by Ian Diddams
images by Ian Diddams
Though now based out of Bristol, at university studying Music and sharing digs together, NRWO (as they are colloquially known) began life in Devizes School not so very long ago. An early gig in the Corn Exchange in July 2023 saw me, Gail of Devizes, Jemma of FTO and a few mums and dads watch them thrash out a full set, to a large crowd of mid-teens, predominantly female … I was aware I was conspicuously the only adult male in the audience aside from parents and must have looked the biggest perv going so I stood next to Jemma for some credibility!
Fast forward a few years and here I was again watching NRWO but this time at Cursus Festival, at Cranbourne Chase Cider, in the early afternoon as the temperatures reached over 30 degrees Celsius in the shade. The lads still looked young, but now sported some noticeable stubble as befits their advancing years. There were far fewer teenage girls present, and a lot more middle-aged men; I felt less conspicuous as a result which was just as well because Jemma was elsewhere with the FTO in Cheltenham!! However, so much for feeling inconspicuous… the band’s merch merchants – the bassist Sam Briggs’ mum and dad! – identified me on sight. My reputation clearly precedes me… the power of being a Devizine journalist!
Way back then in that Corn Exchange gig the lads were raw, nascent, even naïve in their music. What it maybe lacked in roundedness it more than made up for with huge energy and BIG chords. Here the music has become more mature though still full of energy and noise (that’s a good thing!). Less angst, more controlled youthful arrogance and verve.
The band displayed plenty of indie/rock/punk tropes – leering, leaning, feet on fold back speakers from Elijah, broodingly aloof lead from Fin, insouciance from bassist Sam and shirtless, beanied drumming from Lui – all to add to the excellent delivery of their set.
And speaking of set, oldies but goodies
Shear Water https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsVWELRWUZo
Pedestal https://youtu.be/YXHuk-Po698
were provided along with non-online tracks
TGE
Soulgiver
Starlift
The Flowers
Horlix
Red
Some of which are on the band’s latest limited release EP – there were at last count seven left in Sound Knowledge (Marlborough) and there’s a reorder of a hundred to come for those that missed out first time around so get your hands on a copy soon! Available then from their merch link on their website.
https://nothingrhymeswithorange.co.uk/merch/
Of course you could do far worse than catch that band as they close out the 2026 Devizes Arts Festival, at the Corn Exchange, Devizes – tickets a bargain at £12 (£10 concessions) on Saturday 13th June at 8p.m. They lads return to their roots to showcase their advances to a home crowd and while their original fan base, like themselves, are now peripatetic it provides a fantastic chance for those to return for the band, and for late comers to NRWO to pick up on this home-grown band doing good.
See ya there!
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