Third Eye Live Events at The Vic Inn, Derby: A Cold January Night Warmed by Home-Grown Talent

On Friday 23rd January 2026, Third Eye Live Events once again proved why they are fast becoming one of the most important grassroots promoters in the East Midlands, curating a night of fiercely local talent at The Vic Inn that showcased just how alive and vital Derby’s independent music scene really is.

It was a bitterly cold evening in the city, the kind that makes you grateful for any warm refuge, and when I arrived, the Vic was already filled to the brim. Much of that early crowd was there for the Derby match, the pub buzzing with pre-kick-off energy and football talk. But once the fans headed off towards Pride Park, something else happened. The room didn’t empty. Instead, a solid, music-hungry crowd remained, coats still on shoulders, pints in hand, ready for a night of original music, risk-taking and real atmosphere.

What followed was a beautifully paced bill that moved effortlessly between acoustic intimacy, ambient pop, haunting folk and full-blown alt-metal before closing with high-energy indie rock that had the whole pub moving.

Daniel Troop: Acoustic Honesty and 90s Indie Soul

Opening the night was Daniel Troop, a Nottinghamshire-based acoustic indie artist who stepped on stage armed with nothing more than a guitar and a quietly confident presence. His was a stripped-back, one-man-and-a-guitar set, but it immediately commanded attention.

Troop’s delivery carried clear echoes of Bob Dylan, particularly in the phrasing and off-centre vocal cadence, yet it never felt like imitation.

A cover of Oasis’ Half the World Away landed beautifully, drawing knowing smiles from the crowd, while his folk moments leaned closer to Woody Guthrie territory. When Troop dipped fully into folk, there were strong reminders of Jake Bugg’s early work.

His original track Nobody Listens stood out as a genuine highlight, a deceptively simple song that lingered long after the final chord. It was a great opening set that warmed the room and set the tone for what was to come.

Bella Unsworth: Ambient Pop and a Shift in Atmosphere

Next up was Bella Unsworth, who brought a noticeable shift in sound and mood. Performing with backing tracks, Unsworth delivered a set of ambient electro-pop ballads that instantly changed the energy in the room.

Her voice was the star of the set, soft yet confident, floating over atmospheric production that gave subtle The Weeknd vibes. It was music that made feet tap almost subconsciously, a gentle sway spreading through the crowd as the room leaned into something more introspective.

The highlight came when Jude Forsey joined her on stage for White on White. The collaboration completely transformed the space. Darker in tone, the track showcased how well their voices complemented each other, creating a haunting duet that felt both intimate and expansive. It was a moment that demonstrated the power of collaboration within the local scene, and it was received warmly by the crowd.

Graveyard Cop: Haunting Folk and Emotional Weight

Then came Graveyard Cop, the solo project of Tino Martin, best known as the frontman of Skeeve and Porcelain Girl. Tonight, however, he was firmly in Graveyard Cop mode, delivering an emotionally rich set of ambient folk that felt perfectly suited to the Vic’s dimly lit intimacy.

Performing on electric guitar, Martin filled the room with reverbed textures and beautifully restrained playing. Original tracks like Aphrodite and Ghost Part 2 were delivered with haunting vocals and lyrics that hung heavy in the air. There was a quiet intensity to his performance, the kind that pulls a room into silence without demanding it.

He also treated the audience to the Graveyard Cop version of Whiskey. A delicate cover of Skeeve’s Scare sat comfortably alongside covers of Radiohead, The Last Whole Earth Catalogue and Teen Suicide, each reworked in his own understated style.

It was an absolutely beautiful performance, full of vulnerability and atmosphere, and a reminder of just how versatile Martin is as a songwriter and performer.

Aspera: Walls Shaking and Pure Power

With the mood suitably hushed, the amps were then cranked up for Aspera, a female-fronted alt-metal band who wasted no time in shaking the Vic to its foundations.

Fast-paced, heavy and unapologetically loud, Aspera delivered a set packed with crushing guitars, ripping solos and commanding vocals that shifted effortlessly from soulful singing to gutter-level screams. Their cover of Nine Inch Nails’ Head Like a Hole was a full-power, industrial-leaning assault that went down incredibly well, while their heavy reworking of t.A.T.u.’s All the Things She Said was both unexpected and brutally effective.

An Alice in Chains cover of Man in the Box rounded out a set full of heavy reinterpretations, each delivered with confidence and intensity. The walls of the Vic quite literally shook, and the energy in the room surged. It was a powerful, cathartic performance that showed just how much heavy music still belongs in small pub venues.

Hot Fuzz: Indie Swagger and a Perfect Finale

Closing the night were Hot Fuzz, an alternative indie rock band from Derby who brought the evening to a thrilling conclusion. From the first distorted chords, it was clear they were there to make the most of their slot.

Their sound was grunged-out, energetic and full of attitude, with heavy, fuzzy guitars driving a set of punchy original tracks. There was real swagger on stage, the band clearly enjoying themselves and feeding off the crowd’s energy. The audience responded in kind, dancing, singing along and leaning into the chaos.

Tracks like Prove My Worth stood out, blending raw emotion with infectious hooks, while moments of crowd interaction kept things loose and playful. One of the night’s standout moments came when the band stepped off the stage to perform an acoustic number in the middle of the crowd, collapsing the barrier between performer and audience entirely.

It was a fitting end to the night, bursting with raw energy and genuine joy.

A Night That Showed Derby at Its Best

This Third Eye Live Events showcase at The Vic Inn was a reminder of why small venues and independent promoters matter so much. From acoustic folk to ambient pop, haunting solo performances, crushing metal and swagger-filled indie rock, the night celebrated the diversity and strength of Derby’s home-grown talent.

Despite the cold January air outside, the Vic felt alive, warm and full of community. It was a packed venue, a receptive crowd and a line-up that took risks and delivered at every turn. If this is the standard Third Eye Live Events continue to set, Derby’s grassroots music scene is in very safe hands.

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