“This has flourished into its own thing,” said Chilli Jesson, the former Palma Violets frontman, whose latest musical venture, Dead Dads Club, made its Southampton debut at Wanderlust Festival 2026.
“I love it round here, especially when the sun is out,” Chilli told Erazer after a performance at Heartbreakers. “It feels like it’s just about the start [of festival season].”
Although the band got to Southampton the evening before the gig, a late arrival to the hotel meant their room had been sold and they had to drive ‘basically back to Reading.’
Thankfully, their afternoon show made it worth it, before they hit the road once again to get to Dot to Dot in Nottingham.
“It was brilliant. There would be terrible morale in the van if it didn’t go well. I really liked the venue,” Chilli told us.
Although the festival was the first time Dead Dads Club took to the stage in Southampton, Chilli had visited the city before.
With a CV including fronting indie hitmakers Palma Violets, as well as a short stint covering bass duties in Fontaines D.C., Chilli has performed around the world at legendary venues. He said he doesn’t like to look at the past too much, and instead at the future.
“I’m always progressing and looking forwards, so I never really dwell on the past. I’ve been lucky to play a load of festivals, but Glastonbury would be great. This run of dates for us has been unbelievable.”
For many in the audience, Dead Dads Club will have been making a first impression, but the band’s aim is create a space for all emotions, with Chilli likening it to a concert by Nick Cave.
“It’s a place that is emotive,” he said. “There’s great joy in sadness – I think Nick Cave does that really well. It’s just being really inclusive.”
Produced by Fontaines D.C. guitarist Carlos O’Connell, Dead Dads Club’s eponymous debut album landed at the start of the year, and when we asked what’s next for the band, Chilli kept his cards close to his chest, promising ‘just bits.’
“We’re going to be recording some demos,” he elaborated. “We’ve been testing out two or three new songs on the road and they’ve been going down really well. I feel really privileged to be able to actually try them out.”
Dead Dads Club will perform at The Elephants Head on Thursday, June 18 as part of a free concert organised by So Young.
