The Empty Page / Frontwoman

Published October 17, 2026 · Updated October 21, 2026

Heartbreakers, Southampton

Two invigorating grassroots bands, one brilliant night of live music.

What a truly wondrous night at Heartbreakers in Southampton, in the company of two invigorating grassroots bands who pulled quite a crowd and reminded me exactly why I continue to champion our live music scene.

First up were Southampton four-piece Frontwoman, who kicked off the evening with their punky spirit, quirky twists and turns, and a gloriously alternative approach to song writing. Led by the spirited Khairah, the band delivered a collection of creatively off-the-wall originals, packed with attitude, individuality and some wonderfully unconventional lyrical observations. Throw in a couple of crowd-pleasing covers from The Pixies and Amyl and the Sniffers, and you had a set that was as entertaining as it was unpredictable.

Frontwoman 1–2–3–4

Frontwoman have a personality all of their own. There’s a refreshing lack of pretence about them, and their willingness to embrace the unusual makes them an exciting prospect on the Southampton scene. They certainly know how to get an audience’s attention, and their set provided the perfect appetiser for what was to follow.

The Empty Page are a band with determination, character and something important to say. Quite simply, bands like these are precisely why I’m such a passionate supporter of live music.

This Manchester-based three-piece have a sound that makes you wonder how on earth only three musicians are producing it. Guitarist Giz creates an enormous sonic landscape, delivering some absolutely delicious melodic riffs, while Kel’s dark, mysterious and occasionally gothic basslines provide an intense, brooding undercurrent. Behind them, drummer Steve keeps everything moving, giving the songs the weight and momentum they deserve.

But The Empty Page are about far more than simply making a glorious noise. There’s intelligence, thought and a healthy dose of challenge running through their music, with Kel bringing some particularly interesting observations to the stage. She raises questions about the fact that our world leaders are predominantly men, and whether the world might look rather different if women held more of the power. She also challenges the growing influence of AI and the idea that technology can deliver perfection.

And that got me thinking. A near-perfect gig would probably be a rather boring affair, wouldn’t it? We don’t go to a gig simply to hear a record played back to us. We go to experience the musicians, their personalities, their imperfections, their spontaneity and those unpredictable moments that make every performance unique. We want to feel the music, connect with the people creating it and leave having experienced something that couldn’t be replicated anywhere else.

That’s precisely what The Empty Page deliver.

The Empty Page 1–2–3–4

Their armoury of songs is impressive, combining sharp observations, dark humour, infectious melodies and a wonderfully defiant spirit. ‘I’m a White Hot Blade (Witches Are Wicked)’ is gloriously addictive, while ‘A Feminine Ending’ and ‘Death On Our Side’ demonstrate the band’s ability to balance musical hooks with lyrical substance. There’s a real sense of purpose here, but never at the expense of a great tune.

The set moved confidently through a wealth of material, from the opening ‘Sad Emoji’ and ‘Deeply Unlovable’ to the closing ‘When the Cloud Explodes’. Fifteen songs in total, each adding another layer to the band’s identity and leaving little doubt that The Empty Page have plenty to offer.

Both bands brought something different to Heartbreakers, but they shared one crucial quality: individuality. Neither felt like they were simply following a well-worn path, and both demonstrated the importance of giving grassroots musicians the stage, the audience and the opportunity to be heard.

Nights like this are a reminder that the future of live music isn’t just about the big names, the big venues or the big budgets. It’s about artists willing to take risks, musicians with something to say, and audiences prepared to turn up and discover something new.

Heartbreakers provided the setting, Frontwoman brought the punk-fuelled unpredictability, and The Empty Page delivered a thought-provoking, sonically rich performance that stayed with me long after the final note.

Support your local venues. Support your grassroots bands. Get out there and experience live music. You never know what you might discover.

Set Lists
The Empty Page
Sad Emoji
Deeply Unlovable
Big Wheel
Death On Our Side
Gorge (Oh Well)
A Life Saving Operation
I’m a White Hot Blade (Witches Are Wicked)
A Feminine Ending
Life Is a Wave
You’re Tame
When We Gonna Run?
Big Nasty Palpitations
Dry Ice
Cock of the Fifth Year
When the Cloud Explodes

Frontwoman
Big
Out of Industry Boyfriend
Pastiche of You
Debaser (The Pixies cover)
Destroyed by Hippy Power
Guided by Angels (Amyl and the Sniffers cover)
My Body Doesn’t Stop Me
BTC

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