Brave Rival/The Blue Lena/Georgia Nevada -
Cambridge Junction B, Cambridge, Sunday 15th February, 2026
I knew nothing of Georgia Nevada pre-gig but I acquainted myself with her via YouTube. What I heard didn’t thrill me since it was a bit to whimsical and acoustic for my taste. It certainly lowered my expectations as the videos didn’t exude personality. In a live setting things can change, this is my account of this evening’s proceedings.
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It was an early start, on a cold windy night. At around 19.20 Georgia Nevada arrived on stage, well actually Edd Robinson (Guitarist) appeared first, quickly followed by Nevada. It was immediately obvious that she had a presence and character that would enthuse a pretty full venue. All my earlier thoughts and preconceptions were blown away by the end of the first song!
Her image and interaction with the crowd were excellent. I thoroughly enjoyed her set and her tattoos! Her brand of Country Blues ensured she got an impressive reaction. Georgia informed us that her debut album is out in March. I had a brief chat with her and in doing so I asked if I could review the album, telling her that I was thrilled with her performance.
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Definitely an artist I want to see again. I haven’t even mentioned her boots! Which were most certainly not made for walking!
Set List: Last Chance Saloon/Can You Feel The Rain?/Nashville Song/Undertow/ Sanctity/Frozen/Only Happy When She’s Dancing/What Do You Want?
What can I say about The Blue Lena? Well since reviewing their magnificent debut album, ‘Darkwood’ then interviewing them, I have been keen to see this 7-piece perform live, fronted by Peter Yeomans with six string wizard, Nick Singleton at his side. I was desperate to hear how their music translated to the stage. It has been a long 18 months but finally I get to see them at this superb venue in Cambridge.
Tonight there are only 6 of them with Guitarist, Richie Yeates missing. Judging by the amount of equipment on stage it's just as well since it gives Singleton more space to sprinkle his magic. There has also been a recent line up change. Backing vocalist, Fi Channon’s departed and Sarah Warren has taken over. Not only does she add backing vocals, she shares lead with Peter Yeomans.
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Ok, I was excited! The set began with ‘Last Chance Saloon’ and from that opener we were given a musical masterclass from this vastly experienced bunch. Yeoman's voice pours like a fine single malt. Each member has the opportunity to shine. Keyboard man, Matt Raynor adds a fine tapestry of sound as his organ embellishes not to mention that he also has a fine hat.
Bassist, Martin Ragnett visually is in the background as he fights for space and to be seen but his groove is clear as along with Drummer, Jon Clayton they create the spine for the others to build on.
There are many highlights with 'Undertow’ being sublime and ‘Only When She’s Dancing’ is so infectious that you simply have to dance! Well, that’s what I had to do with a large bunch at the back of the venue. The sound just keeps coming with expertise and with the ease of true professionals. Singleton’s shapes and performance capture the essence of the blues, both Southern and modern in the purist sense.
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The chosen name of a band can be intriguing, The Blue Lena especially so. In a Zoom interview I was told that Keith Richards bought a blue Bentley Continental Flying Spur which he called the Blue Lena. So many adventures took place in that car and the stories have become legendary. Nick said, “I thought it would be a cool name for a band”.
Indeed, it is! The free-flowing music that his band make is as inventive and spontaneous as those stories, though maybe not as dangerous or as illicit as some of the tales that car could tell!
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The set concludes with ‘What Do You Want’. Judging by the response of the audience, The Blue Lena have made many new friends and hopefully will be headlining venues of this size themselves very soon. All that is left to say is they are a real group, who don’t get tied down to one style. If you are a fan of The Black Crowes, Free, Bruce Springsteen, The Rolling Stones or Fleetwood Mac you will enjoy these too.
Set List: Intro/Let Me Rock N Roll/Bad Choices/Poison/17/On The Next Round/Stars/ What’s Your Name Again/Wild Child/Control/Up In Smoke/Heart Attack/Run & Hide/Heavy.
Encore: Fairy Tale.
Brave Rival have been kicking up a storm recently, especially since becoming a 4 piece and releasing their E.P ‘5 to 4’. No disrespect to the previous line-up with Chloe Josephene but they now have the perfect visual dynamic and sound. Lindsey Bonnick is one hell of a performer and since my last encounter when they supported FM, I have been hugely looking forward to see them as headliners.
I am not sure when Brave Rival began headlining their own shows but if this is their first headline tour, I can only say that they rose to the challenge surpassed my already high expectations and blew the bloody roof off. In other words, they have not so much arrived at a junction as eased down the slip road to the motorway.
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Billy Dedman on bass adds international flavour hailing from Australia. He cuts a striking, slightly imposing figure as he gets the boom out of his instrument. At the back we have Donna Peters, who smiles as she pounds and looks like she is having the time of her life, she just might be as tonight she is celebrating her 31st birthday! Happy birthday to you etc.
Ed ‘the shred’ Clarke, provides everything you need via his guitars, poses, charisma and some shredding! He is also the youngest member. But try as hard as the trio do, they cannot compete with the personality, voice or dramatic delivery of Lindsay Bonnick. She is the visual focal point and she cleverly uses her stage craft to make sure the others get a share of the spotlight.
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This band from Portsmouth are on the way up and there is no doubting that. Bonnick is at the forefront of that rise. Her vocal range, from all out power to gentler and also subtler sounds entrances all those watching. She dances, she crouches and points and gestures using everything at her disposal from her smile to her eyes that seem to want to embrace you.
For those of you who have been fans over the last 8 years, you will know she has shared vocal duties with Chole Josephine. That partnership came to an ending due to family commitments. It is astonishing how Bonnick has taken and risen to the challenge of being the sole singer. She is more than that: she is a Rock, Blues and Soul singer... anyway I better get on with the show.
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Brave Rival build their show like a journey. There is a distinctive arc to the performance shifting through blues-rock grit, soulful songs and high-energy modern rock. Since the departure of Josephine, a new era has begun. 4 of the 5 new songs from the E.P. make the set with favourites like ‘Heavy’ and ‘On The Road’ filling it.
After the intro, ‘Let Me Rock N Roll’ opens the set which closes with the quite stunning ‘Fairytale’. At the beginning of the gig, while Bonnick is introducing '17' she spots a young blonde-haired boy standing at the front and speaks to him and apologises for some swearing from the ‘Shred’.
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She points out that his ear defenders will filter out any bad language. The boy is thrilled by the connection she is making with him but doesn’t agree that his headgear will stop the swearing. The rest of audience laugh at this engagement. To me, it shows Bonnick’s skills as a front woman. We all know that youth is the future of Rock music, making him feel special is brilliant. Welcome to our world of Rock young man.
What a night of Rock this promised to be and what a night it was!
By Paul Mace