Brighton’s beloved Green Door Store marked its 15th birthday with the first of four free celebratory events. Three acts, three completely different energies: the introspective grit of Lonnie Gunn, the jagged dance indie chaos of Lemonsuckr, and the shadow-soaked experimentalism of Silver Gore.
[Words Peter Greenfield, Photos, Sara-Louise Bowrey, Video, John Bownas]
Lonnie Gunn
New Jersey born, Brighton based Lonnie Gunn set the bar high with her self-coined “Lesbian Fembot Bubblegrunge”. She carried the room superbly with her naturally sassy, confidence and charismatic presence. It anchored a sound that fused raw emotional lyrics with cinematic indie‑rock dreamscapes. Its bubble-gum sweetness sharpened by distortion, bursts of noise and the occasional vocoder twist. Lonnie also allowed her band to shine, often kneeling through the instrumentals where Alice Oliphant’s guitar and Lauren Maddison’s basslines sliced through the mix.
The grungy pop rush of the opening song “Lucky Girl” soon drew early cheers. “Kiss You” moved from tenderness into something rockier, while “Dog in a Hot Car” eased in with a lone guitar before the bass deepened the alt-rock groove. “Lovebite” was a standout, showcasing Lonnie’s sultry yet powerful vocals. Heavier drums powered “Good Girls Go To Heaven”, contrasting the harmonica at the start of “I Miss Everything” which followed. A rousing crescendo to “Ex GF” closed their set with deserved cheers from the crowd.
Lemonsuckr
Lemonsuckr brought chaos as they followed with a blast of full throttle energy, striking jagged guitar lines, blown out bass and vocals that swung between deadpan cool and sudden release. Their tightly wound dance‑indie sound felt slightly dangerous in the best way, veering between gnarled riffs, sharp rhythmic turns and bursts of melodic chaos.
They exploded out of the gate, with one guitarist starting in the crowd. “Dead Disco” with its fast, breathless pace triggered instant dancing and set the tone for an exciting set. “Instant Kinks” kept the momentum high, with vocalist Guy Ferris weaving through the audience without losing control of the room. “Sedated” briefly shifted into atmospheric, electronics before snapping back into heavier sections, paving the way for the industrial dance pulse of “Work” and “Boudica”. “H.E.A.T.” added an experimental edge, building from a starker intro, while “Rugrat” pushed into angrier, spoken word laced territory. A huge cheer at the end sealed it: abrasive, dance indie chaos delivered both on the stage and in the crowd with precision.
Silver Gore
The mood and tempo slowed with the final band Silver Gore. They delivered a set that showcased their blend of ambient pop and experimental indie, all spacious textures and slow unfolding arrangements. Their interesting mix of thumping drums, twinkling synth and acoustic guitar topped with light pop vocals gave the evening a completely different texture.
“Forever” opened with jolly acoustic guitar, shared vocals and sudden bursts of noise. Ava Gore danced through the instrumental breaks as the crowd eased into movement. “Dogs in Heaven” leaned further into pop, her high notes gliding over thumping drums, while “A Scars Length” paired twinkling electronics with a Euro pop pulse. A run of new songs revealed a softer, more intimate side. They closed with older favourites: the heavy synth sway of “All The Good Men” and a cinematic “25 Metres”, its stark intro and spoken vocals building until the room was clapping along before the band exited to a wash of synth.
A strong start to the Green Door Store’s 15th‑birthday celebrations with three acts, three moods, and a reminder of why this venue remains one of Brighton’s most essential spaces.
Band members and setlists
Silver Gore:
Ava Gore – vocals
Ethan P. Flynn – guitar, synths
Tash Keary – drums
Silver Gore setlist:
Forever
Dogs in Heaven
A Scars Length
Muddy Water
Another Song
Zeroes
All The Good Men
25 Metres
Lemonsuckr:
Guy Ferris – vocals, tambourine, cowbell
Oscar Post – guitar, backing vocals
Ollie Thomas – guitar, backing vocals, cowbell
Jacob Whitear – bass
Matt Saunders – drums
Lemonsuckr setlist:
‘Dead Disco’ (from 2025 ‘H.E.A.T.’ EP)
‘Instant Kinks’ (from 2025 ‘H.E.A.T.’ EP)
‘Sedated’ (from 2025 ‘H.E.A.T.’ EP)
‘Work’ (unreleased)
‘Boudica’ (unreleased)
‘H.E.A.T.’ (from 2025 ‘H.E.A.T.’ EP)
‘Rugrat’ (unreleased)
Lonnie Gunn:
Lonnie Gunn – lead vocals, guitar
Lauren Maddison – Bass Guitar
Alice Oliphant – Lead Guitar
Morgan Pile – Rhythm Guitar
Esme Wright – Drums
Lonnie Gunn setlist:
Lucky Girl
Kiss You
Dog in a Hot Car
Lovebite
Good Girls Go To Heaven
I Miss Everything
Ex GF
