I will fully admit this was a bit of a voyage into the unknown for me. Three bands, two of which I had not even heard of before, and headliners who have been kicking up the dust for the past decade with shows at huge Metal festivals, including Download and Hellfest, as well as earning appreciation at the likes of 2000Trees. By the end of the evening, I was fully invested in the high energy from not only the headliners, Nova Twins, but also the two support acts, Venus Grrrls and Bex.
Nova Twins – Venus Grrrls – Bex
Tramshed, Cardiff – 15 March 2026
Words And Photography: Paul Hutchings
The venue is not full, but there is not much room, and unlike the Crowbar gig a couple of weeks before, you can move without an armpit in your face.
There soon is a sweaty arm in the face when Nova Twins hit the stage, though, as the pit erupts when they bring their low-end induced Grime rap punk to Cardiff.
Nova Twins
The energy in the room is palpable as Amy Love and Georgia South, accompanied by a drummer, take their place. From the opening bars of Antagonist, the room is bouncing as the bass lines thunder and growl.
You can feel your stomach lurch from the big bass rumble, Amy taking vocals and commanding the audience from the start. Georgia is a little less free, focusing on the huge banks of pedal boards spread in front of her to control the limitless effects that pepper the band’s sound.
But when she is freed, she is a bundle of high-voltage energy, her curls shaking as she pogos across the stage.
It is evident that Nova Twins are going to make it big. Their confidence, born from tours with the likes of Hot Wax and Bring Me The Horizon have equipped them with stage smarts, and even when there are some technical difficulties early on, they turn it into a party, with the audience needing little encouragement to sing Penblwydd Hapus i Ti to the band’s tech as it is his birthday.
Once they have got that problem sorted, it is full bore on this final leg of their Parasites & Butterflies tour. For a two-person outfield unit, they cover some ground, with Amy particularly energetic.
Her foray into the pit during Choose Your Fighter sparks rowdy scenes with some bruisers slamming hard into each other. Those nearest to Amy, who looks about four stone dripping wet, ensure that she is not battered before she retreats to the stage and a fiery Piranha.
They draw almost exclusively from the latest album, which is sung word-for-word back at them. There is no challenge to win the crowd over here. They are with the Twins from the start.
An eclectic spread, youngsters next to those old enough to draw their pension, Metalheads, goths and alternative types. It is compelling even if the music is not really my bag. You cannot help but be drawn in by the high-energy fire on stage.
Hummingbird, a song about grief, shows another side to the band as they gently close the main set before returning for a feisty conclusion. They may not be household names yet, but they will be. Well worth seeing if they are in a town near you, Nova Twins put in one of the shows of 2026 at this venue.
Venus Grrrls
There’s a nice spread of styles on the bill, and Venus Grrrls pack both the punch and the gothic spellbinding talent to capture the attention of all in the venue.
That is in part due to the vocals of singer Grace Kelly, whose voice blends Siouxsie with Kate Bush in a gloriously heady mix that is underpinned by the riffs of Eliza Lee and the concrete engine room of Hannah Barraclough (bass), Grace Stubbings (synths), and Alannagh Doherty (drums).
The Leeds natives bring a captivating 30 minutes of alternative gothic to the evening, opening with 3X3 and closing with their own homage to The Crow with the song Eighteen Crows.
Their image works well with the music, whilst Kelly’s theatrical enhancements craft the ideal imagery to match songs like Ivy Tree and Hex.
Whilst there is not much movement apart from Kelly, there are moments when things do spice up. Kelly drops to her knees in front of Lee at one point, as if casting a spell.
It is great entertainment, and Venus Grrrls make a fine noise tonight. Plenty of interest in the audience, who provided a fabulous reception.
BEX
It’s the livewire BEX who opens proceedings. She is a pocket dynamo, elfin in style and vocally very much in the Björk style, with an almost childlike quality to her spoken word.
A short set sees her race through songs which have an anarchic punky edge. She is a compelling watch, explosive across the stage in many ways, jumping with the music and cajouling the audience who are fully engaged.
The 30-minute time slot ends with Spyd 4King, and the huge cheers that greet BEX provide all the evidence you need that she is well-suited to this tour.
