In the newly-revamped Hallamshire Hotel on Saturday eve came the latest newly-emerging band out of Manchester (via London): Balancing Act. Having put out a steady stream of singles since 2022, the alternative indie-ers have started to catch the attention of the likes of DIY, Dork, 6 Music and Radio 1 in recent months. That river of releases recently culminated in ‘She Plays The Theremin’: a radio-friendly slice of indie pop fizzing with the energy that seemingly only a band fresh out of the blocks can produce.
They’re at the Hallamshire tonight for a free gig ahead of a slew of summer shows – including a July slot at some local festival called Tramlines (never heard of it). And you get the sense that their sleek indie three-minuters will go down well at Hillsborough Park. ‘She Plays The Theremin’ is undoubtedly their strongest release to date, but their previous work showcases an interesting progression to this point. ‘A Little More Time’ takes its title literally, more swagger than banger, but doesn’t suffer for it. ‘Cold’ makes up for some slightly clumsy lyrics as it warms towards a thrilling crescendo. And ‘Cheshire Smile’ shows some more glimpses of the grinning indie that you can imagine filling more guitar-friendly airwaves in the future.
“Radio-friendly slice of indie pop fizzing with the energy that seemingly only a band fresh out of the blocks can produce.” Photo: Indy Brewer
In the futuristic surroundings of the new Hallamshire Hotel it seems fitting – to nab a phrase from a certain member of Sheffield royalty – that the future is being forged within these walls. They may not be the finished act just yet, but Balancing Act are certainly starting to find their feet.
