Invited | Review by V. Brewster
Wednesday night in Newcastle’s Ouseburn Valley saw Cluny 2 open its doors to a near sold-out crowd, all drawn in by the promise of soaring melodies and raw indie talent. Headlining the evening were Glasgow’s rising stars, The Rooks, fresh off a string of successful support slots and rapidly gaining traction as a serious force in the UK indie scene. Sharing the stage were two promising North East outfits — Park View and The Rivergate — each bringing their own flavour of coastal grit and youth-driven energy to the night’s lineup. With the low stage, close walls, and the hum of pre-show anticipation in the room, Cluny 2 proved once again why it’s a favourite for bands on the brink and fans in the know.
South Shields outfit The Rivergate opened the night with smoky swagger and a sound that fused retro cool with modern rhythm. Dressed like they’d stepped out of a ’90s rehearsal room, they channelled Blue Öyster Cult vibes through a contemporary lens — woozy guitar textures, half-time drum breaks, and a lazy yet syncopated groove that felt deliberate and measured. Their well-played cover tracks showed confidence, but it was their unapologetically atmospheric originals — brooding, structured, and steeped in late-night mood — that left the strongest impression. I found myself wanting to hear more of that world.
Hailing from just up the road, five-piece Park View brought a raw, working-class energy to Cluny 2 that felt both honest and electrifying — a kind of modern-day Hard-Fi with Geordie grit. Their set, riding the momentum of the freshly released The Pretty Sounds EP, was punchy and immediate, balancing catchy hooks with a proper underdog edge. Major-to-minor chord shifts and sharp falsetto accents gave tracks real weight and colour. Park View’s sound isn’t easily pinned down, but it knows where it comes from — local, loud, and entirely unpretentious. With a crystal-clear mix courtesy of Cluny engineer Thomas Brown, the band’s layered interplay really cut through. It’s never easy warming up for a headliner on a midweek bill, but Park View did it with confidence, charm, and serious potential.
From the moment The Rooks stepped into the spotlight, it was clear they weren’t here to coast on buzz. Hailing from Glasgow and fresh off a sold-out run at King Tut’s, the five-piece brought a level of polish and presence that instantly raised the temperature in Cluny 2. Their opener hit like a shot of adrenaline — guitars chiming in tight unison, drums kicking with clinical precision, and a frontman who, with his charisma and emotive vocal delivery, had the room in the palm of his hand. There’s a theatricality to his performance, but it never feels forced — think Glasvegas in its ability to emote, filtered through the warmth of ‘90s indie.
Instrumentally, The Rooks packed more than just energy. Their lead guitar tone conjured unexpected nostalgia — something in the phrasing and reverb evoking a soft-glow ‘60s feel, even as U2-style drone riffs gave parts of the set a modern, expansive lift. It’s a rare balance: vintage inflection with forward momentum. Harmonies slid in and out with intent, and the emotional architecture of their set — crescendos, valleys, and the brave choice to slow things down mid-set — showed a band with real compositional maturity.
What makes their ascent even more impressive is that The Rooks are the only act on this year’s TRNSMT Festival lineup without any formal representation — no label, no management, just word-of-mouth momentum and sheer merit. That same DIY spirit pulses through their latest four-track EP, Right About Now, a snapshot of their sonic versatility and heart. From the stage at Cluny 2, they promised more music is on the way — and if the packed room’s reaction was anything to go by, it can’t come soon enough.
By the time the final song crashed into its closing bars, The Rooks had done more than justify their place at the top of the bill — they’d proven they’re nearly outgrowing venues like Cluny 2. But that’s the thrill of catching a band right before the leap: the sense that these songs, these moments, won’t be played in spaces this intimate for long. With festival slots ahead and word spreading fast, The Rooks are already rising — and on this showing, they’ve earned every bit of the noise.