Apr
3
Wed
Green Mind presents UGLY
Apr 3 @ 7:00 pm – 11:00 pm

The group have become renowned amongst peers for their shape shifting sound that blends experimental post-rock with swelling choral textures. Today’s track was produced at Church Studios by Balázs Altsach, assistant to Paul Epworth who has worked on music for The Last Dinner Party, Wet Leg & Blur.

Hailing from Cambridge and its surrounding areas, UGLY originally evolved through the band’s choral background. Glimmers of its influence can be heard throughout their catalogue – instantly gripping infectious melodies, explosive dynamic changes and rich, intricate harmonies.

Apr
7
Sun
Wrest +Jim Wilson
Apr 7 @ 7:30 pm – 11:00 pm

DOORS OPEN: 1930
2000-2030 – JIM WILSON (SOLO/ ACOUSTIC)
2100-2230 – WREST

After sold-out shows across Europe, Edinburgh’s wrest head to Cambridge to headline Portland Arms this April.

Don’t miss this must-go gig from one of Scotland’s most exciting emerging live acts.
Listen at https://linktr.ee/wearewrest

 

“Fans of Frightened Rabbit and The National will love Edinburgh’s wrest” Jim Gellatly

“Scotland’s best new band” Border Telegraph

“Best Scottish Album 2019” Scots Whay Hae /Postcards from the Underground

“Scotland’s most exciting emerging live act” BBC Radio Shetland

“An emotional adventure you have to experience” Independent Music News

“Album of the Week” BBC Radio Rapal

Apr
19
Fri
Green Mind presents THE BABY SEALS
Apr 19 @ 7:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Green Mind presents THE BABY SEALS

The Baby Seals are a punk garage band based in Cambridgeshire, made up of Kerry Devine, Amy Devine and Kate Shore.

Their debut album – “Chaos” – is slated to be released by Trapped Animal in 2024.

“The Baby Seals are a smart, talented group of girls who know how to shout back against oppressive patriarchal values; and have a shit load of fun at the same time” – Gigslutz

“A great lairy sound, I love people who promote the idea of being happy with your body during a time when people see whitened teeth and implant-filled arse cheeks as perfection” – Fresh Off the Net

Apr
22
Mon
Green Mind presents OCTOBER DRIFT +Snake Eyes
Apr 22 @ 7:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Green Mind presents OCTOBER DRIFT +Snake Eyes

Following the success of their debut album Forever Whatever, released at the start of 2020 and with a solid foundation built over years of touring and writing, October Drift affirmed their place as an important new presence, with their heavy, pop-inflected rock delivering a rejuvenating injection of fresh blood to the genre. The album was met with widespread critical acclaim on release, garnering praise from the likes of CLASH, Kerrang! Louder Than War and many more. 
 Their newly released sophomore album ‘I Don’t Belong Anywhere’ – via Physical Education Recordings – is a taut, visceral record, a step forward for the band into an even more powerful, brutal sound. Far less introspective than their debut, ‘I Don’t Belong Anywhere’ is October Drift’s totem for bringing us all together again. “A feeling of not belonging is something everyone feels or has felt,” explains vocalist and guitarist Kiran Roy

Having already thrilled audiences at festivals including Glastonbury’s John Peel Stage, Reading & Leeds and BST Hyde Park, as well as on a major European tour with Editors, We Are Scientists, Archive & Slow Readers Club, Forever Whatever, The Naked EP and the new album I Don’t Belong Anywhere together condense years of relentless touring and expertly crafted performance into showcases of flawless songwriting; statements of intent from a band more than ready to cement their place as future icons.

Apr
23
Tue
Green Mind presents PET NEEDS
Apr 23 @ 7:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Green Mind presents PET NEEDS

“Intermittent Fast Living”, the third studio release by PET NEEDS in as many years, is inspired by the relentless, breathless, stop-start lifestyle PET NEEDS have found themselves living in recent times.

Founded originally by brothers Johnny and George Mariott and later joined by Jack (drums) and Ryan (bass) only a matter of years ago, PET NEEDS’ career has been sky-rocketing ever since the release of their acclaimed debut “Fractured Party Music” back in 2021. From getting signed to sold out shows, rave reviews to rabid fans, and embarking on extensive global tours with the likes of Frank Turner, The Lottery Winners, Skinny Lister; demand for these four lads from Essex has been on a trajectory with the stratosphere.

May
7
Tue
Green Mind presents BLUE BENDY
May 7 @ 7:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Green Mind presents BLUE BENDY

Building on the momentum of their 2022 EP “Motorbike” Blue Bendy are stretching out into vast new sonic terrain. Their following two singles “Mr Bubblegum” – a joyously intricate piece of experimental guitar pop – and the frenetic, propulsive yet incredibly deft sprawl of “Cloudy”, saw the band reach new heights creatively. Of the former, The Guardian enthused: “indie is riddled with addled, verbose frontmen right now, but none so rapturous as Blue Bendy’s Arthur Nolan: here he dances all over splayed post-rock and micro-cataclysms”.

Having toured as main support for Squid and Cola as well as playing packed out tents at festivals like End Of The Road and Green Man, Blue Bendy have struck a balance between being obviously skilled musicians, writing complex, layered, overlapping and ambitious compositions, while also utilising space, breadth, and restraint. Their music is bursting with dynamism, exploring push-pull dynamics that results in something ceaselessly unpredictable.

It results in a sound that is rare for a new band: as experimental as it is confident and assured, as tender as it is visceral, as quiet as it is loud, as bloody as it is teary.

May
13
Mon
The Pad Presents: Theatre of Hate +guests
May 13 @ 7:30 pm – 11:00 pm

Tickets on sale from Wed 12th Feb.

In 1980, Kirk Brandon formed Theatre Of Hate from the ashes of heralded punk band The Pack. Joining Kirk on vocals were notable punk musicians Stan Stammers and Luke Rendall, along with old school friend, Steve Guthrie and Canadian born John Boy Lennard, who revolutionised the bands sound with his haunting sax lines.

Theatre Of Hates debut double-A-side single, Legion/Original Sin, topped the independent chart in 1980, and Westworld, their debut album, produced by Mick Jones from The Clash and released in 1982, held the number one position for 21 weeks. The single taken from the album, Do You Believe In The Westworld? has become an anthem and is still widely played in clubs and on international radio, as well as featuring on numerous compilation albums.

Supporting the likes of The Clash & Ian Dury lead to Theatre Of Hate headlining major venues across the UK & Northern Europe. Theatre Of Hate imploded in 1982, with Kirk taking Stan forward to form Spear Of Destiny, but the band has resurfaced over the years to play some very special shows. 2015 saw the band play two short jaunts across the UK in April and December both sets of dates wowed large crowds.

During touring in 2014 and 2015 the band constantly recorded at Oxygen Studios in Manchester, the first new studio album in 30+ years is now complete! ‘Kinshi’ was released in October 2016 on CD, Vinyl, Download & Dub. The 12 brand new songs are simply stunning. Part funded by a fan based private Pledge campaign this THEATRE OF HATE masterpiece propelled the band even further back into the spotlight and the band played consistent sell out shows to promote the album.

Fresh from a 3 month run across the USA with The Mission & The Chameleons the band show no sign of slowing down and still continue to deliver a spellbinding live show. .

Guest support TBC

May
17
Fri
Strawberry Lace +Oscar Corney +Weller
May 17 @ 7:30 pm – 11:00 pm

Alt-rock unit Strawberry Lace perform at The Portland Arms on their second ever UK tour. Following the success of their debut album tour Quadrafeline last year, you can expect more of their signature technical drums, face-melting guitar and heavy riffs.

With support from Oscar Corney.
and Weller

Jun
5
Wed
Provisional: Sweet Unrest +The Franks
Jun 5 @ 7:30 pm – 11:00 pm
Provisional: Sweet Unrest +The Franks

London bands Sweet Unrest in the style of the Libertines/Oasis/Britpop-era and
The Franks, who are influenced by the Velvet Underground, Brian Jonestown Massacre.

Jul
25
Thu
CUD
Jul 25 @ 7:30 pm – 11:00 pm

Tickets available from Friday 23rd Feb at 10am.

Emerging from the same art/design cauldron that produced fellow Leeds legends Soft Cell, Scritti Politti, and The Mekons, CUD were the pre-Britpop answer to doleful shoegazing bands – fun-loving, light-hearted, romantic and downright catchy.

Alternatively loved or loathed like a yeast extract, CUD are indie rock for the unpretentious pleasure seeker, boasting as they do the rich deep-lunged voice of Carl Puttnam, edgy guitars of Mike Dunphy and tight, funky rhythm section of William Potter, bass and Gogs Byrn, drums.

CUD were initially lauded for their quirky Peel session cover of ‘You Sexy Thing’ in 1987. They soon built up a huge live following and buffed up their repertoire with a string of unstraight pop beauties, best exemplified by the 1990 album ‘Leggy Mambo’. This led to a major-label deal with A&M in 1991, front-page NME coverage, massive sellout gigs and proper Top 30 hits, ‘Rich and Strange’ and ‘Purple Love Balloon’.

Misunderstood by record companies and press, CUD packed away their guitars and sticks in 1995 but, bolstered by a greatest hits anthology (‘Rich and Strange’) in 2006, they agreed to tread the boards again, with a further reunion following in 2012 (now with original guitarist and key songwriter Mike Dunphy) and continue to find an army of ‘Space CUDets’ still eager to sing along, dance like fruitcakes and invade their stage.

Sep
1
Sun
Ringo Deathstarr +Blushing
Sep 1 @ 7:30 pm – 11:00 pm

“Ringo Deathstarr” is a dynamic, introspective psychedelia, multi-layered album with Frazer and bassist Alex Gehring’s trademark, gorgeous, duel harmonies. ‘Nagoya’ opens with cinematic ambience before the groove-laden gothic allure of ‘God Help The Ones You Love’ and ‘Gazin’. An upbeat, more direct shoegaze bristling with a precision and confidence that’s rarely captured with such energy, and the 90s seeped ‘Once Upon A Freak’ as well as ‘Be Love’ elevate the bands now iconic sound pallet.
Elsewhere the reverb-soaked and dark 80s post-punk of ‘In Your Arms’ and ‘Heaven Obscured’ continue to show a band unwilling to stick to the rule book, with poppier sensibilities, while ‘Lazy Lane’ and ‘The Same Again’ showcase their more lo-fi and garage-rock leanings. And in true Deathstarr fashion album closer ‘Cotton Candy Clouds’ sees us out with a climatic cacophony of guitar work and riotous power from drummer Daniel Coborn.

Ringo Deathstarr began in Austin TX in 2005, but really came together in 2007 after Elliott recorded the first EP and recruited Alex. After a couple of tours and losing another drummer, Elliott’s high school friend Daniel joined up.
Over the band’s lengthy career they’ve seen support from the likes of The Guardian, The Line Of Best Fit, Drowned In Sound, NME, VICE, Pitchfork, NPR, KEXP, BBC 6 Music, BBC Radio 1 and many more.

Special guest support comes from Austin band BLUSHING – Considering Austin’s long love affair with boundary-pushing alt rock, it comes as little surprise that it would produce a band like Blushing. Formed in 2016 and consisting of the double husband & wife pairs of Christina & Noe Carmona and Michelle & Jacob Soto, Blushing’s unique brand of dreampop-infused indie rock hearkens back to the halcyon days of college radio. With a diverse array of influences including Elastica, Curve, Veruca Salt, Lush, The Breeders, and Smashing Pumpkins, Blushing manages a deftly executed eclecticism that recalls the best elements of alt rock’s past while retaining a vitality and immediacy that tethers them firmly to the present.

After releasing the Philip Odom engineered EPs Tether (2017) and Weak (2018), the band partnered with Ringo Deathstarr’s Elliott Frazier to produce their self-titled 2019 debut LP on Wallflower Records and their 2022 followup, Possessions, on Kanine Records. Across their discography, the group’s ever-expanding scope and increasing refinement is easily chartable, culminating in the swirling but propulsive shoegaze of Possessions. Boasting collaborations with Miki Berenyi of Lush and Mark Gardener of Ride, Possessions channels the dreamlike qualities of 4AD’s most ethereal bands paired with the guitar-forward approach of early 90s American indie rock. The result is an astoundingly effective synthesis of forms that is as dynamic as it is comfortingly familiar.

Between their recent Japan tour with Softcult, extensive stateside touring, multiple appearances on live-session staples like LEVITATION, SXSW showcases, and sharing stages with Snail Mail, Blonde Redhead, Beabadoobee and countless others, Blushing’s mastery of their craft is hardly mysterious. Buying a Fender Jaguar and an analogue reverb pedal is one thing; Knowing what to do with them is another matter entirely. Blushing is a band who understands that fact acutely, and they continue to demonstrate it with an adroit, genre-bending versatility that only seems to sharpen with each new effort.

Sep
25
Wed
Green Mind presents RYLEY WALKER
Sep 25 @ 7:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Green Mind presents RYLEY WALKER

Ryley Walker began his career in the early 2010s, after moving from Illinois’ provincial town of Rockford, and settling into Chicago’s independent scene. After a slew of cassette and vinyl releases, Tompkins Square put out his debut album in 2014, which was then followed up by the Dead Oceans-released “Primrose Green” a year later. His most recent album, “Course in Fable”, was released on his own Husky Pants Recordings label in 2021.

Having toured with the likes of Richard Thompson, and with a supporting slot for Dinosaur Jr. forthcoming – as well as a tremendous Bert Jansch tribute show behind him, wherein his hero Anne Briggs called him the ‘c word’ – Walker has rubbed shoulders with the very best.

While, in the past, his desire to be as great as his influences may have dogged and hindered him from bringing his own personality to his music, now, Walker’s music is undeniably his. A mix of Twitter and sobriety may be partially responsible. “Music is an exciting thing I get to do because I’m alive and well. I take every opportunity I’m given very seriously; I’ve gotta pay tribute to that by staying alive and being as good to the people who love me as I can,” he said.

Nov
12
Tue
Provisional tbc
Nov 12 @ 7:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Provisional tbc

Green Mind presents… acts TBC