FLASH Delivers at The Hairy Dog with Floodhounds, Rivia and The Red Line

Derby’s grassroots music scene was out in full force on 10th April 2026 as FLASH, a high-voltage live music showcase presented by Alpha Pro Creative and Fuzz Music Services, tore through The Hairy Dog. With a stacked bill featuring Liverpool’s rising alt-rockers Rivia, Derby’s own The Red Line, and hometown heavyweights Floodhounds returning to headline, the night had all the ingredients of a standout gig-and it delivered.

A packed room, buzzing with anticipation, set the tone early. Floodhounds’ return to The Hairy Dog has been long-awaited, and judging by the turnout, Derby hadn’t forgotten.

The Red Line: Explosive Derby Garage Rock to Open

First up were Derby’s The Red Line, who wasted no time in stamping their authority on the night. Taking to the stage with Low Rider playing in the background, the band launched into an explosive opening that immediately grabbed attention. Frontman and drummer both rocking shades gave off effortless swagger, but it was the sound that really hit-raw garage rock, distorted guitars, and gruff, gritty vocals.

They quickly showcased their range, dropping in a new track with a noticeably grungier edge-echoes of Alice in Chains could be felt in the heavier, moodier tone. But just as the atmosphere thickened, they kicked things back up with sharp, punk-infused garage rock, keeping the crowd fully engaged.

Mid-set, the band introduced themselves before launching into The Glass Between Us, their debut single, which landed with confidence. Their drummer proved a standout throughout-tight, energetic, and commanding-at one point leading the crowd into clapping and singing along.

They pulled the audience closer for Centre of Attention, a choppy, indie-leaning punk track with flashes of Arctic Monkeys influence. The room responded instantly, dancing along as the groove locked in.

From there, they leaned heavier. No Way In brought in subtle nu-metal textures, while Pressure pushed that further-fast, aggressive garage rock layered with almost rapped vocal delivery. It was a bold shift that paid off.

They switched gears again with Here Again, a straight-up grunge track that wouldn’t have felt out of place in mid-90s Seattle, before closing their set with Holding On-an atmospheric, post-punk closer with a soaring chorus. A seriously impressive opening set from a band clearly on the rise.

Rivia: Liverpool Energy Meets Pop Punk Precision

Next up were Liverpool’s Rivia, bringing a completely different energy but matching the intensity beat for beat. Opening with Fallen, introduced as a song about falling in love, they launched straight into a tight, energetic blend of pop punk and alt rock.

The frontman was instantly captivating, backed perfectly by strong female vocals that elevated the sound throughout the set. They followed with Voicemail, a full-throttle pop punk anthem with a huge chorus that hit hard.

Piece of You introduced a booming bassline and a slightly more soulful vocal edge, with clear nods to Fall Out Boy in both tone and structure. The harmonies were locked in, and the band’s tightness as a unit was undeniable.

They kept the crowd engaged with a singalong intro to How Much More Can I Take, building anticipation before dropping into another feel-good, high-energy track. Then came Snake Hips, where the frontman even threw in a bit of choreography-sleazy, blues-tinged indie rock that took a darker turn. The band had the entire room crouched low before exploding back up on the drop-an immersive moment that showed just how in control they were.

The set continued to hit highs with Hello Stranger-their first song together-complete with a perfectly timed extended pause before the drop, and their latest single Something in the Water. Opening heavy and evolving into a powerful duet, the track showcased stunning vocal interplay and a call-and-response chorus that the crowd fully embraced.

Rivia made it clear they love playing The Hairy Dog-and it showed. A polished, explosive set that left a serious mark.

Floodhounds: Return in Dominant Form

With the room at boiling point, Gez stepped forward to introduce the headline act: “The mighty Floodhounds!”

The lights dropped. An eerie soundscape filled the venue-distant sirens echoing-before the unmistakable Mr Burns “release the hounds” sample cut through the darkness. Lights up. Chaos begins.

Floodhounds launched straight into a heavy instrumental opener before the frontman stepped forward: “This is what we do.” A brief drum flourish followed-and then straight into One Horse Race. Dark, groove-laden, driven by crunchy bass and thunderous drums, it was a statement of intent.

They quickly followed with their recent single Own Worst Enemy, bringing choppy, heavy guitar riffs and chant-driven vocals reminiscent of Royal Blood. The sound was massive-bass pulsing through the room, guitars slicing through the mix.

A new track, likely titled Got a Connection, brought a faster, punk-leaning edge-high energy, shout-along chorus, relentless drums. From there, the band powered through a run of groove-heavy tracks, feeding off an audience that simply refused to stand still.

Quicksand slowed the tempo slightly but doubled down on weight-sleazy basslines, crunchy riffs, and a dark, immersive atmosphere. Even the crowd’s “nah nah nah” singalong carried a heavy edge.

After introducing the band, they launched into Take It Too Far-a filthy, riff-driven monster with an infectious chorus. They even threw in a cover of St. Vincent’s Los Ageless, completely reworking it into their own gritty, hard-hitting style.

Near Life Experience came next-a relentless, high-energy track with shades of early 2000s LA punk, drawing comparisons to The Bronx. The crowd responded in kind-headbanging, moving, locked in.

They tore through I’m So Done before delivering one of their standout tracks, Black and Blue-fast, aggressive, packed with chugging riffs and distortion. It hit hard and didn’t let up.

Closing the night with Psychosemantics, Floodhounds delivered the perfect finale-sleazy, heavy, bass-driven, with crushing guitars and thunderous drums. A wall of sound to bring down the curtain on an unforgettable set.

A Huge Night for Derby’s Live Music Scene

As the dust settled, one thing was clear-FLASH wasn’t just another gig. It was a statement.

Alpha Pro Creative and Fuzz Music Services delivered a flawlessly curated night, showcasing the depth of talent across Derby and beyond. From The Red Line’s raw garage grit, to Rivia’s polished pop punk energy, to Floodhounds’ crushing headline performance, every act brought something vital.

Floodhounds themselves said it best-they always have their best gigs in Derby. And on this evidence, it’s hard to argue.

For fans of live music in Derby, grassroots venues like The Hairy Dog continue to prove why they’re essential-not just for the city, but for the wider UK scene.

And if FLASH is anything to go by, Derby’s not just keeping up-it’s leading from the front.

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