Bristol O2 Academy, 20th June
Playing to a packed O2 Academy on a Tuesday night is quite the feat, however, Aussie rockers Ocean Alley certainly achieved that and made it seem like a walk in the park whilst they were at it. A suitably warm June evening proved to be perfect timing for the band to provide a captivated crowd with their beachy blend of mellow, hazy rock and reggae fusion sounds alongside frontman Baden Donegal’s pitch-perfect vocals.
Kicking off the night with “Lemonworld”, “Tombstone” and “Knees” set the standards for the evening high straight off the bat, which flowed seamlessly between shimmering instrumentals with offerings across all four of their albums. Fan-favourite “Yellow Mellow” also made an appearance, with its effortless groove and bop ensuring no one was stood still for any amount of time.
The night was host to the instantly recognisable swagger of the bass and guitar mix from crowd-pleasing “Confidence” which currently boasts over one hundred million streams. This led straight into a personal favourite, the wistful “Happy Sad”, which made for a searing combination nearing the end of their set.
Finally, after leaving the stage for a brief moment, the band’s two-song encore consisted of their delightfully smooth cover of Player’s “Baby Come Back” before concluding the show with “Touch Back Down” from their 2022 album “Low Altitude Living”.
Ocean Alley bring to the stage a refreshingly cool, calm, and collected demeanor, knowing just how to play the crowd which is perfectly reflected by their impeccably unique sound. An amalgamation of infectious energy and fantastic music, they will surely only carry on in an upwards trajectory and are certainly not ones to be missed live in the future.
@pheebs.jane 
@bristolnomad_gigphotography
Role: Reviewer
Outside of my day job, I’m a regular gig-goer and have always enjoyed writing articles to fuel the passion even further, whether that be through reviews for live shows or for full albums.
Available for: Gig reviews, album/single reviews and artist interviews.
First attended gig: The first show I bought a ticket to myself was 30 Seconds To Mars supported by Enter Shikari at the Brighton Centre.
First gig reviewed: The first gig I reviewed was a showcase of underground DIY rock acts dubbed ‘Deprestlemania’ at The Victoria in Dalston.
Dream gig: There are too many to choose from. It would have to be either Def Leppard, Pearl Jam playing every song from Ten, or Deftones (preferably playing their entire discography). Or even better, all three!
@thebristolnomad / @bristolnomad_gigphotography
Role: Photographer / Reviewer / Interviewer
Chief, the one that bugs the team for team for their reviews and images. Creator and founder of The Bristol Gig Guide. Can usually be found swamped in admin or getting cramp kneeling at the front of a gig.
Available for: Gig Shoots, Gig Reviews, Photo Shoots, Album and Single cover shoots, Videography work, Interviews and Touring
First attended gig: Republica, circa 1996.
First gig shot: Hands Off Gretel, at The Louisiana!
Dream gig: Huge metalhead and my ultimate dream gig would be shooting my heroes Slipknot at a huge stadium gig, or as festival headliners. And to experience shooting a headline tour outside the UK