A night at SLO Brew with The Stews and Margot Sinclair
8:10 p.m.
Nov. 20, 2025
Bodies are pressed up against the pit with sticky fingers holding beers as Margot Sinclair enters the stage. The room is buzzing with anticipation and cheers ring in my ears. Many of Margot Sinclair’s fans (myself included) are eager to hear the San Luis Obispo based band perform on the main SLO Brew stage for the first time.
“We’ve been to ten cities in the past three weeks and this has got to be the best city in the world,” lead singer Kyle Mix said.
I felt a wave of overwhelming joy as I listened to the soundtrack of my college experience, with an added sense of nostalgia for the band– back in the city where it all began. Margot Sinclair immediately captivated listeners in the crowd, leaving old and new fans begging for more.
Margot Sinclair hits the SLO Brew stage / Kristen Conliffe
The five man crew has been on tour since September, supporting indie-rock bands The Kilans and The Stews. The band is joined by a new face behind the drums, Donovan Hess. Reaching four cities in Texas, heading up north and circling back to California, Margot Sinclair has been busy sharing their alluring melodies with new listeners. At their Los Angeles show, the band performed at The Troubador, named one of the best rock clubs by Rolling Stone.
Established in fall of 2022, Margot Sinclair hit major traction after winning Shabang’s Battle of the Bands in 2024 and securing a spot on the festival lineup. Now, the band continues to explore their sound, performing both new tracks from their upcoming debut album alongside fan-favorites like “Lonely Jester” and “Is This For Love.”
After an electric opening set, The Stews took the stage. While it seemed most of the crowd was drawn in by their favorite once-local band, The Stews created a dynamic atmosphere. The band’s hard rock-influenced melodies had the audience swaying to the music under a spinning disco ball.
Similar to Margot Sinclair, the Stews formed in their college years at Auburn University. Since their debut album release “What Was” in April of 2022, the band has been touring all along the country.
The band played a combination of songs from their debut album, including my favorite track “What Was,” alongside recent singles and their most recent album “Chicken Fight.”
As part of their “Who’s Hungry?” Fall tour, the band has played over 25 cities in the past two months. With 200,000+ monthly Spotify listeners, listeners can still claim their “I was a fan since their early days” status today.
On Nov. 22 they played their last show of the tour in San Diego at Casbah. As they reach new cities and explore their evolving musical identities, Margot Sinclair and The Stews bring an abundant spirit of passion and community to a world often short of such creative vigor.
