The Hallamshire Hotel, with its gloriously kitschy 70s charm, provided the perfect backdrop for an unforgettable Skep Wax Records night. Drawing a healthy crowd of indiepop fans, all eager to catch The Gentle Spring—former Field Mice bassist Michael Hiscock’s new band—it was an evening steeped in nostalgia and fresh promise.
Opening the night was local duo Pink Opaque, who brought a brash, dayglo edge to indiepop. Their punky energy lit up the room, especially during a lively rendition of debut single I Wanna Be Like Lauren Laverne, which earned them raucous applause. Next, London’s Sassyhiya swept the audience into their atmospheric soundscapes. Their taut rhythm section, sprawling guitar lines, and a mix of urgency and beauty made for a mesmerizing set that blurred the line between dreamy haze and sharp focus.
But the night truly belonged to The Gentle Spring. Hiscock, a key figure in indiepop mythology through his work with The Field Mice—the band that helped define Sarah Records’ legacy of tender, unpretentious music—was warmly welcomed by the crowd. Sat alongside Paris-based bandmates Emilie Guillaumot and Jérémie Orsel, Hiscock helped craft the intimate, introspective indiepop that The Gentle Spring has made their signature.
Their set, featuring songs from the recently released debut album Looking Back At The World, was breathtaking in its quiet power. Michael, seated throughout, alternated between acoustic guitar and his unmistakable bass, the warmth of which illuminated the room whenever it appeared. Guillaumot’s ethereal keyboard lines and vocals wove perfectly with Orsel’s restrained, textured guitar, creating a sound both reflective and quietly magnetic.
The audience was utterly transfixed—hanging on every note as the band moved through delicate arrangements that felt timeless yet fresh. Unfortunately, time constraints brought the set to an all-too-early close, leaving the crowd hungry for more. Still, the performance cemented The Gentle Spring as heirs to the legacy of Sarah Records, blending nostalgia with a promise of a bright, melodic future.
For those lucky enough to have been there, this was more than a gig—it was a reminder of the enduring beauty of indiepop. The hope, of course, is that The Gentle Spring will return soon, and this time, with no limits on the magic they can create.
