When London-based indie rock band played their third and final sold out show at Alexandra Palace in 2017, that was supposed to be it. After all the thrills and frills of their 13 year career, they were done for good. So colour me (and many others) surprised when the band began teasing a return to touring in late 2024. A headline show at All Points East in London, as well as a set closing the Park stage at Glastonbury followed, and everyone was fully ecstatic to see them back playing together. The band enjoyed it just as much, hence a new string of shows were announced all across the UK and Europe. Some of the locations were proper choices too, whether it was the magical Eden Project in Cornwall or right outside where the band initially called it a day at Alexandra Palace Park. Tonight was no different, playing right on Brighton Beach, and thanks to the additional backing of Radio X, it was not only a reminder of the genius that The Maccabees are, but in general a quality day out for any indie music fan.
Kicking things off for the full day of music were local favourites Lime Garden, who have made a very strong impression on the UK indie music scene since the release of their debut album, ‘One More Thing’ in 2024. Self-proclaiming themselves as “wonk pop”, there is a certain infectious charm that frontwoman Chloe Howard and the rest of the band possess, making them a joy to listen to. While the band may have felt a bit hard done by being put on to play at 1:30pm, those who showed up early for them came out in full force, much to the delight of Chloe who stated there “were a lot more that came than she thought there would”. With a big tour scheduled for the autumn in celebration of their newest record, ‘Maybe Not Tonight’, they’re for sure one not to miss.
Up next, the extremely talented Damon Gough, who goes by the stage name Badly Drawn Boy, entertained the crowd with a string of tracks from all across his 30 year career. Playing solo on stage with just the guitar and piano, he was an emotional figure on stage coping with the death of his mother 7 weeks prior, and told a truly emotional story behind his song ‘The Shining’, a song he dedicated to her. The strength it’s taken for Damon to perform on a stage this big, let alone performing in the first place, is something that can only be truly respected. And despite everything going on around him, his comforting voice and thoughtful songwriting shone above all else as he excelled on stage with a performance that his mother would be incredibly proud of.
In their first ‘beach performance’ since filming the ‘Girl From Mars’ music video 31 years ago, iconic rock band Ash helped get the tempo right back up with some of their heaviest hitting tracks. The former Glastonbury headliners and 2-time UK number one charting group hailing from Northern Ireland were a proper nostalgia trip for those older fans in attendance, proving their longevity and showing how timeless they truly are. Lead vocalist Tim Wheeler still sounds as good as ever, and the passionate performance the trio delivered on stage highlighted how much youth they still had left in them. Let’s hope this isn’t their last time performing on a beach, as there are few better places to hear this kind of music than on a sunny Saturday afternoon in July.
Bringing things down just a notch after the chaotic intensity of Ash, Mercury Prize-nominated indie star Anna Calvi shredded through 45 minutes of captivating art rock, possessing her incredibly unique vocal range. While it may not have been the intense dancealongs or head-bops of many of the acts on today, she certainly left the crowd mesmerised by her brilliance. Backed by her two supremely talented backing musicians on stage, Anna showed off some musicianship of her own with her virtuosic guitar playing, whether it was a guitar solo or an instrumental break. Anna, when in the spotlight, delivered exactly what you would’ve wanted from her, and helped set the course for what the rest of the evening had to offer.
The feel good vibes continued on, and if anything became even stronger, thanks to Liverpudlian Miles Kane. Donning a white vest with his chain and signature guitar, there was a real old school vibe going on with him, as well as a determination to get the crowd warmed up. Whether it was through crowd interaction with his adoring fans at the front, or his setlist consisting of his most energetic songs such as ‘Rearrange’ and ‘Coup De Grace’. The highlight of the set was undoubtedly the last two tracks, with the classic off of FIFA 14 ‘Don’t Forget Who You Are’, as well as Miles’ most streamed song ‘Come Closer’, both with the simplest choruses that provided the crowd the perfect opportunity to sing along. While most people may know him for his role in co-fronting The Last Shadow Puppets alongside Arctic Monkeys icon Alex Turner, his solo music more than holds its weight on its own, and proves how great of a musician he is.
Playing right before the main act, Editors had a hell of a job on their hands. This was amplified further due to the fact that the last admission for tonight was before their set, meaning everyone would be watching, or at the very least listening. They needn’t have to worry, however, as an adoring crowd gave them the love and reception that they fully deserved. Celebrating their 25th year as a band next year, their hits such as ‘Munich’ and ‘Smokers Outside the Hospital Doors’ have stood the test of time, cementing their status as indie cult heroes. While frontman Tom Smith was evidently the star of the show during the hour set, all six musicians on stage proved why the Birmingham-based group should still be cared about in 2026, and with their eighth studio album releasing in October, there’s even more of a reason to want to get started with them now if you’re new to them. For those who have been fans since the beginning, it’s another exciting chapter in the illustrious career of the group.
“Brighton!! We made it to the fucking beach”, shouted Felix right before steamrolling into the energetic ‘Latchmere’ with the same fire and passion that they had when the song came out two decades ago. The chemistry on stage is immediately present, with both the White brothers playing shoulder to shoulder and expressing themselves. This is a band born to play the biggest stages, and it’s clear that the eight years away from the limelight has helped them reignite that fire in them. Orlando then tells a story about the significance of Brighton to the band – having studied at an arts school in the city, Orlando and co. began playing gigs in the area to build a name for themselves, while also writing original material. Orlando credited the city for the majority of their older music, as these songs were written in Brighton. If anything, tonight acted as a homecoming for the band, from playing small venues to headlining a major show on the beach.
The band’s iconic debut album, ‘Colour It In’, is clearly the record that resonated with most people in the crowd, with fans donning t-shirts of its album cover and artwork. Songs such as ‘Precious Time’ and ‘X-Ray’ garnered a unanimous reception, with fans on shoulders clapping along to the band’s fast and thrilling rhythms. There’s a really nice contrast between the two main men in the band and what they add in terms of their personalities, Orlando, often reserved and calm in his approach, lets his warm vocals do the talking. Felix, on the other hand, is anything but. Often shouting crowd commands and dominating the talking in between songs, Felix is undoubtedly the life of the band and helps make it exciting.
Another exciting thing to come from the evening was a preview of what’s to come in the near future. When the band announced their 2026 shows, they stated that they would either be the last ever Maccabees shows, or some new music would come from it. Thankfully, it looks like the latter is what’s going to happen. Titled ‘Ballad Of So Long’, the track leans on the simpler side both lyrically and structurally, but is beautiful in its arrangement as well as its epic conclusion, with Orlando’s vocals particularly shining. Speaking of epic conclusions, what better way to end a Maccabees set than with the seminal ‘Pelican’, with fans on shoulders singing every lyric back. The repetition of the words “and again and again and again and again we go” particularly stands out – now that The Maccabees are back, they’re here to stay. It’s pretty exciting to now say that new music from the band is no longer a matter of if, but rather a matter of when.
