Project Description
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BASEMENT / Photo – @cowbo_visuals
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BASEMENT
+ One Step Closer
+ Deadshowws + Gloam
@ The Hamilton Hotel,
Newcastle,
6th March 2025
(Live Review)
Review by Leah Chittleburgh
Photos by Nathan Barwick (@cowbo_visuals)
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BASEMENT / Photo – @cowbo_visuals
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Newcastle’s Hamilton Hotel played host to an unforgettable night of live music on Thursday night, featuring a stacked lineup that spanned shoe-gaze, alternative rock, and post-hardcore. With bands from Australia, the U.S, and the U.K, the energy in the room was undeniable as each act brought their own distinct sound to the stage.
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GLOAM / Photo – @cowbo_visuals
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GLOAM (Perth, WA)
Opening the night was Perth’s GLOAM, who set the mood with an ambient intro before launching into their immersive blend of shoe-gaze and post-rock. Their set, featuring tracks like Hinder and Diving Heavy, was a slow-burning, textured experience that wrapped the crowd in layers of reverb and distortion. The hypnotic transitions made for a captivating start to the evening.
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DEADSHOWWS / Photo – @cowbo_visuals
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DEADSHOWWS (Central Coast, NSW)
Hailing from the Central Coast, DEADSHOWWS picked up the pace with their emotionally charged alt-rock. Although they had their share of technical difficulties at the start of their set due to Connor Massey’s microphone not working, it only crescendoed the power house of his voice when the crowd got to hear him crystal clear for the chorus. Their performance of She Said and Summer Rust had the crowd swaying, but the real highlight was I Should, a brand-new track they’re set to tour for. Important #1 carried extra weight for our photographer (Nathan Barwick) for the night, as he had the privilege of filming the music video, making it a surreal experience hearing it live in such an electric atmosphere.
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ONE STEP CLOSER / Photo – @cowbo_visuals
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ONE STEP CLOSER (USA)
Newcastle was blessed as One Step Closer was put on the bill last minute for the night, Pennsylvania’s own delivered an intense and heartfelt set. From the very first chords of Leap Years, the band commanded the stage with their emotionally charged melodic hardcore. The singalongs during Blur My Memory and Color You were deafening, and Your Hazel Tree provided one of the most emotional moments of the night. Closing with Giants Despair, they left the stage having made a serious impact on the unsuspecting Newcastle crowd.
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BASEMENT / Photo – @cowbo_visuals
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BASEMENT (UK)
Headlining the night was none other than Basement, the U.K. legends whose blend of grunge, emo, and alternative rock has influenced countless bands. They opened with Whole, immediately setting the tone with their raw energy and introspective lyrics. Fans were treated to a mix of older classics like Earl Grey and Spoiled, as well as a brand-new, unreleased song that had the crowd buzzing with excitement. As the set progressed, the band leaned into their emotional depth with Aquasun and Crickets Throw Their Voice, before delivering an explosive finale. Winding into the end of their set we heard Oversized into Yoke, two songs that transcended through a deafening crowd as we sung the lyrics back to the lead vocalist Andrew Fisher with no shortage of finger pointing throughout the venue. While the crowd erupted for Pine and Promise Everything nothing could prepare us for the vibrance their last song Covet gave us to close out the night, leaving the audience in awe of what they had just witnessed.
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BASEMENT / Photo – @cowbo_visuals
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Final Thoughts
From GLOAM’s atmospheric beginning, DEADSHOWWS local pull, ONE STEP CLOSER’s fantastic last minute addition to BASEMENT’s cathartic finale, the night was a testament to the power of live music.The Hamilton Hotel proved once again to be a prime venue for both local and international talent, and if this show was any indication, Newcastle’s live music scene is thriving.
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BASEMENT / Photo – @cowbo_visuals
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Check out Nathan Barwick’s (@cowbo_visuals) full gallery of this show HERE
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BASEMENT / Photo – @cowbo_visuals
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Follow BASEMENT
Instagram – Facebook – Spotify
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BASEMENT / Photo – @cowbo_visuals
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Press Release 6th November 2024 (below) HERE
Destroy All Lines Present
NEW BLOOM FEST 2025
Featuring
BASEMENT
+ BALANCE AND COMPOSURE
+ DRAIN
+ ONE STEP CLOSER
+ SWEET PILL
+ GLITTERER
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