Rainbow Kitten Surprise

On 8 June 2026 at O2 Apollo, Stockport Road, Manchester, Rainbow Kitten Surprise takes the stage with its indie rock shot through with alternative folk. Formed in Boone, North Carolina by Ela Melo and Darrick “Bozzy” Keller and completed by Ethan Goodpaster, Jess Haney and Charlie Holt, the band builds its songs around an expressive lead voice, stacked harmonies and sharp shifts in dynamics, from quiet corners to electric surges. From the early self-released EPs gathered as Seven + Mary (2013) to RKS (2015) and How to: Friend, Love, Freefall (2018), they’ve shaped a writing style rooted in personal narratives, melodic guitars and pop-tinged rhythms. With Love Hate Music Box (2024), they keep probing a melodic, sometimes fragmented terrain where folk and pop threads cross, with lyrics circling intimacy, spirituality and identity.

Also on the bill, Cigarettes @ Sunset, another Boone outfit, led by Garrett Dellinger. The quintet calls its blend Possum Rock: a mix of Americana, indie rock, Appalachian folk and roots rock with a soul tint. Their tracks lean on plainspoken vocals, gritty guitars, a compact rhythm section and a violin that links rock writing to Appalachian textures. Growing within an independent scene, they keep a raw edge and let frictions between folk, country rock and indie show. Local roots mark their identity, from the Blue Ridge to the impact of Hurricane Helene in 2024 on their home turf, feeding recent songs.