Independent Band Night @ The Loft

Join us on Friday 2nd of October for some top upcoming bands from the South Coast. Hosted by local alternative musician and event host Charlie Smith. If you like to support unsigned bands and check some local talent on the music scene, this is the event for you. 

Tickets are priced at £8 ADV and £10 OTD, with all profits from the event going to the bands playing on the bill.

Come along and support the local scene

5 DEGREES NORTH

Winners of Wight Noize 2025 and finalists in 2024, 5 Degrees North are rapidly emerging as one of the UK’s most exciting young rock acts. The Brighton based trio opened the Main Stage at 2025’s Isle of Wight Festival on Saturday, sharing the bill with major artists including Stereophonics, The Script, Busted, and Razorlight, following a support slot as guests to High Fade.

Known for their electrifying live energy and genre-blending sound, 5 Degrees North fuse alternative rock with melodic hooks, funky basslines, and driving rhythms. Their dynamic performances and tight musicianship have quickly earned them a loyal following across the South Coast.

ZEN JUDDHISM

ZEN JUDDHISM is the collaborative designer rock project from Jude Ωne Eight, a guitarist and songwriter based in Southampton, who is also known locally as the guitarist previously in Jimmy B And The Death Rattles, Le Lizard Royale and HYBRID 6.0 .​From a life spent listening to an array of folk, rock, metal, soul and pop acts, Jude wrote original songs for a rock album inspired by artists most prominent on his playlist at the time, such as Metric, Led Zeppelin, Garbage, Big Country, Fountains Of Wayne and TV On The Radio among others in the run up to recording sessions in 2014 that became the debut eponymous ZEN JUDDHISM album. Joined by some amazing vocalist friends and with the freedom to move in and out of different genres, the music of ZEN JUDDHISM was a different proposition for music reviewers and listeners alike, but was well received by both, on record and in electric live performances.A similar recipe was cooked up in 2016 for the sequel album ZEN JUDDHISM 2 which was even more diverse than its predecessor. It was similarly well received, and in fact one track, "All Of It", was selected from over 100 entries by local artists with their best original tracks by an independent panel of judges comprising of renowned members of the music community including Rob da Bank, Emma and Russell from Band of Skulls, Dan Mar-Molinero and Stephanie

Charlie Smith

My name might be common, but my style is alternative. I’m Charlie Smith, a singer-songwriter from Romsey, Hampshire. I perform solo and have experience playing and hosting my own independent shows at venues such as The Railway Inn, Flack Manor Brewery, and The Platform Tavern. I am super passionate about grassroots music and regularly participate in action to grow my local scene. Fiercely independent, I record and produce all music with a true DIY ethos. In April, I hosted six gigs in England as part of my music venue trust fundraiser tour. I managed to fundraise £575, including events in Leeds, Manchester, Liverpool & Leicester.

Waldo Salt

Waldo Salt are a four-piece from Southampton making sharp, melodic, post-punk infused jangle pop. The band have a deep love of short, concise songs and memorable hooks over excess. Drawing influence from bands such as R.E.M., Big Star, Rancid, Shack and Teenage Fanclub, the band combine wiry guitars, driving rhythms and bittersweet melodies intosongs that never outstay their welcome.