Category: Gig Gallery

Saint Etienne at Brighton Dome, 25th September 2026

(Image above and other photos taken from the crowd)

When indie-dance royalty Saint Etienne took the stage at an inevitably sold out Brighton Dome as part of their UK farewell tour, anyone worried about grand, tearful goodbyes would have been pleasantly surprised. Final tours often risk devolving into self-indulgent ego trips, but Saint Etienne delivered something far more resonant – an inclusive, warm-hearted celebration of a career built on well crafted joyous pop tunes.

Rather than leaning solely on nostalgia, the set flowed seamlessly across their decades-long career. Newer songs Glad and Brand New Me sat comfortably alongside the classic You’re In A Bad Way, the soaring pop perfection of Who Do You Think You Are, and the more sombre Hobart Paving.

Throughout their career, Saint Etienne have never shied away from their influences or been afraid to build on what came before. The show reinforced the fact that, even when covering someone else’s work, the music becomes distinctly their own, a great example of this being their interpretation (and perhaps career-defining song) of Neil Young’s Only Love Can Break Your Heart.

The excellent backdrop visuals throughout were as carefully curated as the set list, a mix of vintage clips, cartoon figures and other imagery shifting style alongside each song, which added a whole other layer to the performance. Between songs, the chat with the crowd was relaxed and comfortable, the atmosphere a party from start to finish.

Maintaining their masterclass in how to play an understated swan song, the encore brought no overwrought goodbyes, just a collective moment of gratitude from everyone in the room. Returning to the stage with the optimistic Nothing Can Stop Us, they closed with the final track on 2025’s album release, International, fittingly titled The Last Time. All in all, Saint Etienne gave their fans the best possible send-off – a night of pure, unadulterated fun, and a perfect reflection of everything they’ve achieved.

Saint Etienne are Sarah Cracknell, Bob Stanley and Pete Wiggs; they were joined on the tour by Debsey Wykes, Loz Colbert and Joe Bennett. Check their website for international dates and rumoured festival dates to come. Support at the Brighton show came from Heavenly Recordings label-mates Gwenno and Marsy.

Set list:
Tonight
Like A Motorway
Spring
Glad
You’re In A Bad Way
Shower Scene
Who Do You Think You Are
Heart Failed (In The Back Of A Taxi)
Pale Movie
Brand New Me
Take Me To The Pilot
Only Love Can Break Your Heart
DJ
Stormtrooper In Drag
Hobart Paving
He’s On The Phone / Seven Ways To Love
Encore:
Nothing Can Stop Us
The Last Time

Review and photos by Callum and Siobhan

Published 27th September 2026

Dakka Skanks & Faintest Idea at The Hope & Ruin, Brighton, 19th September 2026

Two bands, two takes on ska punk, and one very lively Saturday night at The Hope & Ruin. Co-headliners Brighton’s own Dakka Skanks and East Anglia’s Faintest Idea brought plenty of attitude and enough energy to keep the whole room bouncing.

Faintest Idea were first up, kicking off with a fine array of brass instruments and forceful punk protest songs. There’s something gloriously relentless about them — politically charged, full-throttle and seemingly incapable of standing still. The energy was infectious, with the entire room soon jumping along.

The only slight hitch for me was the sound levels. It was noticeably too loud which made things a bit distorted. You can call that subjective but, even with decent earplugs, it felt a little uncomfortable. It’s unusual for the Hope, where the sound is generally spot-on, and thankfully things were reset before the next set.

Faintest Idea

Enter Dakka Skanks, who offer a clever take on ska punk that draws on both the classic 2-Tone sound and original 1950s’ ska without ever feeling like a carbon copy of either. The addition of a melodica adds a welcome layer, giving an extra lift while keeping the sharp edge firmly intact.

With new album The Game on the horizon, the set was a perfect showcase for a solid performance of latest single I See Fire. The album has already got off to a flying start – when the band turned to their fans to help with crowdfunding, they set themselves a bold £25,000 target which was smashed in just two weeks; a pretty clear sign of the faith their fanbase has in them. Back to the setlist, there were lots of established favourites too, with Ain’t a Skinhead and Propaganda standing out, while their cover of the Angelic Upstarts’ Brighton Bomb felt particularly fitting on home turf.

Dakka Skanks

It was a set that showed Dakka Skanks aren’t simply revisiting ska’s past — they’re taking its ingredients and giving them their own twist.

Next up, the band head north, with dates in York, Edinburgh and Glasgow over the coming week. If the Brighton was anything to go by, there should be plenty more dancing to be done along the way. Consider us impressed.

Review and photos ©️ Siobhan O’Driscoll – 16beasleystphotography.com | Instagram: 16beasleyst

Published 21st September 2026

Sex Mask, Humane, BARBADOS99 & Minor Dents at The Hope & Ruin, Brighton, 10th September 2026

Another busy night at The Hope & Ruin for Hidden Herd’s latest showcase last week, the evening kicking off well with locals Minor Dents, a three-piece whose ‘kosmische music’ provided an intriguing start. Haunting vocals from Holly floated over electronic textures and hypnotic rhythms, while the instrumental sections occasionally veered almost into prog territory. There’s nothing particularly straightforward about their sound, but that’s part of the appeal – musically clever for sure.

Minor Dents

A last-minute substitution brought BARBADOS99 to the stage next, the side project of Opus Kink brothers Fin and Sam Abbo. With a set made up largely of unreleased material, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect and there were continual surprises. Each song seemed to take a different route, flitting between genres with an almost gleeful disregard for settling on a sound. It shouldn’t really work, but somehow did, and the room responded accordingly. There was a sense that we were watching something being figured out in real time, which only added to the fun.

BARBADOS99

Humane followed with a more recognisable dose of indie rock. After the musical curveballs of the previous two acts, their relatively pure guitar-driven approach felt like a change of gear, but they brought enough energy to keep things moving and provided a solid bridge into the final act. Their songs have a directness and immediacy that makes them easy to pick up with accessible hooks.

Humane

Last up came Sex Mask, the Melbourne three-piece who have been racking up gigs at an impressive rate. I’d heard mixed reports from people who’d caught them before, so I was curious to see which side of the divide they’d fall on. Whatever your expectations, they certainly brought the most visual excitement of the night. There was a restless, unpredictable energy to the set, with the band throwing themselves into the performance and keeping the room engaged on and off stage. Post-punk feels like a much overused phrase these days but they certainly embodied the musical style and vitriol that it suggests, and made a strong impression with the most hectic performance of the night.

Sex Mask

Hidden Herd return to The Hope & Ruin on 24th September with Big Fear, Kate Peaches, Everyday Saints and Girl Apocyphra – tickets here

Review and photos ©️ Siobhan O’Driscoll – 16beasleystphotography.com | Instagram: 16beasleyst

Published 14th September 2026

The DSM IV, Francis Pig, Johnny Couch & Solid Pleasure at Daltons, Brighton, 16th August 2026

Sunday night at Daltons brought together four artists for a strong line-up including two of Brighton’s own rising stars. First up, reverb-heavy duo Solid Pleasure were sounding increasingly polished – there’s still plenty of shadowy, off-kilter energy in the mix, but the songs and shows are becoming more and more assured. Meanwhile, Francis Pig delivered another unfiltered, confrontational performance that felt part punk gig, part performance art – impossible to ignore and delightfully unpredictable. Sandwiched between them, New York’s Jonny Couch and his band brought a dose of indie rock across the Atlantic, before headliners The DSM IV rounded things off with killer hooks, a set packed with catchy riffs, infectious energy and a playful sense of chaos. While there’s plenty of fun to be had at their shows, underneath it all are some seriously accomplished musicians.

And then there’s Daltons itself. One of Brighton’s newer venues, it already feels like a place that understands what a good music space should be: welcoming, inclusive and somewhere people can simply be themselves. The staff are lovely, the atmosphere is relaxed and there’s a genuine sense of community around the place. At a time when grassroots venues are continuing to close down, it’s brilliant to see somewhere like this springing up and creating space for artists, audiences and a little bit of glorious musical subversion.

Solid Pleasure

Jonny Couch

Francis Pig

The DSM IV

Photos ©️ Siobhan – 16beasleystphotography.com | Instagram: 16beasleyst

Published 18th August, 2026

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, The Flaming Lips, English Teacher, Cate Le Bon & Warmduscher at Preston Park, Brighton, 31st July 2026

It’s the date that’s been on everyone’s calendar in Brighton since it was announced last year. He may have come and gone from the city but Nick Cave will always hold a special place here. Playing with The Bad Seeds last night at Preston Park, the absolute musical understanding between each one of them on the stage was in no doubt, and the huge crowd was in for a treat on an equally huge scale.

But first, a select group of artists invited along to kick things off for this all-day extravaganza.

Always a clever addition to any line up, Warmduscher started things off for the early attendees with their fusion of dirty basslines and disco beats. Few contemporary bands can blur those juxtapositions so well.

Warmduscher (photos by Mike Burnell)

Next, a switch in tempo as Cate Le Bon joined the party. Creating songs that flit between art rock and avant garde folk, her vocal is clear and distinctive, and carried well across the length of the park. Another smart booking.

Cate Le Bon photos by (Mike Burnell)

The last few years have been a bit of a whirlwind for English Teacher, who were next to perform. Winning the 2024 Mercury Prize instantly elevated the band from cult favourites to one of the UK’s most celebrated new guitar acts. Rather than slowing down, English Teacher have continued to build on that momentum. The band spent 2025 touring extensively across the UK, Europe and North America, picking up further recognition with a BRIT Award nomination and a place in the BBC’s Sound of 2025 poll. None the less, this is, as vocalist Lily points out, “the biggest stage we’ve ever played on” and they filled it with ease.

English Teacher (photos by Siobhan O’Driscoll)

The penultimate act before the headliner came in the shape of the inflatable-wielding Flaming Lips. Known for putting on a show driven as much by spectacle as by music, with oversized beach balls, confetti cannons and a riot of colourful props, frontman Wayne Coyne was as always the ringmaster of organised chaos. Bounding across the stage with endless enthusiasm, he encouraged the crowd to embrace the absurdity, transforming the performance into a celebration for all.

The Flaming Lips (photos by Siobhan O’Driscoll)

And so to the main attraction – Nick Cave has been a stalwart of the music scene for decades, revered at high level by a multitude of ages and backgrounds. He has met some perfect matches across the years and his fellow musicians in The Bad Seeds are without question one such complementary body. They played together with confidence, gentleness and  potency as required and kept the audience in the palm of their (red right) hands from start to finish. Kicking off with Get Ready for Love, Nick Cave was surely the only person in the heatwave decked out in a black suit, shirt and tie, but I guess you wouldn’t expect anything less.

We were treated to a stack of favourite tracks including The Mercy Seat, The Weeping Song, Jubilee Street and Wide Lovely Eyes – the latter dedicated to his wife Susie and accompanied by a reference to Brighton Beach, “the Kemptown end”. And for good measure, a guest appearance from Kylie Minogue to duet on the beautiful Where the Wild Roses Grow.

His forays into the crowd and their adoring response for his imploring calls to join in are not a million miles away from feeling like a mass religious experience, highlighted by the congregational singalong word for word to a simple piano-backed rendition of Into My Arms to close the evening. A memorable ending to a memorable day, very much well worth the wait.

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds (photos by Mike Burnell)

Photos – please note these must not be reproduced without permission:

Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, Cate Le Bon, Warmduscher © Mike Burnell iso400.com | Instagram: iso400mike | X: iso400photo

The Flaming Lips, English Teacher © Siobhan 16beasleystphotography.com | Instagram: 16beasleyst

Review by Callum & Siobhan

Hosted by Joy Concerts

Published 1st August 2026

Jawdropped, Tasska, Polite Bureaux, Formal Sppeedwear & Solid Pleasure, Brighton 14th-15th May 2026

Whilst The Great Escape takes place, there are always a huge number of shows running in alternative venues across Brighton. To be honest, if you only attended those, you’d still have been spoilt for choice. As we were covering the main event, I didn’t have time for too many but managed to still catch a few of the best on offer…

Jawdropped at The Hope & Ruin

Visiting from LA, Jawdropped were part of this year’s No Friends in the Industry event, which has become a popular annual feature hosted by Love Thy Neighbour. Finding its home downstairs at The Hope & Ruin, the bar area is the perfect spot for an informal but busy showcase of local and touring acts. The four-piece, who have recently joined the Transgressive roster, pulled in a decent crowd and impressed with their fuzzy power-pop songs. Dual vocals and the indie essential tambourine brought upbeat tunes that reminded me a little of Martha, and that’s no bad thing.

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Tasska at The Pink Moon

Always nice to check out what Strong Island Recordings are bringing to the alt shows; this year one of their collabs was with Miohmi Records upstairs at The Pink Moon – a good space though apparently later in the week numbers had to be cut as the ceiling below was bowing! Brighton locals Tasska gave a polished performance of guitar-driven indie folk that had the crowd dancing. Easy listening and a clearly strong connection between the trio.

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Polite Bureaux at Alphabet

Onto three acts brought to us by Slack City. Alas no longer Brighton based after returning to Bradford but still with a loyal fanbase here, Polite Bureaux’s set at Alphabet gave another opportunity to hear their socially aware musings. The second recent outing with Jo playing solo and honestly, it works so well, allowing the freedom to take over the whole stage and adding potency to the visual impact. The increased confidence is absolutely justified and there are some beautiful tracks in there amidst the frenzied forcefulness of the performance. Queues outside as the room was full? Well deserved.

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Formal Sppeedwear at Alphabet

With rhythm sections reminiscent of Talking Heads and jagged layers running throughout their songs, Stoke-on-Trent’s Formal Sppeedwear are stealthily making a name for themselves and definitely seem to be upping their game. Artsy and veering into experimental, their sound forms a cohesive blend of multiple elements. Expect bigger things.

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Solid Pleasure at Alphabet

Last show of the week for me with Solid Pleasure’s electro darkwave transforming Alphabet into underground clubland. The venue proved to be an impeccable sparring partner with its theatrical history and dimmed lighting, and the duo continue to polish their live shows with the swell of vocals drenched in reverb, and the introduction of occasional acidy synth hits, saving the purer dance tracks for the latter part of the set. Pretty perfect way to end 3 days of live music.

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Review and photos by Siobhan – 16beasleystphotography.com | Instagram: 16beasleyst

Published 20th May 2026

Bloodworm at Green Door Store, Brighton, 7th May 2026

Word is spreading about Bloodworm, and rightly so. Having recently been handpicked to tour with Suede, the trio are currently out on their own headline shows around the UK. On Thursday, they took a trip to the coast and impressed the Brighton crowd in style. From the opening notes, their set showed a formidable cohesion of sound. With reminiscence of the heady days of 70s/80s goth and alt-punk scenes, their songs have clear shots of the likes of Bauhaus and The Chameleons topped with their own modern day twist.

The quality never dipped; it’s clear that their art is well practised and real, and it will be interesting to see how things shift over the next year or so. It feels like Nottingham may be sharing one of its finest acts with a whole lot more people to come very soon. Check out the band’s recently released EP Blood & Lust for some premium angst with atmosphere that makes the darkness a little brighter.

(Bonus points for having The Fall’s Totally Wired as the walk on track).

Setlist: The Crown, Depths, Back Of A Hand, Nothing, Alone In Your Garden, 100 Lifetimes, Jangle, The Ground, No Face, Bloodlust, Cemetery Dance, Clairvoyance

Review & Photos by Siobhan O’Driscoll – 16beasleystphotography.com | Instagram: 16beasleyst

Published 9th May 2026

White Magic For Lovers, Catrin Vincent, Platonica Erotica & Charlie Keen’s Silver Birch at The Hope & Ruin, Brighton, 24th April 2026

Hosted by Hidden Herd

A night filled with ambience and alt-folk waves as a well matched collection of artists graced the stage at The Hope & Ruin on Friday night. First up, Charlie Keen’s Silver Birch took the ancient art of the ‘one-man band’ in a new direction. Not often that a trombone makes an appearance at gigs and nice to see it taking the spotlight here, sharing duties with a synth and another rarely spotted device in the shape of a Shruti Box. A very cool way to begin, with the room quickly starting to fill up throughout the set.

Charlie Keen’s Silver Birch

Some dark, dreamy and delicate tunes next from Platonica Erotica, offering up elfin dance moves with a languid performance evocative of a 1940’s underground jazz club. Simple but effective, proving that sometimes less fuss does indeed reap more flavour.

Platonica Erotica

Another accomplished solo set to follow from Catrin Vincent. Love to see the confidence to wait for people to stop talking before embarking on the first song, and it was with good reason that the chatting didn’t rekindle other than between tracks, when tales of being stuck on a boat and past band adventures with Another Sky were shared. The purest of vocals kept the crowd enthralled; an impressive delivery start to finish.

Catrin Vincent

Headliners for the night were White Magic For Lovers, creating an intimate staging of their laid-back lounge sound, incorporating velvety sax and lithe flute lines. A masterclass in sophisticated restraint, their playing felt effortless – the perfect conclusion to end proceedings.

White Magic For Lovers

Review & Photos by Siobhan O’Driscoll – 16beasleystphotography.com | Instagram: 16beasleyst

Published 28th April 2026

Bibi Club, Solid Pleasure & Hi? at The Prince Albert, Brighton, 7th April 2026

Hosted by Love Thy Neighbour

Hi?

Having met 2/3 of Hi? at multiple gigs in Brighton, it was a pleasure to finally catch them live, opening up at The Albert on Tuesday night. Drawing from noticeable influences including The Cocteau Twins and Wire, their set included a mix of jagged and ethereally delicate vocals, layered with hints of psychedelia and dream-pop. Their EP days of sunshine and seashells, released towards the end of last year, is aptly titled to reflect their sound and the sense of nostalgia and harmony that the songs bring. 

Solid Pleasure

Consistently perfecting their own brand of darkened synthwave sprinkled with a beautifully transient deep to falsetto vocal range, Solid Pleasure are firmly digging their heels into the heart of Brighton’s live music circuit. Always an inspired addition to any line-up, 2026 looks like a promising year for the two-piece with hopefully many more live dates to come. If you could place Solid Pleasure into a TV show, they’d be playing Lynch’s Red Room in Twin Peaks, and ultimately who doesn’t want to be in Cooper’s dreams?

Bibi Club

Headliners Bibi Club were new to me and many others I spoke to, so it’s fair to say that the huge reaction they received was spontaneous approval – understandable given the Montreal-based duo’s performance; their energy fuelled dancing and futuristic projections both visually entrancing. I’m sure it’s been said before but there’s a definite parallel with Stereolab’s Dots and Loops era, and a real connection between the two as they seem to play off each other with absolute synchronicity. An excellent end to the evening.

Review & Photos by Siobhan O’Driscoll – 16beasleystphotography.com | Instagram: 16beasleyst

Published 9th April 2026

Shtëpi, Kitchen Lover, CHITCHAT & Nagasaki Dog at the Hope & Ruin, Brighton, 1st April 2026

Volume up to the max for Wednesday’s latest showcase from Hidden Herd at the Hope & Ruin, with four acts giving animated performances over the course of the night.

First on, and with bonus points for a Cribs T-shirt, Nagasaki Dog got things off to a lively start with some sharp indie guitar hooks. Following close behind, a solid mix of heavier riffs and softer melodies from alt-rock ensemble CHITCHAT. Bringing their own sparkly floor covering (as you would), Kitchen Lover  opted for the well established tradition of head banging and a mosh pit – kudos to the crowd for maintaining this throughout their set.

Finally to Shtëpi and the dilemma of how best to describe them – art punk maybe? Stacked instrumentation including a telephone and a tambourine against guitar, bass, drums and keys will give you an idea of the set up and energy involved. A great night, April Fool if you weren’t there.

Hosted by Hidden Herd 

Nagasaki Dog

CHITCHAT

Kitchen Lover

Shtëpi

Photos by Siobhan – 16beasleystphotography.com | Instagram: 16beasleyst

Published 3rd April 2026

The Cribs at Concorde 2, Brighton, 27th March 2026

Storming into the first of a two-night run at Brighton’s Concorde 2, The Cribs were back with new songs, great jackets and a light show worthy of the brightest fairground in town.

With a set spanning their whole career but not just reliant on the big singles, there was lots to enjoy – good to hear the likes of City of Bugs and Direction making an appearance and, after kicking things off with their latest album Selling A Vibe’s opening track Dark Luck, they went straight into classic tracks I’m A Realist and Hey Scenesters!

The band of brothers have a deservedly loyal fanbase and their live shows have always been an integral part of building that community. Despite their 25 years playing together, they’re still as good to watch as ever and seem completely comfortable in their own skin, doing their own thing. The stage size and layout offered a welcome opportunity to see Ross nearer to the front of proceedings, with Gary and Ryan criss-crossing the rest of the space.

Selling A Vibe (released in January) is a confident and cohesive piece of work that reflects their standing and longevity; their authenticity and family chemistry ever apparent as noted in Brothers Don’t Break (‘but we’ll keep it from an honest place and the brothers won’t ever break’). 

They’re great storytellers between songs too, not just in their lyrics. With a nod to the hosting seaside city, Gary recalled having a bit of an existential crisis at the end of the New Fellas campaign and coming down to Brighton for the week, resulting in the writing of a track now synonymous with the band in Be Safe.

To close, a big final three songs in Men’s Needs, Mirror Kissers and Pink Snow sent the crowd home more than happy and safe in the knowledge that their loyalty was a sound investment. At this stage, The Cribs have nothing to prove but still work harder than most – always a pleasure, never a disappointment, roll on the next time.

Selling A Vibe is available to purchase here

Review by Callum
Photos by Siobhan – 16beasleystphotography.com | Instagram: 16beasleyst

Published 29th March 2026