Basht dominated as they took to the stage at Ambers Manchester, announcing themselves to the North west yet again. All as part of BBC radio 6 presenter, Chris Hawkins, Awesome Friends lineup.

London’s Tooth opened the evening with a calm assurance that caught the room instantly. Their sound sits somewhere between dreamlike melancholy and classic indie rock — melodic, familiar, and quietly stirring. At moments the sound even rings reminiscent of The Libertines.

Guitars shimmer, vocals glide, and there’s an undeniable warmth that draws you in. Even if you’ve never heard them before, you feel like you have — the kind of songs you find yourself unconsciously swaying to, pint in hand, long before you realise.

There’s balance at the heart of Tooth’s music. Enough edge to keep things interesting, enough space to let it breathe. They feel youthful but grounded, their performance easy and confident without tipping into ego. A perfect opener — soothing without ever feeling soft.

Then came Basht, and with them, a complete shift in atmosphere.

Seriously — Ireland, give everyone else a chance. The stream of talent from across the sea shows no signs of drying up, and Basht are the latest proof. Their arrival on stage felt like pressure building before a downpour — heavy, charged, and absolutely inevitable.

Frontman Jack Leavey commands attention with a magnetic, brooding presence. There’s a Jacob Slater–esque intensity to him — focused, raw, and oddly endearing. Every movement feels deliberate, every lyric delivered with precision. It’s not about volume; it’s about control, and Basht have it in spades.

Their set was relentless — a cascading wave of post-punk grit and melody, never losing pace or purpose. Even the unreleased tracks, “Kids Versus Guns” and “Terror on TV” landed with full conviction, keeping the crowd locked in.

And then there was “Vain”

The moment everyone was waiting for. It begins with restraint — pulsing, patient — before erupting into something euphoric. By the final chorus, the room’s united, voices raised and fists in the air:

“VAIN! VAIN! VAIN! VAIN!”

That’s the moment Basht cemented it — not just a great live act, but one you feel. A band with presence, purpose, and inevitability. They might already have a solid following, but nights like this make it clear: they’re only getting started.

Tonight felt very much like “getting in early” as, sooner rather than later, Basht will ride that inevitable storm and cascading wave straight into the stratosphere – where they quite rightly belong.