Summer Bash 2026: An Introduction to Bobby Mandala’s Midnight Elite!

“Get your boating shoes on, we’re drinking Red Stripe on the canal” ~ Bobby Mandala’s Midnight Elite

It’s that time of the week again! Another introduction to another band who are playing this years eighth incarnation of Summer Bash, a Hawaiian themed Beach Party hosted by Progressive Death Metal trio Mercury’s Well. No less than 10 bands will grace the Red Room stage at The Facebar in Reading on Saturday 18th July and while there might not be any sun, sea or sand there will be (crowd) surfing, cocktails and inflatable palm trees. Hawaiian shirts aren’t a requirement for entry but if you’re wearing a t-shirt from one of the bands then you’ll be in for high fives all around. So phone a friend, ask that certain someone if they fancy it or just join the party and hang out, the choice is yours!

Here’s the line up in full:

Vanitas (headliner)
a-tota-so
Mercury’s Well
Masquerader
Monovoid
Maxwelltheband
Bobby Mandala’s Midnight Elite
Halloran
In Maluum
Pain Itself

While Mercury’s Well might be a Progressive Death Meta trio, Summer Bash is all about celebrating the music of the underground scene and so you get a little bit of everything. Sure that might seem a little bit eclectic or perhaps even eccentric but do you know what? It’s also so much good fun that you won’t want to miss out. One band that fits firmly into that fun category are Bobby Mandala’s Midnight Elite, a London based Post-Punk trio who love nothing more than to write songs about boats. Because… why not?! They first appeared on the scene in 2017, releasing their debut record “The Bobby EP” two years later. Since then they have released a steady stream of singles that include re-working some of those older songs, “Three Men and a Baby” catching the attention of all 80’s film lovers out there. While they’ve been doing that they’ve been sharing stages in and around the London scene, regularly getting suited and booted to do so. In fact we’d go as far as to say if there was a prize for the best dressed band at Summer Bash this year, they’d win it hands down. They say they’re coming to Summer Bash to show us Metal heads how to Yacht, so why don’t we give them a row boat?!

You can check out Bobby Mandala’s Midnight Elite over at bandcamp

We’re proud confirm that Metal Noise dot Net is returning for a fourth consecutive year as the Media Partner for Summer Bash! Mercury’s Well will be hosting the eighth incarnation of their annual Hawaiian beach party themed event on 18th July 2026 at The Facebar in Reading!

Fancy a ticket? You can get yours -> here