Brave Rival at the Tuesday Night Music Club , Coulsdon

Brave Rival at the Tuesday Night Music Club , Coulsdon

Arriving just after 6pm at the Tuesday Night Music Club in Coulsdon, I was relieved to see only a small queue forming under the late afternoon sun. less than a dozen people, in fact. That could only mean one thing, a prime front row spot for one of the most talented bands on the live circuit, Brave Rival. Now, to be fair, we’re spoiled for choice these days when it comes to exceptional musicians whether solo performers, duos, trios, or full bands.

I’ve been fortunate to see countless brilliant acts across the country in recent years. But Brave Rival are something else entirely. There’s a spark…an edge, that sets them apart. Tonight was set to reaffirm exactly that. With doors due to open around 7pm, I settled in to wait. One of the joys of the live music scene is the people you meet, passionate, friendly, and always up for a chat. Within minutes, familiar faces gathered, chatting about recent gigs, many had even caught Bonnie Raitt at the Albert Hall the night before. Before long, the line stretched down the street. Around 90+ people patiently waited to have their names checked off the list.

No tickets on the door tonight ! Brave Rival had sold this one out weeks in advance. Once inside the air conditioned venue, drinks in hand, cameras prepped, and greetings exchanged, the excitement grew . I’ve seen Brave Rival around 15-20 times over the past six years (not that I’m counting), but others in the room had been to over 70+and in one case, over 100 shows. That kind of devotion says it all. At 8pm sharp, the lights dimmed and club host Richard Dunning stepped up to introduce the evening. After a brief rundown of the club’s ethos and particularly including the reminder of a no talking during the show rulehe welcomed Brave Rival to the stage.

Once known for their stunning vocal harmonies between Lindsey Bonnick and former bandmate Chloe Josephine, the band has evolved. Since Chloe’s departure, Brave Rival have leaned unapologetically into rock, and they do it very well. Lindsey’s powerhouse vocals are now front and centre, backed by the formidable trio of Ed Clarke on guitar, Donna Peters on drums, and Billy Dedman on bass. What makes Brave Rival truly special is the chemistry, not just with each other, but with the audience. There’s a natural, unspoken rapport between the four musicians, and that same warmth extends out into the crowd. Every show feels like a shared experience rather than just a performance. Armed with a copy of the setlist, I knew what was coming.

They opened with a punchy new track, “Poison”, immediately setting the tone: this is a rock band now through and through. Fan favourites “17” and “Bad Choices” followed, with the crowd singing along in full voice. “Blame the Voices” kept the energy high before a moving tribute to the late Matt Long, which led into a beautifully delivered version of his song “Up in Smoke.” Then came another new one, “Control” a heavy, punchy number that I absolutely loved. It’s a safe bet this will become a permanent fixture in their set. The first half closed with the emotional “Stars Upon My Scars,” a song Lindsay always pours her heart into. After a short break (with at least one person managing to sneak in some Singapore noodles from the takeaway down the road), we settled in for set two.

The second half opened strong with “Wild Child,” “Stand Up,” and “Run and Hide” (I think….I stopped keeping track, to be honest). A lovely surprise came when Lindsay invited Lauren Potter, a former bandmate from her Timeless days, to join her on stage. Together, they delivered a stunning rendition of “Alone,” with Donna switching from drums to acoustic guitar. The harmonies were gorgeous, and Lauren left the stage to rapturous applause.

At that point, Lindsay realised they were running ahead of schedule. Crisis averted with a quick shout out to the crowd for requests, and suddenly Brave Rival were off piste, throwing the setlist aside in favour of fan favourites and spontaneous picks. I lost track of the songs,but it didn’t matter. Every moment was a joy, raw, passionate, and performed with infectious energy. After two encores, they closed (I think) with “Fairytale.” A fitting end to an unforgettable night. It’s no surprise Brave Rival were named Band of the Year at the UK Blues Awards. They’re not just a great band, they’re a special one. And on nights like this, you’re reminded why we keep coming back for more.