Gig Review: Lime Garden The Grove 12/10/26

There’s something special about seeing a band while they’re in that exciting middle ground between being an established name and still feeling like you’ve discovered them yourself. Lime Garden have already built a brilliant reputation, releasing their debut album One More Thing in 2024 and now returning with their second album, Maybe Not Tonight, released in April this year. Their latest tour feels like a celebration of everything they’ve built so far, bringing the new material together with the songs that have already earned them a loyal following.

They opened with Body, which is easily among my personal favourite Lime Garden songs, so I couldn’t have asked for a better start. It immediately showed off what makes this band so interesting. There’s a very familiar indie rock foundation running through their music, with hints of bands like The Strokes and The Vaccines, but then they throw in these strange electronic elements that feel much closer to Underworld or Orbital. It’s an unusual combination and it works brilliantly. Their songs have the guitar-driven immediacy you’d expect from an indie band, but underneath that are electronic rhythms and textures that make everything feel slightly more unpredictable and interesting to listen to. You can hear the band constantly pushing against the boundaries of what their songs could be, and live that became even more apparent.

Another of my favourite new tracks was 23. This song has such a grimy, almost slimy quality to it, and I mean that as a massive compliment. There’s something dirty and uncomfortable about the production that gives it a really distinctive character. It reminded me of the more abrasive side of Yard Act, currently listening to this one while writing this!

Another highlight was Moving Target, their new single, which was one of my unexpected highlights. This one has a much dreamier quality to it, with a hazy atmosphere that reminded me of Alvvays. It felt softer and more floaty than some of the other new material, giving the set a really nice change of pace.

Of course, they couldn’t leave the classics behind. Clockwork was a brilliant moment, with that infectious droning indie groove sounding just as good live as it does on record. I saw these at Live at Leeds a couple years ago and this song hit just as hard as it did then. And then there was I Want to Be You, another fan favourite that had the room moving. These are the songs that have helped Lime Garden build their following over the last few years, and hearing them alongside the newer tracks made it really clear how much they’ve developed since One More Thing.

What I particularly enjoyed was the way the electronic side of the band became much more prominent live. You can hear those influences from dance and electronic music sitting underneath the indie guitars, giving the songs a hypnotic quality. It means the set never feels like a straightforward indie rock performance. There’s always another layer underneath it. It’s a difficult balance to get right. Too much experimentation and you can lose the immediacy that makes an indie band exciting. Too little and you risk sounding like every other guitar band around. Lime Garden seem to have found the sweet spot somewhere in between.

If you haven’t checked out Lime Garden yet, I’d definitely recommend giving them a listen. And if they’re playing somewhere near you, even better, go and see them live. You might arrive expecting another indie band. You’ll leave wondering why more indie bands don’t sound like this.

Recommendations: Body, 23, I Want To Be You, Clockwork, Moving Target

Review by Michael Dunwell