Now in its second iteration, Beam Me Up festival took place last weekend across Lincoln (Friday) and Oxford (Saturday). Putting a spotlight on some of the best new emerging acts as well as local talent, Beam Me Up provided the perfect day out to melt away the winter lethargy.
Starting the day at The Bullingdon, local five piece Suspire brought a cool presence with their oasis-esque indie rock numbers. Easing us into the day with confidence and charm - their set was perfectly paced for the early-comers as the crowd quickly started to build.
First up on the main stage was Johnny Payne. With an ill guitarist, Johnny and band had to improvise with their set, but with a slick sound and stage presence, we the audience could never have known. Track after track they delivered polished indie rock with some more tender moments shining through.
Back at The Bullingdon, Welsh punks Chroma delivered an enthralling set bursting with energy and head-banging. Front-woman Katie Hall’s mighty croons pierced through fuzzy guitars as the three-piece delivered an impressive wall of sound.
Make Friends then brought us some rhythmic-led indie hits. From their melodic hooks to their danceable rhythms, the Bristol band brought a fun flair to their early evening set. Light and feel good, their set carried us through as a welcome respite for the frantic fun that was to follow.
Over at the o2 Academy, Shelf Lives front-woman Sabrina Di Giulio teases, “You guys are a bit mediocre tonight!” - but the Canadian- British post-punks soon whipped the crowd into shape. With their big tracks and even bigger stage presence their set brought an electrifying energy that pulsed though the audience for one of the most high energy sets of the day.
Dolores Forever then took over the stage to deliver a heartwarming set jam packed with dance moves and smiles. “It’s been a beautiful day out in Oxford,” beams front woman Hannah Wilson. “Some people say yolo, some people say carpe diem -we say shut up and eat the pasta,” they exclaim before delivering feel-good hit after hit.
Home Counties were the next to take to the stage over at The Bullingdon, seamlessly merging their new tracks with old favourites. The band have seen big changes over the past year, with the addition of new member Lois Kelly on vocals perfectly complementing their new dance-inducing hits. “It’s so great to be back in The Bullingdon,” they announce, “This is where we played in our previous band back when we were 16. It’s exactly how we left it.”
Next to the stage were the almighty Snayx. From their music playing in the main bar to fans upon fans repping their merch, this weekend was something of a victory lap following the bands freshly released new EP ‘Better Days’. Commanding the room from the outset, the three piece delivered a set full of high octane anthems and cheeky grins. Few could pull off a more energetic set, with the band coming out at 100% and somehow ramping up as their set went on. Impassioned and rowdy, the crowd were all in for a band destined for big things.
Crowds then gathered at the main stage in anticipation of headliners Deadletter. The six piece crowded the stage as their angular, rhythmic post-punk filled the venue. Immediately, their poetic punk had the crowd transfixed. Tracks like ‘Binge’ and ‘The Snitching Hour’ tell a story as frontman Zac Lawrence delivered his cynical drawl and politic jabs with a gripping intensity. Giving their all to the live performance, Deadletter deliver an all-encompassing set made all the more entertaining by Lawrence’s passion and ferocity.
Overall, Beam Me Up delivered the perfect day out for any indie-head. With a packed lineup of some of the most exiting young acts the UK has to offer, it’s an absolute steal!
Tickets for Beam Me Up 2025 are on sale now.