By Darren Grayer.
Local musician Eloise Carter has been steadily building a reputation with her songwriting and live performances over the last 3-4 years. Saturday (27/09/25) night saw her headline The Joiners for the first time, following numerous support slots with touring artists.
Her music can best be described as uplifting and reflective guitar driven indie pop, similar to that of Katy J Pearson, who I consider to be a brilliantly consistent artist.
I can’t begin to imagine what it must feel like as a local musician to get to that point where you headline The Joiners, and I’m sure there must have been butterflies churning away as the band took to the stage, but any nerves are quickly discarded as latest single and forthcoming EP track, The Moment, offers up a rip-roaring start to proceedings with its War On Drugs sounding guitar riff that immediately hits the spot.
Nobody Knows and 4.52 continue in similar vein, before next single, Worrying, which also features on the EP (titled Balcony House), sees a little slow down in proceedings, with local artist Florrie Ransom (who provides backing vocals on the EP) invited on stage.
There has been a lot of chat on various socials about audience members who choose to hold a conversation while an artist is playing. I find it difficult to imagine the mindset of those who do so, especially during quieter moments, but while Eloise Carter gently fingerpicks the intro to Worrying, which is essentially about keeping an eye out for your friends, it’s very reassuring that there’s total silence from a captivated crowd.
The more reflective sounding mid set section continues with the wonderful added harmonies during Walk and This Is Going To Hurt.
Florrie Ransom is met with warm applause as she leaves the stage before Eloise and her band continue with Another Loud June, a song written five years ago when she was a mere 18 years old.
Under Streetlights is a beautiful slow burner with anthemic qualities and shimmering guitars that send a warm sensation right through you. As a unit, Eloise Carter and band are splendidly compact, driven along by the superb lead guitar work of Elliott Elks. There is a maturity within their playing that stretches way beyond their average age of 23.
Two of the last three songs are the remaining tracks from Balcony House, a release that should see Carter gain more exposure that will start to cement her reputation as a highly competent songwriter with a very adept ear for a tune. Set closer, No One Like You, just adds to reinforce that point, and is met with rapturous applause all round as the band leave the stage amidst Eloise showing her total gratification for a very appreciative audience.
We are treated to an encore, but the set has already used up the original material, so a blistering cover of Bloc Party’s Helicopter ensues.
A joyous and triumphant end to Eloise Carter’s first headliner at The Joiners, my money’s on it not being the last.
What turned out to be yet another amazing value for money night at The Joiners (tickets below £10) saw two other local acts in support. First up was Southampton’s Anna Muir, whose well-constructed songs about accidently killing your house plants, anti-capitalism and how shit it is being a woman at times (to use her own words) were centred around her strongly and beautifully delivered vocals, along with a more than competent backing band.
Next up were Portsmouth youngsters Coast, who sounded as though they’d been at it for years, with a strongly delivered set of indie rock that, at times, lent itself to very early Foo Fighters and some of Queens Of The Stone Age’s more melodic moments. Assured vocals, fine lead guitarist, and very tight rhythm section. Certainly ones to watch!
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