Cenobus – A Grassroots Band That Has Found Its Sound And Confidence.

Where – Evergreen Hall, Hawick

When: 20th March 2026

Review and Photographs by Linda McDermott

There’s something genuinely satisfying about watching a grassroots band find their feet and grow into their sound, and that’s exactly what’s happened with Cenobus. Having seen them a good few months ago, the difference now is like night and day. What was once a band still finding its way has become a confident, tight group that clearly knows where it’s heading.

Hailing from Hawick in the Scottish Borders, this four-piece has been together for over a year, steadily building a following through well-supported local gigs, including a slot at MacArts in Galashiels.

They are-

Richie Scott – Bass Player and backing vocalist

Greg Cunningham – Lead Vocals and Rhythm Guitar

Ritchie Skilling – Drums

Ollie Whitely – Lead Guitar.

Their influences are clear, drawing from the likes of Radiohead and The Beatles, with Cenobus shaping their ideas into something that feels like their own. There’s a strong melancholic thread running through their self-penned material, giving the songs a consistent mood without becoming repetitive.

They opened with Is This It, a track Greg was nervous about and admitted he wanted to get out of the way early, just in case he made a mistake, but there were no errors, and it set the tone perfectly for their set. Cosmic Winds lifted the tempo slightly before Escape My Mind slowed things down with a measured, deliberate pace. It’s a standout track and one that feels ready-made for a single, showing real control and confidence.

A stripped-back moment midway through the set saw Richie on bass accompanying Greg’s vocals. It was a bold move that paid off, laying everything bare and allowing the vocals to take centre stage, adding a different dynamic to the set.

Their covers of Radiohead’s ‘Just’ and ‘My Iron Lung’ blended seamlessly alongside their own material, highlighting just how naturally their influences feed into their sound. Songs like Shadows and Veda Chimaera, the latter written when Greg was just 15, continued that melodic, reflective feel, while Where Is My Love introduced a slightly bluesier edge at the beginning.

Closing with Diary Entry, they raised the energy with stronger riffs while still holding onto that underlying melancholic mood. It’s another track that stands out as having real single potential, leaving the crowd cheering.

For fans of Radiohead, Muse, Arcade Fire or Portishead, Cenobus will feel like a natural fit into your playlist. The band are young, but they already have a wealth of material behind them. Greg tells me they probably have enough songs for three albums, which gives them a fantastic choice of music for a debut that will be impressive.

Greg, Richie, Ollie, and Ritchie have come a long way since I first saw them, maturing into a sound that clearly reflects their influences, heart, and enjoyment. That growth, confidence, and focus have to be commended, and if this set is anything to go by, I look forward to seeing where their music takes them.

Set List

Is This It

Don’t Worry

Cosmic Winds

Escape My Mind

Where Is My Love?

Because I

Just

My Iron Lung

Vida Chimera

Shadows

Diary Entry

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/cenobusofficial

TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@cenobusofficial

YouTube https://youtube.com/@cenobus

Upcoming gigs

3rd April – Daltons Bar, Hawick. Free Entry