PLAYBACK GIG REVIEW - THE CAROUSEL - 03/07/26
Written by Summer Cinnamon
Images by Tom Marshall (@tom_sunderland)
Luke Brennan, the creator of Playback, wants to change the music industry for the better to help support the local scene. He states he is “sick of promoters doing the bare minimum and taking a cut, and tired of an industry model that constantly extracts value from independent musicians”. Playback had its launching showcase on the 3rd of July 2026 in a Notts grassroot venue, The Carousel, and we are expecting many more with this show completely selling out the venue! This was an incredibly important event as, with 100% of ticket sales going towards the artists performing that night, it proves that change is possible for the industry with Playback spearheading this innovation of the industry. Playback aims to change the standard for the local Nottingham music scene, “built out of frustration of a broken system”, making a more comfortable, community-driven scene in order to encourage local and upcoming artists to thrive.
Opening the night was Maia Sudha, a local singer-songwriter, sharing some of her unreleased music with her band. Maia’s iconic vocals and presence onstage was an incredible start to the evening, kicking off the night with soulful vocals and emotionally charged music, immediately beginning to build a sense of community throughout the crowd.
Continuing this, JP Fleming’s following performance engaged the crowd, with his raw lyricism and electrifying guitarwork. Playing a selection of original songs with his band, both released and unreleased, Fleming was an iconic performance keeping the vibes of the night high with the crowd enjoying every minute of it.
Up next was Nottingham-based producer and artist, Jakiboi, playing with his full band for their first live performance, showcasing their unreleased music to the welcoming audience. With the room beginning to fill as more people arrived for the night, Jakiboi was well received. Playing a selection of indie pop and lofi tunes throughout their performance, he was a highly memorable part of the evening. What an amazing first live performance!
Closing the showcase was Riley Marsh, an iconic Nottingham musician, previously backed by BBC Introducing at Y Not Festival, providing an upbeat and electrifying experience for the audience. The performance was breath-taking, bringing together the crowd even further, cementing the sense of community that was built by Playback. Marsh’s set featured raw lyricism, engagement from all members, his stage presence was incredibly energetic, and I just couldn’t look away!
An incredibly successful start for Playback with an evening of talent featured in a sold-out venue, all whilst building up community and expanding to a music scene that artists deserve! The crowd was definitely left wanting more, and I hope that this is only the beginning of a massive change for the industry.
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