As December Falls w/Eville, @ The Joiners, Southampton - 12/03/2026

As December Falls bring pop-punk pandemonium to Southampton’s iconic grassroots scene

On paper, As December Falls playing The Joiners in Southampton makes perfect sense. They are a fiercely independent band with an equally fiercely loyal fanbase in the UK so bringing them to one of England’s most historic grassroots venue is not an experiment but a booking with maximum return of investment. Supported by Eville, the evening proved that pop-punk doesn’t need arenas to feel huge, it just needs energy and good songs to make every lyric hit hard.

Opening duties fell to Eville, who approached their slot with confidence and grace. Their latest album, BRAT METAL, tells you all you need to know about the type of band they are and the type of music they put out. They are modern, punchy, melodic and equally unapologetic, unhinged and brat; but in the best way possible. Whilst the start of their set was a bit awkward as the crowd had to be slowly persuaded to participation, Eville handled it extremely well, pulling people closer and closer to the stage as their set progressed. Their setlist was short but every song felt like a continuation of the chaos and the attitude that they brought to the stage, whilst towards the end of the set even included a ‘Team Edward’ and ‘Team Jacob’ (nod to the singer’s vintage Twilight tshirt) wall of death. By the final song, heads were nodding, there was a circle pit and the communal engine was running.

When As December Falls took the stage, the reaction was immediate and loud enough to test the structural integrity of The Joiners’ ceiling. Frontwoman Bethany Curtis is an expert at commanding a room without even feeling rehearsed. Her stage presence sits somewhere between best friend energy and highly efficient chaos coordinator, which is an ideal combination for a venue where the stage is only slightly higher than the crowd’s collective excitement. Predictably, the band wasted no time into diving into their setlist of fan favourites and older material.

The song sequence was a textbook example of great audience psychology. Starting off with ‘Angry Cry’, into ‘Mayday’ and ‘Little by Little’, the fans were already pulled in quickly, belting choruses at maximum volume and jumping up and down. Equally, songs like ‘Everything Is On Fire But I Am Fine’ had the crowd cheering, whilst the video-game ‘Flametide’ was one of the most requested songs to be played live and it finally materialised. By the closing stretch, the crowd had fully committed to the assignment as ‘Ready Set Go’, ‘Anymore’, ‘Tide’ and ‘Therapy’ came on. Voices were getting hoarser, arms were in the air and the entire room felt fuelled by pop-punk adrenaline. It was the kind of energy that only happens in venues this size; because every lyric echoes right back at the band from the audience.

If there is one undeniable truth about As December Falls, it is that their fanbase is deeply invested. Most people in the room were repeat visitors of the ADF gigs, singing everything in the song – not just the chorus. From the front row to the back bar the voices echoed in the walls, making it impressive to show that the band has built this level of devotion largely through independence, persistence and charm. There are no shortcuts, no industry magic and no one-song-viral-wonders; just songs and human connection. It is refreshing to see ingredients like that still make the perfect recipe.

Overall, the gig was a great reminder of why grassroots venues still matter. Big energy, genuine connection, and a crowd that felt like part of the show rather than spectators made the gig joyful, chaotic and very much alive. Judging by the reaction in the room, Southampton would happily do it all over again tomorrow.