In a region that prides itself on grit, graft and genuine character, Noisemakers’ Guild are carving out their own space…
By K Futur LOCALDerby’s grassroots music scene continues to punch well above its weight, and this latest show proves exactly why. On Tuesday 31st March, The Indie Night welcomes the unstoppable force that is Sky Valley Mistress to the legendary The Vic Inn, with support from rising singer-songwriter Nat Dempsey. Tickets? Just £5 plus booking fee. On a school night. For a band of this calibre.
If you care about live rock music in Derby, this one belongs firmly in your diary.
Sky Valley Mistress-The Duel-Drumming Rock Revolution
Fresh from supporting The Hives and riding high on the release of their second album Luna Mausoleum, Sky Valley Mistress arrive in Derby with serious momentum. The album is out now via New Heavy Sounds, and it marks a defining moment in the band’s evolution.
Originally formed in Blackburn, Lancashire, the band signed to New Heavy Sounds ahead of their debut album Faithless Rituals, recorded with Dave Catching at Rancho de la Luna, whose client list includes Queens of the Stone Age, Arctic Monkeys and Iggy Pop. Days after its release, lockdown hit. Touring plans evaporated overnight.
Rather than fade, they reinvented.
Vocalist Kayley “Hell Kitten” Davies and drummer Max “Leather Messiah” Newsome rebuilt Sky Valley Mistress as a duel-drumming duo – a physical, ferocious, no-compromise live experience that strips rock music back to its pounding heart.
No samples.
No backing tracks.
No click tracks.
Kayley commands half a drum kit while fronting with raw intensity, while Max wrestles fuzz-drenched guitar riffs with a kick drum beneath him. It is primal, theatrical and thunderously loud.
In a live music landscape increasingly padded with laptops and safety nets, Sky Valley Mistress are refreshingly dangerous.
Luna Mausoleum-Cinematic Rock Without Permission
Luna Mausoleum is described by the band as “greater and beyond all reason” – and it sounds like it. Conceived as the soundtrack to their Hearsecraft ride to the moon, the record draws influence from the crushing weight of Black Sabbath, the desert swagger of Queens of the Stone Age, the atmosphere of Portishead and the grand ambition of Spiritualized.
But this isn’t nostalgia. It’s modern heavy rock reimagined.
Across towering riffs, swirling organs, orchestral textures and even a children’s choir, the band move effortlessly between crushing heaviness and cinematic light. It is heavy rock built for now.
Collectors will appreciate that the first vinyl pressing lands on “Moon Dust” vinyl, housed in a printed foil gatefold sleeve and including a build-your-own Luna Mausoleum card model. A proper artefact. A statement of intent.
And on 31st March, Derby gets to experience it live.
Why The Vic Inn Is the Perfect Setting
Anyone embedded in Derby’s live scene knows the importance of The Vic Inn. Intimate, loud and unfiltered, it is a venue where sweat hits the ceiling and riffs bounce off brick walls. It has long been a cornerstone of alternative culture in the city, nurturing everything from sludge metal and punk to indie and experimental nights.
For a band as visceral as Sky Valley Mistress, it is exactly the right room. Close quarters. No barrier. Just volume and vision.
The Indie Night continues to prove why Derby’s grassroots music culture remains alive and kicking, curating shows that balance national touring acts with rising regional talent. For five quid, this isn’t just a gig. It is access to something special.
Support: Nat Dempsey-Rural Soul Meets Urban Grit
Opening the night is Nat Dempsey, a songwriter carving his own lane between rural acoustic introspection and Manchester’s indie edge. A Lake District native now based in the North West’s urban sprawl, Dempsey channels both landscapes into his sound.
Praised by BBC Introducing in Cumbria & Lancashire, Future Hits Radio and Tempo Magazine, he has grown from West Cumbrian pub stages to Kendal Calling’s Roots Stage in 2024. His performances shift seamlessly between rousing, foot-stomping moments and reflective, heartfelt storytelling.
Where Sky Valley Mistress bring thunder, Nat Dempsey brings texture and emotional depth. It makes for a perfectly balanced bill.
Derby Live Music on a School Night-And Worth It
Tuesday gigs can sometimes feel like a risk. But the truth is this: the best shows often happen midweek. No distractions. No festival fatigue. Just a crowd that wants to be there.
For £5 plus booking fee, this is one of the best-value live music events in Derby this March. Bands of this scale, fresh from high-profile support slots and armed with a major-label release, rarely come this affordable.
If you’re serious about supporting grassroots music in Derby, showing up matters.
Event Details
Sky Valley Mistress – Luna Mausoleum Tour
With support from Nat Dempsey
Tuesday 31st March
The Vic Inn, Derby
Tickets: £5 + booking fee
