South Arcade marked a defining moment in their rise by transforming The Forum into a wild surge of nostalgia, sweat, and turbocharged Y2K-core.

Photos by Josephine Best (@josephinexbest)words by Felix Bartlett  | Dec 01, 2025

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Draped in spray cans and bathed in neon chaos, the stage looked ripped straight out of an MTV show. Bands like South Arcade are clearly paving the way for a new wave, tapping into Y2K roots in exceptional fashion, and you know what? It’s fucking awesome.

The crowd last night was absolutely here for it. Even Cookie Monster didn’t feel out of place in the pit. South Arcade delivered bloody good fun, and that’s what we’re here for: a bloody good time. That’s the energy this scene needs more of, and right now, South Arcade are leading the charge.

Seeing a sold-out Forum packed with hundreds of kids going absolutely mental for a setup drenched in those throwback visuals was something special. The room wasn’t just watching, they were buying into it completely.

After a string of shows lately where the vibe felt off, this one snapped everything back into place. It was hot, sweaty, nostalgic in the best way, and genuinely reminded you what gigs are about, pushing through the chaos with your mates and downing a mega pint. If that’s the fight, I’m all in.

South Arcade’s live energy is immense. Every chorus, every drop, they’re jumping in sync, pulling the whole room up with them. The Forum was bouncing. Their presence feels fully formed already, and it’s only going to get bigger.

They tore straight into ‘Fear Of Heights’, ‘Supermodels’, and ‘Nepo Baby’ without giving anyone a second to breathe, full-throttle Y2K-core, fast and feral. The night hit even harder thanks to the release of their new EP PLAY, with that excitement practically radiating off the crowd.

Frontwoman Harmony Cavelle prowled the stage like it was hers alone, firing off powerful vocals that hit every corner of the venue. Across a tight 12-track set, they kept momentum relentless with bangers like ‘Danger’, ‘Moth Kids’, and ‘Drive Myself Home’.

Unreleased cuts ‘Bleed Out’ and ‘Blood Run Warm’ also landed with a dark-pop punch, hinting at a sharper edge in their newer direction.

Highlights included ‘2005’ and ‘HOW 2 GET AWAY WITH MURDER’, with those quirky sound effects, including the car lock, hitting beautifully live. It’s wild how something so simple can make a track feel so distinct.

They closed with three absolute monsters, ‘Riptide’, ‘Stone Cold Summer’, and the fan-favourite ‘2005’, each one detonating in the room and turning the Forum into a unified shout-along.

South Arcade are bursting with life, creativity, and ultra-catchy tracks that blend early-2000s flavour with modern production and a dash of contemporary rock. Their live show hits hard, moves fast, and leaves you buzzing long after you’ve escaped the sweatbox.

There’s little doubt they’re building a movement of their own, and with sold-out shows across the tour, that momentum is only growing.