Golden Touch Festival returns to Portsmouth’s Wedgewood Rooms. A stellar set of up and coming bands get their chance to gain new fans and showcase their talent.

GOLDEN TOUCH

It’s safe to say that the lineup this years Golden Touch Festival was loved by many. From the likes of Keo, Pentire, The Clause and The Mercians- fans were lucky to witness so many incredible acts across the weekend.

Inside Wedgewood Rooms, the atmosphere is electric- mosh pits erupt as the music waves through the venue. Next door, the more intimate Edge of the Wedge stage offers fans more authentic experiences, giving fans the chance to connect with artists in a unique way. 

FRIDAY 13TH JUNE 

Opening Wedgewood Rooms stage, The Mercians filled the venue with their indie-pop essence. From their hits Leave Your Man to unreleased anthems, fans were singing their hearts out to the ambient lighting and Matt Cominotto’s soaring vocals. 

Florentenes hot the Edge of the Wedge stage, building their fanbase. I was lucky enough to catch them in their support slot for Razorlight in Southampton back in April – from that night, it is clear they are rapidly gaining momentum as the venue was packed, with no room left to squeeze in another person.

Tom A Smith, hailing from Sunderland, graces the Wedgewood Rooms with his unique stage presence and rocky tunes. Opening with Little Bits, the crowd are unstoppable. Tom’s energy is infectious. He also shared some unreleased tracks, which fans enjoy. 

PENTIRE

Kicking off their set with the vibrant 2024 track Don’t Let Your Love (Let You Down), Pentire ignite the room with prominent drum beats under the red glow that bathes the stage. The energy is immediate and they have fans singing along from the very first note, swept up in the song’s dreamy melodies. The band waste no time setting the tone for the night and gain an audience: dynamic, heartfelt, and impossible to ignore.

Keo bring a rocky, gritty presence to the Edge of the Wedge, treating fans with their singles I Lied, Amber and Thorn, along with unreleased tracks from their new EP. After their electrifying set, I had the privilege of speaking to the band and frontman Finn shared, “We weren’t expecting that many people to come watch us, but it turned out to be one of our favourite gigs we’ve ever done.” With their October UK tour already sold out and their recent singles racking up over 200,000 streams, Keo’s momentum is undeniably growing.

SATURDAY 15TH JUNE

Manchester-based alternative-pop group Better Joy open the Wedgewood Rooms stage day two of Golden Touch Festival. Quiet Thing is a highlight of the set, with Bria Keely’s vocals shining through and filling the venue. During their set they also get the crowd to sing along to their new track. It is a great start to the day.

Cottons delivered one of the most memorable performances of day two. They captivate the crowd with their confident stage presence and dynamic set. A standout moment of their set is their performance of Bitter, and they effortlessly encourage the crowd to join in on singing the chorus. It’s clear Cottons are on the right track to living up to Manchester’s music legacy. 

“Let’s get fucking spangled”, the crowd was chanting between each song. Lead singer Ben Johnson commands the stage with his charm, effortlessly wrapping the audience around his fingers. His infectious, unmatched energy turn the venue into an even livelier place. Fans sing along word for word, and the performance wouldn’t have been complete without the guitarist’s harmonising backing vocals.

BALANCING ACT

If you haven’t heard of Balancing Act, now’s the time. From the very moment the band walk on stage, lead singer Kai Robert captivates the audience with his passionate energy and crowd interaction. He helps set standards high for the rest of their performance. The instrumentals flow with ease, blending seamlessly with his strong vocals to deliver a stunning performance. 

The headliners and the finale to Golden Touch are The Clause. From the second the lights dimmed until the very last note, energy runs through the crowd. The Clause not only meet the high expectations placed on their shoulders but go beyond. They deliver a magnetic performance that is the perfect end to an unforgettable weekend. Nothing’s As It Seems is a key moment; its pulsing electric guitar and electric build-up is exceptional. Frontman Pearce McMenamin owns the stage with ease, hyping up the audience. “Shall we get this fucking party started then?” he announces. The roar of the crowd says it all: they were ready, and The Clause delivered.

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