THE CREATIVITY IN NO LINEUP IS EXACTLY WHAT BELFASTS MUSIC SCENE NEEDS
On Thursday evening, we headed to Maddens Bar for the first ever No Lineup gig by With a Fada - a new series in Belfast where the line up remains a surprise until you get there.
Going into the night with no idea who we might see - and the possibility of being introduced to new artists we could love - is exactly our kind of thing. It set the tone for an evening built on curiosity, and discovery.
GARRETT LAURIE
First up was Garrett Laurie, accompanied by Lauren White on keys - a pairing that immediately set the night off perfectly. From the first song, we were completely mesmerised by Garrett’s vocals.
There’s something genuinely special about the tone in his voice; it fills the room in a way that feels both intimate and expansive. Their performance brought us back to the first time we saw Amy Michelle play acoustically - there’s that same ethereal, almost angelic quality that captivates the audience effortlessly.
Our standout moment came with their final song, All I Ever Wanted, which is currently unreleased. Garrett mentioned beforehand that it might be his favourite song he’s written and that it makes him emotional to perform which really came through. It felt raw, honest, and completely absorbing.
After the set, we were glad to discover that Garrett already has a number of releases to dive into, including Natalie and Novak, both tracks which are inspired by Hollywood actresses and both performed on the night.
Garrett is definitely one to have on your radar but more than that, they set a high bar for the rest of the evening, making the anticipation for the headliner even stronger.
VERA
The headliner of the evening was VERA - a band we already know and love, but hadn’t yet caught one of their shows - so this felt like a particularly welcome surprise.
Hearing Take It All Off live was a highlight, especially as it made its way into our Top 25 of 2025 playlist last year. It remains one of our favourite tracks of theirs, alongside more recent release Riot, which also translated brilliantly in a live setting, and we were happily singing along to every word.
Their set balanced familiar singles like Riot and Skinbag with a selection of unreleased material - some of which may appear on their upcoming album, which they excitingly confirmed is currently in the works. That mix kept the set feeling both polished and unpredictable.
One of our favourite new tracks, impressively written just days ago, was Come On Home, while Sex All Day brought a contrasting mix of vulnerability and playfulness that we really enjoyed.
They also included an ‘unexpected’ cover of Baby One More Time by Britney Spears, a fun moment that the crowd instantly connected with. We have to give a shoutout to the bass in that performance - it transformed the track from a pop classic into something slightly groovier and much more in line with VERAs edgier sound.
Whether that made its way into the setlist because of us is up for debate - but we’ll let you connect the dots on that one!
At the centre of it all is lead vocalist Sarah, one of the most engaging frontwomen we’ve seen. She brings an energy that feels natural rather than forced, pulling the audience in without ever losing control of the performance.
That energy feeds directly into the band’s dynamic as a whole. What really stands out about VERA is their connection with each other – you can feel how much they enjoy performing together, and that chemistry carries straight into the crowd. Each member shines individually, but it’s how they work as a unit that makes them so compelling.
By the end of their set, it was clear why they’ve built such a strong following - and why they felt like the perfect first headliner for No Lineup.
We absolutely loved the concept behind this gig. This kind of creativity is exactly what the Belfast scene needs to encourage more people to get out and support local music.
With the element of surprise at its core, With A Fada turns a gig into something more than just a lineup - it becomes an experience.
Tickets for the next No Lineup show (Thursday 18th June) have just been released - and after an opening night like this, it’s hard not to trust that the next will be worth showing up for.