Monday, 06 October 2025

From solo singers to fabulous Fundamentals, Gig Night was big hit

From solo singers to fabulous Fundamentals, Gig Night was big hit

FRIDAY Night was Gig Night at the Kenton Theatre, comprising some fabulous original music performed by talented young musicians from Henley and further afield.

The audience was treated to eight acts, both solo artists and bands.

Emily Hewes, who is in year 8, kicked off the evening by playing the guitar and performing three of her own songs, Mood Swing, Pulling on the Ground and Greatest Fear.

Next up was Mamie Armitage, 13, on the piano who performed two original songs.

She said the best thing about the festival was how nice everyone was. Mamie’s motivation to perform was to allow other people to hear her music.

She also appeared at the festival last year but said she enjoyed it more this time as she had become more confident in performing in front of a crowd.

She was followed by Amelia Garner, 17, who played the guitar and performed three of her own songs, Moon Date, Spring and All That I Could Think About.

She was full of good humour and brought a lot of energy to the stage.

Amelia said she would like to write and perform more of her own songs in the future and for them to be heard.

She believed that everyone’s voice should be heard as we all have the ability to sing. Amelia said she prepared for the big night by performing in front of her family in the kitchen at home.

The next enthralling performance was by a band called Vesalius, from Reading, comprising Toby Schofield (guitar), Bethany Davidson (vocals), Will Braisher (bass) and Ruben Upton-Wheeler (drums).

The four of them came together a year ago through mutual friendships — Toby and Bethany have known each other since primary school and and are now at Highdown School and Sixth Form in Emmer Green together.

The band rehearse together every week in a shed. They played two original numbers, Regatta and With or Without, and a cover song. It was a beautiful performance.

The (fundamentally fabulous) Fundamentals!, from Marlow, invigorated us with their awesome performance.

The group is made up of Sir William Borlase’s Grammar School sixth-formers Sacha Smith (drums), Ollie West (keyboards and vocals), Archie Hewson and Eddie Pratt (guitar) and lead singer and bassist Tom Hughes.

They performed two original songs, Dopamine and Edge of a Moshpit, and a cover of Backstreet Boys’ Nineties hit Everybody. The charismatic Tom Hughes captivated the audience with his spectacular vocal skills and each member of the band showed off their individual flair.

The band said they recommended performing because it was fun.

Samira Axinel was an incredible singer who performed two cover songs accompanied by a pianist.

Closing the spectacular night were the phenomenal Twenty Ten who delivered three cover songs.

The band said the best thing about the festival was it gave young people an opportunity, in their case to showcase their music to other young musicians and to the people they love.

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