The Flag’s newly refurbished venue space, The Old Brewery, is hosting an event to follow up on last year’s Christmas rock party.

The venue will showcase a selection of bands such as All Aboard Gloria, Kassai, Sinka and a mystery act who will kick off this year’s Christmas festivities. 

The alternative music venue has been, for some time, a veteran in providing a platform for the musical endeavours of Watford. The Old Brewery is now powered by Blackstar amplification to ensure the sound transmits to the ears of the audience with clarity.

In fact, more and more venues and events are popping up in and around Watford; making the cultural landscape of the town thrive with excitement. The White Lion (who serve great roasts on a Sunday) and The LP Café (where you can listen to new records and enjoy amazing coffee blends) have become exciting venues for bands and artists to put on intimate DIY events.

Additionally, located in the Fisher Industrial Estate lies Sanctuary studio, which has undergone a renewal in 2017. The space has become another important hub for the community. Sanctuary host Jam Nights where musicians can take part in impromptu jam sessions, network and meet like-minded individuals. They have thrown cool gigs in their new spacious function room. It has numerous rehearsals rooms and state-of-the-art recording facilities too.

The headline act on Friday is All Aboard Gloria, a project fronted by prolific performer and multi-instrumentalist Matt Bown. All Aboard Gloria are a three-piece alternative band drawing influence from the likes of Nirvana, Biffy Clyro and The Fall of Troy.

Their music is driving and intricate which is a result of their advanced musicianship. They released their hard-hitting debut EP ‘The Things You Left Behind’ earlier this year - which you can listen to here. They have plans to release a second EP in 2018.

The supporting act Kassai is a band that has formed recently. Their sound is an amalgamation of Noise pop/post-punk with shoegaze inflections. They have gigged numerous shows this year, with each performance marking an impressive development by building on the momentum of the last. Their highlights of the year include supporting The Social Club at The White Lion and Swedish Death Candy at The Horns in St Albans. With an EP on the horizon, they are definitely one to watch in 2018.

More info here.