Words: Abi Jones

Ireland’s indie music scene is bigger than ever, and Basht. are at the forefront of growing this art and connecting with people every day. Hailing from Dublin, the alternative rock band have been crafting their distinctive sound since 2022 with their debut single, ‘Never Love’. Their alternative aura and immense stage presence have caught the eyes of many in the industry, landing them support slots for big bands like Wunderhorse, Goo Goo Dolls, and more recently, Miles Kane last month. They’re also set to open for Welsh indie band, The Royston Club this May in Belfast. With over 164,000 monthly listeners on Spotify, their platform is continuing to grow, and it’s clear that their days of basking in the spotlight are something they’re getting used to.

As well as their sold-out UK Tour, playing shows across twelve cities, they’re also performing at renowned festivals like Sound City and even Belgium’s Rock Werchter this summer. Taking their talent to such a widely televised stage will undoubtedly amplify their reach and accelerate their rise in the coming months.

Basht.’s performance truly thrived within Clwb Ifor Bach’s grungy atmosphere. As a grassroot venue, Clwb has nurtured the early beginnings of major acts like Catfish and the Bottlemen and Wolf Alice for over 40 years. After a night like this, it feels inevitable that Basht. joining this star-studded list will fulfil the unspoken prophecy of their band making it big.

Taking to the stage before the headliners were indie band Esmeralda Road. Despite this being their first time in Cardiff, their connection with the crowd felt so natural, you could easily mistake them for long-time friends of the audience (if you ignore their Belfast accents). Vocalist Charlie Magill made the stage his own, pacing restlessly before stepping down into the crowd, kneeling among them to blur the line between performer and audience.

With only seven songs out on streaming, their set mainly consisted of unreleased tracks. Although frustrating for some, this only made the live music experience more intimate and authentic. It seemed as though the crowd appreciated it more, in an age when music is on-demand all the time, they were thrilled to listen to music that is yet to be released, not knowing when is the next time they’ll be able to listen to it again.

After a run of new tracks ‘Mobile Phone‘ and ‘15′, Magill introduced the band. “For those of you who don’t know us, we’re Esmeralda Road. For those of you who do, this one’s for you”, he said, before launching into the opening chords of their 2024 single ‘I Think‘.

Esmeralda Road are definitely a hidden gem at the moment. With their blend of talent and charm, it’s undeniable that we’ll begin to see them emerge more prominently in the music scene in no time.

Shortly afterwards, Basht. took to the stage and got everyone off their feet with the driving pulse of ‘Vermillion‘. The 2025 single ‘Vain‘ is what picked up the pace, evoking chants of the chorus to echo throughout the room.

‘Keira Knightly‘ was undoubtedly the highlight of the night. After ‘Gone Girl‘, this track reignited the crowd with a surge of energy, cementing itself as a modern indie rock anthem. Frontman Jack Leavey joined the crowd, bonding the band and the audience to underline exactly what live music should feel like.

Closing with ‘Wild Horses‘ was the greatest way of tying up a show. It was almost the calm after the storm but still left an undying energy lingering. Being one of their best-known songs, it drew a unified response, the crowd fuelled the room with hundreds of voices singing every line back at the band.

From the haunting pull of ‘Burn‘, to the beautiful chaos of ‘Gone Girl‘, Basht. deliver a set that is lively and dynamic.