words by Katherine Witts

Breaking into the indie music scene can feel like shouting into the void. For bassist Kai Bolger of Bristol-based shoegaze band Cats on the Moon, the answer lies in community and creativity.

Jumping In Headfirst

Having always been a musician from an early age, Kai had always dreamed of being apart of a lifelong band. And after moving from Ipswich to Bristol, Kai found himself thrown into the deep end with an opportunity he couldn’t turn down:

“I had the entire set to learn, including their original song ‘Soul Shaker’, in just one evening.”

Despite minimal rehearsal, the band placed second in a local Battle of the Bands and earned a recording session at Peter Gabriel’s renowned Real World Studios. But with University graduations, the original band, 5 Seconds to Frenchay, dissolved.

However, Kai, alongside original bandmates Louis and Ned, decided to form something new, and with the addition of their new signer, Indigo, Cats on the Moon was born.

Finding Their Identity

The band began building their sound with new vocalist Indigo, but struggled to settle on a name. Eventually, after “many notebooks filled with scribbled-out names,” their identity clicked.

Their debut track, Maisie’s Poem, was born from a poem written by the band’s friend, Maisie Ainsworth, and with the mix of her bold lyrics and the band’s unique sound, a masterpiece was created:

“We came up with the idea to play a slow-building ambient track with Indigo reciting the lyrics instead of singing them.”

They performed the song at Battle of the Bands 2023, following a Muse cover and a rock cover of Last Christmas. The reception was electric:

“We had huge praise… people found it unique and dramatic.”

The performance caught the attention of Max Chapman from Beware the Bears, resulting in a support gig at a charity event for Mind UK with the Bristol based band and another gig at The Louisiana.

The Power of Connection

Kai emphasises how relationship-building fuels indie success:

“The indie scene is a grassroots community… everyone knows what it’s like to reach out and find a place.”

Bands like Beware the Bears, AVA, and Nxancxy helped Cats on the Moon land dream gigs. One of their favourite was opening for AVA at The Exchange, even if the basement stage barely fit their gear.

“The song we played that night was only written a week before!”

Not long after, the band had their first headline gig at The Louisiana and performed an electric 45 minute set full of original music!

What Sets Indie Apart

For Kai, what makes the indie scene special isn’t just the music, it’s the shared energy:

“Being part of it is always driven by a passion for the events, that being the atmosphere of live indie shows.”

That raw connection translates into every performance and every late-night conversation outside of small venues.

“There’s less connection between a globally-known superstar playing to a stadium of 180,000 people than there is to a small indie band playing to a crowd of 60 people in their favourite pub.”

Looking Ahead

Now, the band having released their debut single, are working on recording and mixing other fan favourite tracks.

“We worked hard for two whole days in the studio to record ‘Maisie’s Poem’… we’re super happy with the product.”

Not only that but the band have been taking Bristol by a storm, having played two ‘Tiny Desk’ sets, and headlined UWE’s Festival of Sound 2025.

Currently the band are preparing for their third headline show at The Thunderbolt on June 19th, with support from Corporate Retreat and Morales.