The rise of Scottish rock duo VUKOVI has been quite something to witness. From emerging out of the independent alternative scene over a decade ago, the band have built a devoted cult following off the success of their four studio albums. With 2025 long player My God Has Got A Gun marking their biggest release to date, we headed along to their sold-out Saturday night show at Rescue Rooms to join in the party…
Before the doors are even open tonight, the queue to get into the venue stretches all the way down the Rescue Rooms beer garden and almost out onto the street. It’s great to see the fans have got down early tonight for the two support acts – West Yorkshire noisemakers Flesh Planet and gothic London rock outfit, Saint Agnes.
Flesh Planet are up first, the venue already half full as they hypnotise the crowd with their interesting blend of grunge, shoegaze and industrial rock. With the lead singer’s vocals flicking between a resemblance to Brian Molko of Placebo and the late-great Chester Bennington on the screamed passages, their performance is captivating. A great opening set and a hugely intriguing sound, firmly marking them as one to watch going forward.
Saint Agnes are next, the main room at Rescue Rooms close to capacity already. Arriving to the stage and announcing they are “here to have a bad time!”, the band’s performance is dark and dramatic, with big rock riffs mixed with pulsating synths. The production only adds to the whole mystical nature of the performance, the band performing in the shadows of the stage lights. The band feel like they are just hitting their stride when their 30-minute set comes to an end, which means it’s finally time for tonight’s headliner.
As the time comes for VUKOVI to take to the stage, the room is completely full to the rafters, feeling like the sold-out show that it is tonight. The venue is blacked out, with the sound of ominous, robotic voices blasted out over the speakers. The band take to the stage, guitarist Hamish Reilly firing up the riffs for a moment before vocalist Janine Shilstone eventually joins him. She immediately launches a pint into the crowd as the band drop emphatically into energetic opening number, GUNGHO.
From there the performance is non-stop action, with Janine swigging and spraying champagne into the crowd between choruses, the audience matching the Saturday night party atmosphere by moshing, crowd-surfing and clapping along throughout. The setlist is wall-to-wall bangers too, with newer cuts like MISTY ECSTASY and FALLEN BEYOND getting the same reception as older favourites Violent Minds and C.L.A.U.D.I.A.
“I’m so f**ked!” exclaims Janine towards the back end of the set, the full throttle energy of the performance finally catching up with her. “I’m going to play a slow one, then we’ll end on all bangers!” The slow number in question is the closing track from their 2017 debut, Colour Me In, with Janine sitting on the edge of the stage and sweetly serenading the crowd. It’s a rare moment of calm, with barely a pin drop to be heard.
Normal service then resumes with LASSO and BLADED, the mosh pits once again opening back up. “Nottingham, you are relentless!” screams Janine, clearly impressed that the crowd is matching her step-for-step with their energy tonight. This is symbolised during My God Has Got A Gun, as a fan in a Scottish football shirt joins the band on stage for the final part of the song. They nail the scream vocals, before launching themselves off the stage and into the crowd, who thankfully catch them and lift the fan triumphantly above their heads. Janine announces it was that fan’s birthday, before instructing the crowd to also sing Happy Birthday to their friend Penny, who is watching from the balcony and running the merch stand this evening.
Before you know it, the set begins to draw to a close, with I EXIST seeing Janine declare that Nottingham have “just topped Brighton” to become the best crowd of the tour so far. She then screams “F**K TRUMP!” midway through an electric performance of Run / Hide, her anger clearly fuelling the performance.
“I’m coming in Nottingham – you better catch me, the very strong gentleman to the front please!” she asks, while preparing to enter the pit for the grand finale.
As tonight’s closer La Di Da begins, Janine jumps into the crowd, who surf her around the middle of the room before safely returning her to the stage. She thanks the crowd before exiting at the song’s climax, Hamish remaining on stage with their touring drummer for one final, quite colossal instrumental. Ending the night in style, this show was the perfect tonic for a Saturday evening at Rescue Rooms, with VUKOVI proving why they have become such firm favourites within the alternative scene.
Rock City next time? I wouldn’t bet against it.
VUKOVI performed at Rescue Rooms on 7th February 2026.
All photos by Nathan Hipgrave / @nathanhipgravevisuals (available for photography / videography bookings for tours or individual shows)
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?
