Live Music Memories: Exeter Pubs, Local Legends and Folk Heroes

I wanted to expand on the previous post which I loved creating about musicians that I had heard play in my magical local the North Bridge Inn or NBI. https://huwspace.com/2026/10/27/remembering-exeters-north-bridge-inn-and-its-live-music-legacy/

There is an awesome musician that I also follow on Facebook who I saw live at the North Bridge Inn his name is Derrin Nuendorf he’s such a talented musician.

Derrin Nauendorf universe demands

Derrin Nauendorf is an Australian acoustic blues, roots, and folk musician who was famously endorsed and sponsored by Yamaha Guitars for many years. Known for his powerful vocal delivery and intricate, high-energy acoustic guitar work, he used Yamaha instruments as his primary “road workhorses” while playing over 1,000 self-managed gigs across the UK, Europe, and Australia.

When the North Bridge Inn closed and I moved back to Exeter there was another bar I started to go to to listen to music which was called the Angel another place that eventually closed but also had some great musical moments inside.

Samantics – Beautiful Day

Samantics (Samuel Walker) is an independent, livewire UK rap-poet, multi-instrumentalist, and loop-station artist based in Exeter, Devon. Known for his raw honesty and immense energy, his music occupies a distinct space between spoken word slam poetry, alternative hip-hop, and energetic folk-punk.

Sam would sometimes run the open mic night at The Angel. As did Emily Howard another wonderful human and musician.

Emily Howard – Looking out for Number One

Emily Howard – Folk Singer-Songwriter (Exeter/Devon) is an award-winning singer-songwriter and folk musician based in the South West of England.

Next up is Rosie Eade who I have seen sung in a few bars in Exeter such as the Bowling Green. The Bowling Green is a highly rated, independent neighborhood pub located on Blackboy Road in Exeter. Celebrated for its community vibe, the pub mixes traditional charm with lively modern features like a “hidden secret garden” and Italian hand-stretched pizzas.

Rosie Eade – TheFire

Rosie Eade, widely known by her stage name “Folk Pixie”, is an English folk-rock singer-songwriter. Splitting her time between Exeter, Devon and Colchester, Essex, she blends acoustic storytelling with a energetic rock attitude, often driven by her distinctive nylon-strung guitar style.

The next Musicians i heard in a bar called Old Timers at a charity concert they were awesome wonderful spirts and a great night was had by all. It turns out to that Hannah one of the musicians is married to Samantics singer – Samual Walker.

In This Time – Sound of the Sirens

The final singer I saw at the Exeter Phoenix which is central Exeter’s premier multi-artform venue and cultural hub, hosting a vibrant calendar of live music, independent cinema, contemporary art, theatre, comedy, and workshop tucked away on Gandy Street.

Set the Tigers Free – Villagers

Villagers is an Irish indie folk band formed in Dún Laoghaire, Dublin, in 2008. The band is the primary musical project and creative vehicle for singer-songwriter Conor J. O’Brien, who serves as the sole long-term member, driving force, and principal songwriter.

So there we have it a walk down memory lane in Exeter with a little bit of my life and musical taste flashing before my eyes.

A time like no other

It was the worst of times but we have seen the best of many people. A time like we have never known or wish to know again – but how can we ever learn any lessons from times like this and if we do learn what will those lessons be?

I wonder what will be written about how 2020 unfolded when people look back. Although there are lots of ways and reasons to see the bleak black clouds of heartfelt hurt and disappointments I wonder what will be the silver lining of goodness or positivity that might come through this. A little like a blanket of snow drop flowering across a woodland floor bringing in with them the signs of a new season and rejuvination of life after a bitter and harsh winter.

Sometimes how we view and react to a life event shapes how or even if we can move forward from the event. Although at other times it might be the very events themselves  that force us to be re-shaped and review our view of the world or how we see ourselves within it. Coronavirus is very much an event that people have had to react to and or been reshaped by.

Another nice mess

So do we thank or blame god?

Curse or give credit to a politician in power?

Tears for the poltical stage

Or will we be grateful for what we have or curse for what we do not have?

Well in time we will hopefully have an opportunity to find out, reflect and move forward.