Green Door Store Continues Birthday Festivities with Another Standout Night
Celebrations for the Green Door Store’s 15th birthday rolled on with a second free showcase, this time bringing three acts that spanned warmth, atmosphere and full‑throttle intensity. Little Grandad eased the room in with their tender indie‑Americana, Goodbye expanded the space with immersive vocal soundscapes, and thistle. closed the night in a blaze of gritty, unfiltered energy.
Words Peter Greenfield, Pics Sara-Louise Bowrey
Little Grandad
Openers Little Grandad delivered an eclectic and quietly captivating set, blending Americana‑tinged indie with alt‑country grit while maintaining a strong sense of identity. They launched into the upbeat “A Minute On The Lips”, immediately spotlighting their trademark vocal interplay. They shifted from solo lines to tight three‑part harmonies led by brothers Jack and Harry Lower.
The mood softened through “Sleepwalking” and “Tiny Feet”, where delicate guitar work and hushed harmonies drew a respectful stillness from the crowd. As the set unfolded, their versatility came into sharper focus. “Unmasked” saw Ned Ashcroft trade guitar for cornet, adding a melancholy glow before the track bloomed into soft rock, complete with a theatrical cornet‑to‑guitar finale.
They closed with “Babe, We Run Out Of Time”, their self‑described “most Saturday night one”. A fast, pop‑leaning burst of energy, earning an enthusiastic response to round off a confident opening set.
Goodbye
Goodbye delivered a slow‑burning but ultimately spellbinding performance, their shoegaze‑meets‑jangle‑pop soundscapes flourishing despite their usual keyboards being absent. They opened with the delicate “Reverie”, easing the room in with soft, interwoven vocals from Megan Wheeler and Sarah Ryan, ending on a beautiful a cappella close. Those vocals shone throughout their set.
As the set deepened, the band leaned into their dynamic, ethereal textures. “Tadpoles” swelled from whispered gentleness into a near wall of noise, while “Stoic Friend” again showcased Megan’s soaring voice and Alfie Beer’s jangly indie guitar. There was a playful moment as Megan plucked Alfie’s guitar strings before “Meat” kicked in properly and its overlapping layers built superbly. From there, the gentle opening of “Take Time” saw Sarah take lead vocals, beautifully anchored by Elik Eddy’s drumming.
The finale, “Iron”, was a standout. Megan’s breathtaking vocal range shifted from 90s‑indie bite to soaring, Kate Bush‑like agility, commanding the room with astonishing power before dropping to a pin‑drop finish that earned a deserved massive cheer.
thistle.
Headliners thistle. tore through their Northampton‑bred grunge with relentless pace, delivering a fast, hard‑hitting set that barely paused for breath. The trio of Cameron Godfrey, Judson Rushton and Lewis O’Grady moved from song to song without banter or downtime, letting raw, Nirvana‑leaning guitars and melancholic vocals do the talking.
Opening with the explosive “Wishing Coin”, they set the tone immediately: loud, urgent and tightly wound. Tracks like “It’s Nice To See You, Stranger” and “Cobble/Mud” kept the tempo high, prompting a good‑natured mosh pit and plenty of headbanging, while “Magpies” offered a brief, softer shift before the energy surged again.
They saved their strongest moment for last. “Lomochrome” with its subtle shifts in the droning guitars, driving bass and harsh noise closed in a crescendo of pedal‑board chaos. It earned a massive cheer and was fitting of thistle.’s electrifying performance.
As the second night wrapped up, it was clear just how vital grassroots spaces like the Green Door Store remain to Brighton’s music culture and emerging artists. With two shows down, the venue’s 15th‑birthday celebrations underline exactly why places like this matter. You can read about the first night of the series here.
