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It's a gig with a difference tonight, as the mic takes a back seat, with three non-vocal acts proving that the power of instrumentation can be just as engrossing as the power of the front man.
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First up is Kasper Rosa, who have made a seemingly unstoppable rise to prominence since their inception last year. They kick start with unpredictable percussive blasts, causing the audience to leap out of their skin, and instantly all eyes are on the budding 4-piece. The band's sound is daring and diverse, jumping from arresting guitar riffs, to haunted minimalist hooks, and even employing the use of a violin.

Their stage presence shifts accordingly to the ambience of each track, making the band all the more captivating. Latest single 'Scaling Mount Improbable' floats over the crowd like an ominous black cloud, and against the eerie marbled lighting the band stands out as four harrowing figures, crafting post-apocalyptic chimes.

Keen to engage with their audience, enthusiastic bassist David Shannon leaps over the barrier in the final moments of their set, firmly cementing a strong impression upon the crowd.

Up next is Scottish electronic musician Loops Haunt, who takes to the stage unannounced and unleashes a barrage of glitchy electronica and hip-hop. It is an unexpected inclusion to the bill, but once the initial scepticism ceases, the crowd begin to embrace the electrified cacophony and are more and more drawn towards the stage, with some spectators loosening up enough to begin dancing.

Any hopes of a soothing set of sublime melodic rock are suitably thrown out of the window as 65daysofstatic arrive to deliver a gargantuan 90 minutes of sonic mayhem. The band appear to be shaking off the final feathers of their post rock moniker as they delve further into the realms of electronica and dance.

Each member of the Sheffield 4-piece is utterly disciplined in their craft, shifting between instruments mid song; so much so, it seems like watching two different bands at once. One moment the band appears like a hard rock act, then they transform into a drum and bass act, slinging the guitars behind their backs in favour of the keyboards.

Each note played by the band is executed with ferocious concentration. Drummer Rob Jones pounds on the tubs as though having taken a personal vendetta against them. There is not much on stage banter, but there doesn't need to be as it would only stunt the group's lightning bolt momentum. Aside from the gratitude expressed from the band, the music does the talking.

After a riotous set, the band take to the stage once more and finish off in triumphant cinematic fashion with 'Radio Protector'.

Once a genre of music increases in popularity, many copycats jump on the bandwagon, and this has never been truer than in the rise of instrumental rock in Northern Ireland. But ignoring the cynicism, Kasper Rosa and 65daysofstatic have respectively established themselves as truly unique identities with their own exclusive vision.

Sometimes you can say so much more without having to open your mouth.

Chris Johnson