendees, perfectly setting the scene and got the crowd ready before Aldous hit the stage at 9 pm.
At 9pm, you could feel a palpable sense of anticipation in the room as the rising alt indie-rock four piece entered the Sneaky stage. The crowd had an infectious energy with attendees regularly cheering and supporting the four-piece, a memorable atmosphere for Aldous’ first ever headline show.
The up-and-coming indie-rock band is made up of Cally on lead vocals & guitar, Freddie and Sam as guitarists & backing vocals, and Sid on drums. They recently played King Tut’s supporting Tanzana as part of the King Tut’s New Years Revolution in January, as well as other venues including Edinburgh’s Whistle Binkies and the Lucky Strike bar in Glasgow. 2025 is already shaping up to be an exciting year for Aldous, with their debut EP set to be released in May.
Aldous opened with ‘Rouge’, a soft indie styled track, followed by ‘Soma’, an upbeat and catchy track with rhythmic guitars and punchy drums. These first two tracks will be featured in their upcoming EP, with Freddie expressing to the crowd their excitement for its release and being recently recording in the studio in preparation for May.
‘Wind-Up Radio’ was a rare addition to the setlist, a newer track only played live before at their Whistle Binkies set. This was a softer, indie-led track featuring distorted guitars and LoFi production, before picking up with gripping electric guitar that faded out toward the end. The night also featured their first ever live cover – a special, compelling take on ‘Three Hours’ by Nick Drake. Beautifully harmonising vocals between Cally and Freddie, as well as building-up guitars and strong drums, made this cover a perfect addition to the setlist.
Another notable mention was ‘Runaway’, with vocals led by guitarist Sam and a harmonica solo by Freddie that landed brilliantly with the crowd, keeping the energy in the room buzzing. With several instrumental breaks throughout the set, you could see the wide ranged skill from all members in the band, and the diversity from softer indie tracks, guitar, and percussion solos. Original song ‘Koan’ featured electrifying guitar instrumentals from Sam, whereas ‘Moth’ included heavier drums whilst also delivering delicate, spoken lyrics.
The last two songs of the night are also set to be featured in Aldous’ upcoming EP. Penultimate setlist track ‘Meditations’ provides more subdued tempos, with emotional lyrics creating an authentically raw, sombre ambience. The closing track of the set was ‘Song To Fall Asleep To’, with spoken lyrics by Sam: “You look so beautiful when you’re lying next to me / can’t get out of my head / the only way I’m headed is your bed”. This track illustrates the internal desperation felt through having feelings for someone whilst figuring out your own paths of self-discovery.
Make sure to keep an eye out for the release of Aldous’ debut EP in May, as well as potential upcoming live dates for the rest of 2025.
You can check out Aldous’ Instagram HERE:
You can check out Aldous’ YouTube channel HERE:
Taped Magazine 