Live Review: South Arcade – The Library, Oxford

South Arcade are certainly a band that are on the rise as of late, their popularity on TikTok has allowed them to reach fans far and wide across their scene plus supporting acts around the UK are sure to capture the attention of some new people. After all this hard work the band announced a one off headline show in Oxford’s The Library, bringing along dream pop band Daze for the ride! Here’s what went down!

As you made your way into what was essentially the pub’s basement, you got the feeling the night was going to be a sweaty one. Luckily, Daze offered a soothing and relaxing set that would help loosen up the muscles of those wanting to let go during the headline set. Heavenly melodies matched with a tone of personality really captured the hearts of those who had come down early to catch the support. As the set went on, more and more people came into the room to see what was going on and by the end of their set, they had clearly won over a few new faces.

It wasn’t long after the end of Daze’s set that South Arcade would burst onto the stage, unleashing their highly energetic music upon the packed venue. Crowd interaction and smooth transitions were what made this set flow so naturally. From the front to the back, the room was full and bouncing along to infectious rhythms. Chemistry was not an issue when it came to the bands performance as they effortlessly went from song to song giving the crowd more and more enjoyment as the set went on

Smaller shows such as this are bound to get sweaty but the chaos that was unfolding around me was a perfect fit for the night. It’s rare that a band can make such a tight space feel so open, however this show had everything from singers, moshers and I bet if the ceiling was a bit higher we would have been treated to a crowd surfer or two as well. The atmosphere felt as if it was in an Academy sized venue, not the downstairs room of a pub in Oxford!

The night was one that was an absolute treat for all those in attendance. Being able to interact with the bands between sets is always a pleasure and both bands were welcoming and a joy to be around. The performances on display showed a load of potential and with South Arcade set to support Yours Truly around the UK next year, I’d highly recommend getting down early to check them out!