The Grove - now into its second year on the Nottingham live music circuit - welcomed local four-piece folk band Veduna as they made their well-anticipated debut. The night proved to be a memorable way for them to enter the scene, as they supported the incredible Hutch who are currently on their UK tour...
Rain poured on the amber-lit pavements as supporters began to gather at The Grove's entrance, seeking refuge in the tunnels of Sneinton Market avenues. The atmosphere was psychedelic in nature and the place filled with artsy folk. The clock hit 19:00, and we were invited into the venue. The Grove is an intimate little haven, the night's beers on offer stacked up high and merch from the performers covering the remaining wall space. It has the feel of a cool garage bar, no surprise it doubles as such a perfect recording space. I joined the growing crowd and soaked in the good energy as the 60-capacity venue filled minute by minute. The atmosphere oozed excitement and anticipation for Veduna's debut.
The four-piece folk band composed of Maddie Wood (lead vocals), Harry Laycock (lead guitar and vocals), Jack Boylan (rhythm guitar), and Beau Presley (bass) took the stage, joined by special guest Kev Scott on harmonica.
The folky vibe was set beautifully by a whimsical animation projected above the band, created by lead vocalist Maddie herself. Its gentle energy mirrored the band perfectly and gave the audience a glimpse of the world they were about to step into.
Maddie made the stage look like home with her calm confidence and warm energy, accompanied by the brilliant Harry on lead guitar; the chemistry of the two added so much depth to the performance. During Don’t Feed The Birds, a song written by Harry about Maddie, and one of their personal favourites, really captured this feeling. The intimacy of the room paired with such vulnerability created a genuinely stunning moment.
After the performance I had the privilege of chatting to the band. They described the evening as "like a dream," and expressed their gratitude to the wonderfully talented Hutch. This debut performance was short but sweet, mixing originals and hand picked covers. The original Keys, a band favourite, stood out for its mysterious, Cocteau Twins-esque feel. Beau showcased his incredible talent on bass, absolutely smashing it during this one.
A personal stand out moment of mine was the rendition of Bob Dylan’s It Ain’t Me Babe; I was completely captured along with the rest of the crowd. It felt like one of those moments you want to bottle up and keep going back to - certainly one to remember.
Closing the show with the gorgeous original The Wheel, Veduna well and truly confirmed their place on the Notts music scene. Catching everyone's attention just in time for Midnight Rodeo and headliners Hutch, the band's performance was hopefully the first of many folk frenzies to come.
Veduna performed at The Grove on 26th October 2025.
We have a favour to ask
LeftLion is Nottingham’s meeting point for information about what’s going on in our city, from the established organisations to the grassroots. We want to keep what we do free to all to access, but increasingly we are relying on revenue from our readers to continue. Can you spare a few quid each month to support us?
