The Growlers in Orlando

About The Growlers

The Growlers are an Orange County indie rock band that emerged in the late 2000s with a sound that blends surf rock languor with garage rock grit. Built around Brooks Nielsen's deadpan vocals, they've developed a reputation for moody, hypnotic tracks that feel both detached and deeply felt. Their earlier work carried a stoned, coastal vibe—think lazy afternoons that suddenly snap into focus. Songs like 'City Club' showcased their ability to construct simple melodies that burrow into your head, while tracks like 'Artificial Light' demonstrated darker, more introspective leanings. The band has evolved beyond their initial Beach Goth aesthetic while maintaining the core appeal: songs that sound effortless but aren't, lyrics that reveal themselves slowly, and a general refusal to seem like they're trying too hard.

Their shows move at their own pace—no false energy, just a steady, almost hypnotic pull. Crowds tend to sway rather than thrash. Nielsen's delivery stays cool and measured even in intimate venues, which somehow makes songs hit harder. They're the band you watch rather than the band that demands your participation.

Known for City Club, Sunshine, Artificial Light, Floating, The One That Got Away

The Growlers in Orlando News

• City of Orlando approves new ownership of the Plaza Live venue Orlando Weekly · Oct 7, 2019
• The Growlers announce 2019 fall tour Consequence of Sound · Apr 22, 2019
• The Growlers expand tour, playing SummerStage ++ Beach Goth 2019 BrooklynVegan · Apr 22, 2019
• The Growlers Tickets, Concerts & 2026 Tour Dates Event Tickets Center · Jun 26, 2018
• The Growlers share new song "Late Bloomers" Northern Transmissions · Jun 1, 2017

Live Music in Orlando

Orlando's live music scene tilts heavily toward hip-hop, EDM, and country acts coming through bigger venues. The indie and garage rock crowd here is smaller but real—concentrated in mid-sized rooms and the occasional club. The Growlers fit that scrappier lane, which means this could actually be the kind of show that resonates with people actively looking for something outside the mainstream rotation.

Orlando road trip to see The Growlers?

Stay in downtown Orlando's Church Street district or head to Winter Park, where brick-lined avenues and oak trees give the area actual character. Eat at The Courtesy, which does elevated Southern cooking without the pretense. Spend an afternoon at the Mennello Museum of American Art—small, genuinely interesting, and nothing like the theme-park scene. Take a drive through the Rollins College campus in Winter Park if you want to remember Florida had a slower side. Come back downtown for music, grab a drink at a proper bar instead of a nightclub, and let the evening unfold naturally.