By Casey Brockbank
The 10th year of central London’s CloseUp Festival concluded in style on Saturday 24th May. Whilst Thursday and Friday were evening-only performances, the final day saw the doors open at 1:30pm, allowing for the full afternoon and evening to be jam-packed with live music brilliance for all to enjoy. Six exciting indie artists took to the stage, all showcasing musical excellence in their own unique ways.
Alternative-rock artist Wølffe kicked off the day with an acoustic set. Previously known for her band Lexy and the Kill, the songwriter has been producing music for film and TV for multiple years. Her most renowned works include the movie theme tracks for Neo Noir film Terminal and thriller film Escape Plan 3. She has also contributed to Sky TV’s series Riviera.
On stage, she was joined by her close friend Francis, who was on guitar, as the full band could not make it. Their set was a wonderful start to the day, with Francis having her time to shine by singing one of her own songs. It was an impromptu moment that was very heartfelt.
Next was VICTORS, a Leeds-based band formed in 2016. The trio’s sound leans into The 1975 territory and is a unique blend of 80’s dream-pop with indie-rock and atmospheric electronica. This performance saw VICTORS return from a brief post-Covid hiatus, playing songs from their 2024 EP, The Hotel. All members arrived on stage in beanies and rocked the stage with their infectious and likeable energy.
Up next was Cruush, a Mancunian alternative-rock band. The guitar-heavy quartet filled the room with their dreamy shoegaze sound and gritty, raw vocals from lead singer Amber Warren. One stand-out moment was during False Start, a song with high-intensity that was matched by Amber’s energy. She repeatedly screamed the lyrics ‘I’m not leaving’ as she charged through the crowd, showcasing her vast and impressive vocal range which was reminiscent of female rock-star Cassyette. As the lights dimmed, the room was left humming from their intense final chords.
Following on from that was Scout, a singer-songwriter and producer from London with an alternative-leaning pop soundscape. Their CloseUp feature came after the release of their debut EP, Everything Will Make Sense. It is always brilliant to see artists being emotionally involved with the music and that is what the crowd could deduce from Scout’s feel-good, hair-swishing performance. Their 30-minute set ended with Fine Line, an original, upbeat, head-bopping song that left the crowd with smiles all round once the lights came back on.
The penultimate artist to perform was beaux, an independent alt-pop artist from London. Via Dirty Hit, he has released four EPs, and his debut release led NME to label him a “pop prodigy.” By the time he and his band came on stage, the crowd had increased significantly in numbers – and in engagement. His setlist was full of earworm and happy indie-pop tunes, a combination of fan-favourites and songs from his recently released debut album, I Thought We’d Live Here Forever, including TikTok hits Edge of St James’s and I’ll Be Here When You’re Back. beaux is known for his intimate and personal storytelling, and this was felt during the introduction of deep-cut song Cut My Hair. He told the crowd: “This song was written at a time when I was in an uncertain situation and really struggling with it.” Everyone could see how much this song meant to him in the moment, and you could hear a pin drop as the room was filled with his silky vocals.
And now for the main event, milk. They are a four-piece alternative pop band from Dublin, who stormed onto the music scene with their debut hit Drama Queen in 2019. Currently, milk. have 3 EPs under their wing and a promised full length album on the way. Balloons were thrown in the air through the crowd during the most upbeat songs. It felt like a celebration of both the artist and festival, the coming together of a tight-knit community that is milk. fans. They provided an electrifying set with songs including fan favourites, I Think I Lost My Number Can I Have Yours, Temperature and A Little More, as well as unreleased songs from their upcoming album. milk. gigs are often accompanied with a particularly vibrant crowd and this night was no exception. As usual, the crowd did not disappoint with their enthusiasm. This combined with the feel-good guitar-driven beats onstage, the energy in the room was unmatched – a venue with a 450-capacity but you’d think there were 1,000 people in the room. You could see in the band’s beaming smiles how much these crowd reactions meant to them. Once their hour set was done, there was a collective roar for an encore. Everyone was thirsty for more milk!
CloseUp 2025 concluded with the crowd desperate for more, certifying the festival’s 10th year as a grand success. It is the perfect opportunity for emerging talent to be celebrated and for people with shared music tastes to connect in a welcoming, friendly environment. Bring on 2026!
Text Copyright 2025 © Casey Brockbank/ADRENALINE Magazine.
Photography Copyright 2025 © Emeli Meagher/ADRENALINE Magazine.
Grace Elizabeth 
Kyle Horne