Artist: Skinny Lister / The Vandoliers / Claudia Kate

Venue: The 1865

Town: Southampton

Date: 3.12.25

Claudia Kate

Claudia Kate opened the night at Southampton’s 1865 with a quiet, captivating confidence, immediately drawing the room into her acoustic world. Unlike the chaos that would follow later in the evening, her set was intimate, measured, and personal — a showcase of an artist completely at ease in her own skin. She began with “Baby Blue,” her vocals delicate yet assured, each note carrying an honest, almost conversational weight. The room leaned in as she moved into “Bunkbed” and “Angry at Me,” songs that reveal tension beneath their melodic surfaces. There’s a persistent undercurrent of frustration and vulnerability in her work, softened by harmonies that feel like gentle self-reflection, like she’s guiding herself through the lyrics while inviting the audience along.

“Fat” and “Big Talk” hit with a slightly sharper edge, moments where anger and defiance peek through, yet never overpower the intimacy she creates onstage. But it’s “Stop the World,” that serves as the emotional core of her set. With raw, heartfelt delivery and lyrics that resonate with the challenges and anxieties of modern life, the track lands hard — unpolished, real, and entirely in the moment. She closed with “How Sweet,” a song steeped in family history: her grandad, who sadly passed away this year, opens the studio version, and her Nanny — a children’s author — closes it, cementing storytelling as part of her lineage. Claudia Kate’s performance is a reminder that quiet power can be as magnetic as a riotous storm, and she left the stage as a quietly compelling artist to watch.

The Vandoliers

The Vandoliers

The Vandoliers

From this intimate opening, The Vandoliers burst onto the stage like a whirlwind. Hailing from Dallas, Texas, they brought unrelenting energy that immediately transformed the venue. Frontwoman Jenni Rose is magnetic — proud, trans, fearless — and takes command of the room with the first note of “Bars.” The crowd, already familiar with the band, responded in kind, chanting along, and by “Sink” and “Howlin’”, the room was fully hooked.

The Vandoliers

The Vandoliers

The Vandoliers’ set is a masterclass in controlled chaos. Texan grit meets joyous abandon, with tracks like “Bottom Dollar Boy” and “Cigarettes in the Rain” hitting hard while still feeling celebratory. Mid-set, band members removed their shirts — a cheeky gesture instantly copied by front row fans, turning the venue into a sweaty, communal riot of energy. “Drunk,” “Picture,” “Trouble,” “Girl,” and “Every Saturday Night” maintained this momentum, each track layered with playful riffs, singalong choruses, and an undeniable sense of fun. 

By the time they closed with “500 Miles,” the crowd was a heaving, grinning mass, utterly swept up in the band’s infectious energy. What made The Vandoliers’ set special wasn’t just the chaos, though there was plenty of that; it was the warmth and joy they bring, their ability to make everyone in the room feel like part of the party.

Skinny Lister

Skinny Lister

Then came Skinny Lister themselves, turning 1865 into a full-blown folk-punk carnival. Opening with “Wanted”, the band immediately got the room bouncing before barreling into “Tipple” and “Georges.” From the outset, the energy was unstoppable: the audience was fully engaged, singing back every line, stomping, clapping, and swept along in the sheer joy of the performance. Shots were delivered mid-set by Guia, an Alfred Hitchcock lookalike who prowled the stage’s edge like some mischievous mascot, adding a touch of surreal comedy to the proceedings.

Skinny Lister

Skinny Lister

Lorna, still recovering from a recent illness, delivered an extraordinary performance. Her energy seemed limitless — spinning, dancing, belting out vocals with an intensity that made it impossible to take your eyes off her. When the band introduced “Bristol Bound,” there was a tangible excitement in the room, a nod to the show they were due to play the following night, delivered with a sense of camaraderie and anticipation that felt personal to everyone present.

Skinny Lister

Skinny Lister

Tracks like “Breach,” “Mantra,” “Drinking,” and “Plough” kept the pace relentless, each song a communal celebration. Their sixth “member,” the legendary flagon of beer affectionately called Party George, made appearances throughout, teasing its starring role in the upcoming “Drinking” video. According to The Vandoliers, Skinny Lister are the hardest-partying band they’ve toured with — and it was easy to see why, as the energy crackled between performers and audience alike.

By the time Skinny Lister tore through “Dresden,” “40,” “Bold,” “Rollin,” “Cathy,” “Bonny,” “Company,” and “Oxford,” the venue was a sweaty, smiling, exhausted mass of joy. It’s rare to see a band so completely at ease while simultaneously giving everything to the room, but Skinny Lister make it look effortless. Their love for performing, and for their audience, radiates from the stage — a warmth and energy that is utterly infectious.

Skinny Lister

Across three very different sets, the night at 1865 was a masterclass in live performance: Claudia Kate’s intimate, heartfelt acoustic opening; the Vandoliers’ chaotic, joyous Texan assault; and Skinny Lister’s folk-punk carnival of energy and camaraderie. Each act brought something distinct, yet all shared one thing in common: a capacity to make the audience feel like they were part of the story. It was a night of unfiltered fun, heartfelt performance, and pure joy — a debut at Southampton’s 1865 that felt instantly memorable, and a clear sign that these artists are ones to watch, both individually and together.

Skinny Lister

Skinny Lister

Skinny Lister - website

Vandoliers - website

Claudia Kate - website

Review and photographs by Kevin O'Sullivan for Return To Sound