ONECAB Bring Another Diverse Night of Grassroots Music to Dubrek Studios

Derby’s grassroots music scene continues to thrive thanks to promoters willing to take risks on alternative sounds and emerging artists, and on 7th May 2026 the team behind ONECAB once again proved exactly why nights like theirs matter. Hosted at Dubrek Studios, the evening showcased a genuinely varied lineup spanning ambient folk, nu metal and grunge infused alternative rock, bringing together different corners of the underground scene under one roof.

It is something ONECAB have become increasingly known for in Derby. Their events do not stick rigidly to one sound or one crowd. Instead, they lean into diversity, championing grassroots musicians, alternative artists and left field acts that might otherwise struggle to find spaces willing to back them. Nights like this feel important because they reflect what the independent scene is supposed to be about, discovery, experimentation and community.

Opening the evening was Wandering Nomad, the musical project of Rin Haider, who describes himself as “a Nobody from Nowhere making music Somewhere”. Despite the self-deprecating billing, there was absolutely nothing forgettable about the performance. From the moment he stepped onto the stage, the room settled into the kind of attentive silence that only happens when an audience is genuinely pulled in.

His set drifted between ambient folk and deeply emotional songwriting, with vocals moving effortlessly between soft, delicate passages and louder, more impassioned moments. The atmosphere inside Dubrek Studios felt almost dreamlike during parts of the performance, helped by thoughtful lyricism and stripped back arrangements that gave every word room to breathe.

Performing originals including Cures, Heavy is the Crown, Once and Harmartia, Wandering Nomad created an intimate opening set that eased the crowd into the night perfectly. A beautiful cover of Under You by the Foo Fighters added another emotional layer to the performance, but one of the standout moments came when Santino Martin joined him on stage for a duet rendition of We Found Two Dead Swans and Filled Their Bodies with Flowers by Teen Suicide. It was fragile, haunting and completely captivating.

It was the kind of opening set that reminded everyone in the room why smaller grassroots gigs can often feel far more personal and memorable than larger commercial shows.

Next up were Derby’s own Jamma, delivering a complete shift in energy and volume. If Wandering Nomad provided reflection and atmosphere, Jamma brought chaos, riffs and pure nu metal energy.

The resurgence of nu metal has been impossible to ignore over the last few years, but Jamma do not feel like a nostalgia act. Their sound clearly pulls influence from classic acts associated with the genre, with flashes of Korn and Drowning Pool running through the heavier moments, yet there were also hints of funkier grooves reminiscent of the Red Hot Chili Peppers buried beneath the aggression.

Heavy, energetic and full of movement, the band attacked the stage with confidence despite only having a handful of original songs currently in rotation. The potential is obvious. Their performance already felt polished enough to win over the room, while still retaining the rawness that makes grassroots heavy music exciting.

The covers also landed perfectly with the crowd. A blistering rendition of Bulls on Parade by Rage Against the Machine injected another surge of energy into the venue, while Break Stuff by Limp Bizkit predictably pushed the room into full singalong territory.

Jamma feel like a band with momentum behind them and it will be interesting to see where they go next as they continue developing their original material within Derby’s growing alternative scene.

Headlining the night were Nottingham alt-rock outfit Pixie Kut, formerly known as Kelsey and the Embers. The five piece arrived with a noticeably bigger sound and instantly lifted the energy in the room once again.

Blending grunge influences with alternative rock and heavier modern elements, Pixie Kut delivered one of those sets where the confidence of the band quickly spreads through the audience. From the opening moments, people around the venue were tapping feet, nodding along and gradually moving closer towards the stage as the performance built momentum.

Tracks including Rollercoaster, Cry Wolf and new song Breathe For Me showcased a band that already feel remarkably tight live. Their sound carried weight without becoming muddy, while the lead vocals consistently cut through with clarity and power. The frontwoman brought huge energy throughout the set, balancing confidence with a genuinely likeable stage presence and natural rapport between songs that kept the audience engaged from start to finish.

As the performance progressed, the songs seemed to grow heavier and heavier, eventually drawing members of Jamma into the crowd for a small mosh pit near the front of the stage. Tracks like Roadrage hit especially hard live, pushing further into grungier and more aggressive territory, while the funkier Bubblegum added another dynamic twist to the set and highlighted the band’s versatility.

By the end of the night, Pixie Kut had fully won over the room. It was the kind of headline performance that leaves audiences immediately checking social media pages and upcoming gig listings afterwards.

Once again, ONECAB delivered another excellent night at Dubrek Studios. More importantly, they continued doing what independent promoters should be doing, creating spaces where different sounds, different artists and different audiences can collide. In a grassroots scene that often survives purely through passion and persistence, nights like this continue to prove why Derby’s underground music community remains one of the city’s strongest creative forces.

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