The expression of hard-fought optimism encapsulates The Good Kind, an album exploring themes of sexuality, relationships, community, and illness. Our Girl’s trademark dynamics permeate the record, from heavy guitars and soaring lead lines to ear worm choruses and intimate vocal moments. Filled with warmth and honesty, The Good Kind is a celebration of determination – of choosing to recommit to what matters, against all opposition. “A lot of the songs are about taking setbacks and turning them into superpowers” says drummer Lauren Wilson.
“I only realised then, when I thought it out loud,” begins singer/guitarist Soph Nathan on ‘Relief’, the first single released from the album, “And I feel better now”. This song is aptly named, invoking a long-awaited exhale – the feeling of finally emerging from a long and lonely period of uncertainty and self-doubt. Beginning with a single airy strum, Nathan’s reverb-drenched guitar attaches itself to Joshua Tyler’s grounding bass chords, as Wilson’s quietly insistent drum beat throws its weight behind Nathan’s words of reassurance: “You’ve gotta see it to believe it/ Well, I see it in you already.”
This song speaks honestly to the life-giving importance of queer community. From the warmth and immediacy of her delivery, Nathan could be comforting a friend. But as ‘Relief’ builds from that cautious opening to a determinedly, driving force, it becomes clear: these aren’t empty platitudes. Nathan believes in you, because she’s learned to believe in herself.
The Portland and Commoner’s comedy present something special to celebrate Steve & Hayley running the Portland 20 years this weekend as well as a monthly Comedy night!
The infamous Gong Show is back! It’s where fresh comedic talent face off for laughs and glory. With the audience in charge of the gong, anything can happen!
Topping off the night is the hilarious Annie McGrath, delivering a stand-up set so good it’ll have you ho-ho-howling with laughter.
You’d be a real Scrooge to miss it!
In a frankly unbelievable turn of events Hayley & Steve have been running good-ship Portland for 20 years this weekend!
To apologise/celebrate this fact (depending on your point of view) we will be having some of our favourite bands and people performing throughout the day for us starting with acoustic performances in the main bar before rocking it out in the venue during the evening.
It’s all free to attend, plus there will be giveaways, special deals and surprises throughout the day.
So come join us and party like it 2004 again!
Acts performing so far are…
MAIN BAR from 3pm
3pm: Rishi Karmadillo
https://www.youtube.com/@karmadildo/videos
3.45pm: Steve Adams
https://linktr.ee/stevenjadams
4.30pm: Benjamin B Sydes
https://linktr.ee/bsydes
5.15pm: Jazz & Friends
6pm: Old Man Boom
https://linktr.ee/oldmanboom
6.45pm: Darren Michelangelo Smith
IN THE VENUE from 8pm
Two Peas in a Pod
https://www.instagram.com/vanillapod1995
Ellie Walker & The Folly
https://www.instagram.com/elliewalker.music/
Pony Collaboration
https://theponycollaboration.bandcamp.com/
The Deep Blue are quietly outspoken with an air of rebelliousness and punk attitudes fused with hypnotically beautiful harmonies and intertwined instrumentations. Their lyrics range from small, detailed vignettes and musings to anthemic calls to arms, with strong elements of storytelling and always deeply personal and reflective. Coming together in lockdown, The Deep Blue burst onto the scene in May 2021 with the release of the first track from their debut EP “Taking on Water”. This led to key indie press such as Dork, The Line of Best Fit and Atwood Magazine clambering to get the inside scoop on Manchester’s hottest new band.
Fresh off the back of their sophomore EP, “Sugarcoat”, The Deep Blue embarked on a sparkling debut UK tour, selling out Camden Assembly, London and their home-coming show at Deaf Institute. “Sugarcoat” caught the ears of tastemakers such as Dork, Rodeo, Groupie and New Wave with the title track anointed ‘track of the month’ on Amazing Radio and receiving some meaty airtime on BBC Radio 6. This year the band have added Y Not, Tramlines, Victorious, Greenbelt and Underneath the Stars to their touring itinerary for summer including Truck Festival, having won the Band App vote to play. Winning votes came from respected indie industry tastemakers including So Young Magazine and John Kennedy of Radio X.
Dynamic and electrifying performances by students from Anglia Ruskin University’s Music Performance degree programme. The ARU Music Performance Showcase brings together some of the finest and freshest musical talent, performing in a variety of rock and pop music styles.
This evening’s show is your opportunity to come along and listen to our rising stars before they graduate and make their mark on the world of music.
The Eye
After years apart, The Eye have reformed for one night only, bringing their inimitable style off R’n’B, pop and rock, back to their spiritual home, The Famous Portland Arms.
All proceeds going to local charities.
Private event in venue, pub open as usual.
Hardwicke Circus – UK Tour with support from Antics.
Meet the six–piece band who are not only turning heads with the confident glide in their stride; they’re literally bulletproof”. The Sunday Times
Fast building a reputation as the most exciting band to emerge from the UK in recent years, their sound brings comparisons with the brio of the E Street Band and the dark passion of classic Doors, but with plenty of British authenticity in their high-voltage Carlisle attack. Proudly based in the border city, they have supported Bob Dylan and Neil Young in Hyde Park, performed at the Isle of Wight and Glastonbury Festival (at the request of Sir Paul McCartney), toured with Bob Geldof’s Boomtown Rats, and played over 1000 other shows across the UK & Europe, including the Eurosonic Festival in Groningen, a sold-out tour of the Czech Republic and a fifteen date tour of UK Prisons. The Hardwickes have just played their first show in Italy, joining the likes of Rival Sons and Gary Clark Jr and opened the main stage at Kendal Calling 2024.
Currently in the studio recording their third album, previous releases include ‘The Borderland’ & ’Fly The Flag’, both met with rave reviews and airtime on BBC Radio 1, 2 and 6Music. Mojo Magazine – a leading UK music publication wrote: ‘Produced by Stiff’s Dave Robinson and with guests Earl Slick (David Bowie) and Terry Edwards, the Carlisle quintet’s second album rocks Dexys-level dynamism: Motown dancers, E Street shuffles, baritone ‘bom boms’, stirring brass and ballads laced with romance and humour’.
Their live prison album ‘At Her Majesty’s Pleasure’ features guest performances from the inmates, and you can read more about this truly mind-blowing experience here: https://shorturl.at/uwxCY
Because this a band who don’t do anything by halves. Proudly independent, HC have formed their own record company ‘Alternative Facts Records’, releasing their own music and soon other great artists from the north of England who might not be heard above the rabble of the London-centric scenes. As their label motto puts it so well: We lead, Others follow, But can’t keep up.
Annual charity fundraiser with Sugarbeat and support from our friends The Accelerants, expect some special guest appearances and all the usual Sugarbeat shenanigans. Proceeds to JDRF UK – the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
We are happy to announce that our next show is a charity show for Cancer Research UK and Great Ormond Street Hospital and Charity, in which these charities have affected us and alot of people around us.
We have 5 local amazing bands who have offered to help put this on, who we appreciated very much. We have headlining Reno & Rome followed by @dearmonday syx_beats Oli Harris and Mutiny
Please come and help these amazing causes and have a good night with us.
Merry Christmas to all our customers and gig goers!
Pub and venue is CLOSED Christmas day and Boxing day, open as usual Friday 27th ay midday.
Join us for a traditional R*E*P*E*A*T (anti) Christmas Party, one in which joy, mess and delight will mingle with some seriously sad thoughts and an important message.Furious, feather boaed and frantic cross dressing face painted rock upstarts from a sleepy village in Cambridge.
instagram.com/acid_alchemist_band
Teenage psychedelic post-punk metal mayhem with an ear for unexpectedly massive sounds and unlikely time signatures. Their healthy disrespect for their elders and lessers hasn’t stopped them packing out venues across London and the South East.
instagram.com/themonoliths/
Noisy two-piece (three if you count the robot drummer) industrial death-rock band who sometimes play Abba.
https://www.facebook.com/DNR1969
https://andysmanclub.co.uk
£5 on the door
Solidarity Price £10 with this going to Andy’s Man Club.
The Ultimate Party Band comes to Cambridge for the first time on December 28th! A night filled with classic dance floor fillers and sing alongs from the 80s and beyond.
Whether you prefer dancing in the dark, in the street or on the ceiling, this is the night for you!
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Countdown the new year with us at The Portland!
Our NYE events are legendary, and this year will be no different.
Featuring live music from party band SWAGGER, plus disco, buffet, cocktails and drinks promotions, expect a lively atmosphere and great vibes.
Grab your mates and make this year’s celebration one for the books!
Tickets go on sale December 1st!
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