Photo Credit: Robin James
Words: Lily Howard
Rising band from New Brighton, The Dream Machine, took on one of the country’s most culturally significant music cities on Wednesday as the fifth stop of their 2026 tour. Following the release of their third album ‘Fort Perch Rock’, fans anticipated the young indie-rock band from Merseyside’s return to the live scene.
The Hallamshire Hotel, which has hosted live music for over 70 years, was the perfect venue. Fellow psychedelic indie-rock band, Marseille, opened the evening. Their set introduced new tracks from their EP ‘The Sun Will Shine Again’, alongside their earlier singles. Production-focused and hypnotic, they were the perfect choice to get fans ready for the headliners.
Then came The Dream Machine. Immersive, creative and high-energy, the band lit the stage immediately. They began with “Fort Porch Rock”, title-song of their new album released in February earlier this year.
Their set followed a range of songs throughout their five-year discography. Some tracks were more upbeat, where audience members found themselves at the front of the crowd dancing along, whilst others had them swaying with their thoughts.
Cindy’s Eyes was one of the night’s stand-out songs. Its nostalgic 1960s vibe held both indie-pop and rock aspects that captured the audience immensely.
With little crowd interaction and a night full of dense melodies, powerful instrumentation and soaring vocals, Sheffield yet again saw a growing young band shine on one of its stages.
