On the hottest day of the year so far, Camden is only just waking up for the night. The streets hum with the usual Friday-night energy and I weave my way through the packed pavements towards the iconic Camden Assembly. Tonight, all roads lead to one thing, Arkayla’s London show.
The Mancunian four-piece stop off in London to play their sold-out gig and before they even step on stage, the crowd are already merrily belting out “I Am the Resurrection” as anticipation reaches a boiling point. By the time Arkayla emerge, the atmosphere inside the packed-out venue is electric and the crowd is primed for a great night ahead.
Cool, composed, and seemingly unfazed by the heat, the band launched straight into a set filled with swaggering guitars, driving rhythms, and infectious indie hooks. Frontman Cal Blakebrough led at the front with effortless charisma, taking a break half way through to let Fin Ruben’s sing with his sharp guitar work adding an extra edge to the band’s dynamic sound. Theo Savage and Patrick Hanbury lock everything together with a tight rhythm section that keep the crowd bouncing throughout the set.
The crowd’s response proved just how quickly the band’s following is growing. When asked where people had travelled from, a few fans chirped that they had travelled from the likes of Manchester, Paris, and even Watford and Fin, the guitarist jokingly quipped that “perhaps that’s further than Paris”. Between songs, the band interacted organically with the audience, creating the kind of intimate atmosphere that smaller venues like Camden Assembly do best.
As the set progressed, the energy in the room only intensified, if you think that would even be possible. Songs flowed seamlessly through the chaos of the venue as the fans screamed the lyrics back word for word, immersed in the music, launching into unrelenting moshing with momentum building with every track.
Since seeing them live for the first time supporting The Sherlocks last year, Arkayla have clearly spent the past few months and years honing their craft in smaller venues, they seem to have a genuine knack for creating the most exciting live sets and have the chemistry of friends who have known each other for a long time, most evident on their 2025 EP DON’T LOOK FOR ANSWERS which includes captivating indie anthems Doctor and Waste of Time.
What makes Arkayla stand out is their ability to wear their influences proudly on their sleeves whilst still sounding uniquely themselves. There are flashes of The Smiths and Pixies and pure 90s nostalgia in their soaring choruses and groove-heavy riffs, but there is also a freshness to their sound that places them firmly among the new generation of guitar bands currently emerging across the UK. Having already shared stages with established bands and graced venues like Manchester Academy, they now look more than ready to hit the stratosphere.
With festival appearances and numerous support slots alongside major artists, and a headline tour still to come later this year, Arkayla are showing absolutely no signs of slowing down. I have no doubt that these tunes will be soundtracking the rest of my summer and beyond.
