Frieda Star at The Sunflower Lounge - 07/02/2026

There are two guarantees in life: one is death, and the other is that you won’t regret going to a Lazy Two Steppers gig. A culture of ‘chalant’, unapologetic energy fills the room every time; exactly what we hope for from grassroots gigs. As a general rule, I believe that a sax and/or brass player heading to the stage at an indie/punk/rock gig is a good sign, so you can imagine the joy on my face watching this when both bands took to the stage. Beyond Lazy Two Steppers’ stellar reputation for supporting artists’ interests and the grassroots scene, it quickly became apparent why this gig sold out…

Fitzroy Holt

First up were Fitzroy Holt with a moody sound and mature arrangement, featuring a well-intertwined guitar and saxophone, energetic drums and a rich, emotional lead vocal all in an alternative rock, with a hint of dark Americana, genre (think ‘a film character wandering the Mojave Desert, alone’ – powerful and deep). The use of a second microphone, designed to imitate a megaphone/radio-type of sound, added to the raw, gritty atmosphere. The band clearly have great chemistry and had the audience swaying and vibing to their set, which created the perfect mood for their performance and set the room up for the headliners nicely.

Frieda Star

Frieda Star have a defined style. With suits and smart attire, sunglasses, balloons and a red individual with no face, a pair of sunglasses and a cowboy hat, dressed in a full suit (you can read that as many times as you like, I promise you’ve read it correctly), the eccentric, unique party was underway before the music even started. It was no surprise that the music was fast and energetic, with a frontman who was displaying all kinds of movement and gesticulation. The lead vocals were fast and rhythmic and were full of passion and emotion, the drums included a nice variation between slower tom rolls and faster crash/hat and snare combinations, and the horns thickened the arrangement by introducing additional layers of harmony. It was nice to see so many vocalists in the band, allowing for complimentary backing vocals and, occasionally, different lead vocals to suit different vibes in different songs. The inclusion of the audience is always a bonus at grassroots gigs, and Frieda Star encouraged their audience to move and enjoy themselves, and even briefly joined them. The set was ended in the perfect way: with an anthem. I can see Frieda Star becoming a renowned live act with their creative, blue sky ideas, hopefully soon to be on the festival circuit!

Overall, this gig was authentic, energetic, fun and unique. Lazy Two Steppers are champions of the local scene, and they have, yet again, demonstrated their commitment to a gig that platforms talented grassroots artists and engages a whole community of music lovers. Fitzroy Holt and Frieda Star are prime examples of the talent that can be found in your local venues. Their unique and original ideas were on full display, and I can’t wait to see how they continue to develop them.